Junior School News
Mountain Climber Sam Plati visits with Grade 7 students
On Thursday June 10th, the Grade 7 class had a visit from Sam Plati. He has climbed several of the seven summits including Kilimanjaro, Carstensz Pyramid, Denali, and Aconcagua. Sam’s goal is to climb Mount Everest in the next five years. Our morning was spent with Sam sharing his stories of how to prepare for a climb, what gear and food rations to bring along and the responsibility of one climber to another (even if you do not like the person, you respect them – if tragedy presents itself, you will need to save his/her life, and they will need to save yours). He also discussed becoming accustomed to different elevations, the role of a Sherpa, and the traditions of the culture you are visiting – such as asking the Divine for the rite of passage before you climb.
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Sam also spoke about the dangers of climbing; crevasses which plunge down into the ice for several meters, waiting hours for blizzards to stop, and always listening to the mountain – “If it doesn’t want you to climb, and bad weather persists, you listen, or you die”. |
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He explained how spending merely 45 minutes on a summit make days of climbing and months of training all worthwhile. His training before a climb is intense and he even takes time off work to physically prepare; running long distances, then hiking up office building stairwells with a pack loaded with gear, several times!
The Grade 7 students were also privileged to see actual photo’s from one of Sam’s most recent climbs up Aconcagua. Our morning ended with the students curiously exploring his gear, trying on his climbing suit, boots, and the most intriguing piece of equipments was his ice axe.
We thank Sam for taking time out of his busy schedule to come and share his goal setting strategies, an insight into mental toughness needed during a climb, and for all the impressionable stories.
Submitted to PC Connects by Elaine Kliem, Junior School faculty.
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