Conquering Everest

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

As we get older, the desire to visit unexplored territory grows stronger in many of us. Whether it’s taking that cross country road trip, or lying on an island beach with our significant other…many people find that retirement is the best time to travel and try new things. Suzanne’s guests, Leo Kelly and Nancy Norris, have taken their lust for adventure one step further...they’ve climbed the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest.

Nancy Norris
At 61, this grandmother of four is anything but lazy! In 1980, she opened her own business, Nancy Norris Fitness Company, where she is the aerobic coordinator. In addition to the classes she teaches on a weekly basis, she serves as a personal trainer for those that hope to whip their bodies into shape with cardio and weight training regimes. As if that weren’t enough, Nancy is also a certified skydiver and scuba diver!

Nancy began to take an interest in rock climbing in the late ‘90s. After completing a week of “snow school” and a climb in Colorado in 1998, she continued to climb, with international mountain guides and schools, to the summit of several mountains a year! Her climbing adventures have brought her to mountain summits all over the world, including Ecuador, Switzerland, Tibet, France, Alaska and Russia.

In 2001, Nancy decided to attempt “the ultimate climb”--Mt. Everest. A permit is needed to climb on different parts of the mountain, and since this was her first climb, Nancy was permitted to climb to Advanced Base Camp on the north face of the mountain. Her goal is to climb all seven summits of the world, with Mt. Everest being the pinnacle. Because the cost of climbing Everest can run between $60,000 to $100,000, she is currently looking for sponsorship for her climb. If she successfully makes it to the summit, she will be the oldest North American to do so.

Leo Kelly
Leo Kelly is a 53-year-old chartered accountant, and father of four. He first got interested in climbing over 30 years ago. He found hiking to be an enjoyable pastime, but wanted to take it to the next level. His son Deryl began climbing with him at age 6, and they have been climbing partners ever since.

In 1997, Leo climbed Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina with an all-Canadian climbing team. In 1998, he and his son completed an un-roped climb of Mt. Lefroy in the Canadian Rockies, and then climbed Mt. Victoria the very next day!

His first climb Everest climb took place in 2001, as part of the “Emerald Odyssey Mt. Everest 2001” team. Because of sleep problems, he wasn’t able to make it to the summit. However, he did get to celebrate his 50th birthday on Mt. Everest!

Leo admits that in addition to the physical training and preparation it takes to climb a mountain like Everest, the sponsorship is sometimes the hardest part. Leo and his “Emerald Odyssey” team had originally planned to climb the mountain again in 2005, but because of funding, it didn’t work out. They are currently raising money in hopes of making the trip in 2006.