Beyond Limits
Chung Kin-man is the first Hong Konger to scale the Seven Summits, made up of the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents. But he didn’t stop there. Next, he set himself the challenge of traveling by foot to the South Pole and the North Pole – completing the “Explorer’s Grand Slam”*.
Chung admits that he didn’t plan on the “Explorer’s Grand Slam” when he first started climbing. The idea came to him only after several years of mountaineering. “Anything can happen when you climb, and you may not succeed every time,” he said. He attempted to climb Everest four times between 1992 and 2002 but failed on each occasion.
Chung believes that the closer you get to your limits, the closer you are to death. That can deter even the bravest souls. “We are human beings after all – we are afraid of death,” Chung said. “But you create obstacles for yourself when you have too many things on your mind. In order to succeed you need to be extremely focused, like an athlete.”
Chung’s failures didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams. Instead they taught him important lessons. He believes that physical and mental strength are both important. Being well-prepared is also key. No two mountains are exactly the same, so every hike is a new challenge. Attacking a mountain without sufficient preparation means you are putting your life at risk.
At his fifth attempt, in 2003, Chung successfully conquered Everest.
Chung has witnessed the impacts of global warming during his 40 years of hiking. Many climbers used to visit the Eiger in Switzerland during summertime. However, the track is now closed because the retreat of the glacier has caused rock fall.
Global warming has hit elsewhere in the Alps, such as on Mont Blanc. The amount of snow has shrunk while the vegetation cover has expanded. To Chung, climate change not only imposes constraints on climbers, but also prevents future generations from being able to enjoy such extraordinary scenery.
“Perhaps we have not all experienced first-hand the impacts of climate change yet. But it is our responsibility to combat climate change,” Chung urged. “Our first priority is to minimize the impact of human activity on Earth.”
Chung encourages new generations to travel the world and appreciate its true beauty. Youngsters should broaden their horizons, he believes, including visiting cold and somewhat inhospitable locations. “Some people might dream of settling down to normal everyday life, but I am not one of them,” he said. He suggests that people need to find their own pathway through life, to realize their dreams.
*What is the “Explorer’s Grand Slam”?
The Explorers Grand Slam is an adventurers’ challenge to reach the North Pole, the South Pole and all of the Seven Summits (the highest mountain peaks of each of the seven continents).
(Source: http://explorersgrandslam.com/)
(NB. Mr Chung Kin-man’s name is spelt in hanyu pinyin as Zhong Jianmin in http://explorersgrandslam.com/.)
