About Angus

Thu, 03/27/2008 - 03:39 — Angus Murray

Welcome to my Expedition blog,

Someone asked me today: "so why would you want to climb Everest anyway?"  I replied, "who wouldn't want to climb Everest!"

I decided to climb Everest a year ago when I was finally able to commit to climbing Ama Dablam with my partner Scott Kress (see his previous AD journal).  Scott waited for me to commit to AD before telling me he was planning to climb Everest.  Having climbed Mount Logan (1998) and Denali (2003) with me, Scott knew that I wanted to climb an 8000 m peak, so once he was going to Everest, I was going too!

In many ways I have been preparing for this climb from the day my Dad first took me up the 10 storey apartment towers they were building across from our house when I was 5.  Lots of ladders, no safety lines, my mum was appalled and I was hooked.  I have taught rock climbing, ice climbing, arctic travel and mountaineering to students over the last 15 years.  I am ready to be in a really cold and windy place with lots of objective hazards..sounds like the Baffin Island rock climbing site in March!

I have had tremendous support from my employer, Shawnigan Lake School, and my wife, Sarah Wiley.  I have also been inspired by the "Heroic Hearts" that I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with in January, 2008.  This amazing group of 12 women raised $75,000 for the Amani Children's Home in Moshi, Tanzania and continue to support me.
Anyway, time to get going.  The good news is, I have gained 10 pounds since October!  The bad news is I still have to pack. 

Angus Murray 
Shawnigan Lake, Vancouver Island, BC
www.climbingtoyoursummit.com

Messages

Thank You

muldav — Sun, 04/06/2008 - 05:48

Angus
Thank you for your updates I have never climmbed any mountain like Everest just some small ones on north Vancouver Is. But I realy enjoy reading about people who do. I would like to go on a trek there someday. All the best of luck.
Ron

Hi Angus!

Visitor — Wed, 04/23/2008 - 23:13

Hi Angus!
It's been ages since I've spoken to you but Peggy just told me that you were climbing and I thought that I would check this out. I hope that the conditions remain favorable and that you are able to stay on schedule and get to the summit! Good luck and we should get together for a drink in September when we're both back on the West Coast!
Cheers
Jessica Starr

Greetings and Good Luck from Calgary!

Visitor — Mon, 05/12/2008 - 10:44

Hey Angus,

Andrea and I were thinking of you the other day when the Chinese summitted - best of luck on your turn. Hopefully, the weather is holding for you - we just had another snow and melt cycle. I hope we are almost done.

Get "R" Done.

Cheers,

Derek and Andrea

YIPEE! SOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!

Visitor — Wed, 05/21/2008 - 16:26

Way to Go Angus! I felt so lucky to be around Sarah this morning and sharing in her excitement and anticipation to hear confirmation of your summiting and successful descent! Congratulations on your Summit! SOOO Incredible! Everything was just so in line, and way to be so patient in the process of getting there! What a mega-accomplishment! Can't wait to hear your stories, everyone at Shawnigan is just so happy for you!

Congratulations!

Sydney — Wed, 05/21/2008 - 17:04

Angus, what a fantastic achievement, I'm so happy for you!!! Enjoy the rest of your trip.
-Sydney

An old friend from MCI days...

Visitor — Mon, 05/26/2008 - 06:16

Hi Angus...
Congrats on your ascent! What a feat!

I was quite surprised to hear that you are living and teaching in the Shawnigan Lake area... 40 minutes or so up-island from me...
Blair and I and the kids have been living in Victoria since '02...
Drop me a line when you're back on the great Vancouver Isle... miriam88@shaw.ca...

all the best,
Miriam

Three balls . . .

Visitor — Mon, 05/26/2008 - 07:50

Congratulations Angus from South Africa!!
We are not worthy sahib!
Yrs,
Jonathan Pryor

I have been following your

jim wilson — Mon, 05/26/2008 - 17:33

I have been following your climb and want to congratulate you on a feat that is unbelievable to most of us .
Great job Angus ,get home safe and sound
Jim W
Oakville ,Ont

Hello, Sir

Visitor — Thu, 05/29/2008 - 16:54

Hello, Mr. Murray
We are sitting in Social Studies class with Mr. Ruskay and the rest of the class and were hoping your journey is goig well. Good luck.
Kathleen Milani, Billy Beacom, Alexa Burgess, Leanne Young, Cynthia ramasubbu, Ali Rehman, Cheyenne Laatsch, Deanna Halls (who says you're the reason why she joined OE)
Good luck

from oakville

Visitor — Mon, 06/02/2008 - 23:17

hey scott!!

excellent excellent job up on everest. I'm proud too see people like yourself just from in and around my neighbourhood. What an accomplishment!!! All the best of your future climbing expeditions! I hope also to make the climb up too everest within the next few years once I get more traning and experience under my belt. Take care scott from a fellow oakvillian

Marko (21)