Andrew Brash has traveled the most well-known mountains over the past 30 years but one choice sticks out in his mind and that is the focus of his presentations.
He was on the northern slopes of Mount Everest in Tibet, only 200 metres from the top, when he was forced to choose between achieving a lifelong dream or helping a fellow climber feared already dead. The climber, Lincoln Hall, suffered from altitude sickness descending the day before and his teammates left him behind after believing he was dead. Forty other climbers also passed him by without stopping to help. Hall’s family had already been told he was dead.
Yet, Brash couldn’t go on to fulfill his dream when he could help Hall. He and his teammates had limited oxygen and supplies but helped Hall off the mountain. Hall survived and the story made global headlines. Brash was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Calgary for his part in saving the Australian climber’s life.
His keynote presentation recounts this experience as “Three Rules for Living: Lessons Learned in a Life of Climbing.” Andrew believes three rules can be applied to everyday life and help those trying to find purpose in this increasingly complex world.
