Earth Systems alum Lindley Zerbe (BS '01 MS '02) will give a multimedia presentation about his Everest climb with the National University of Singapore (NUS).
After two and half years of training, on May 31st, 2005, at 7.25am Nepal time this morning, NUS staff member Lindley Zerbe summited Everest. Lindley remained on the summit for about 35 minutes and had to quickly descend because of high winds.
In a live telephone conversation with NUS President Shih Choon Fong shortly after summiting Everest, a euphoric Lindley Zerbe said: "Reaching the top of Everest is a dream come true for us. It's an honor to do something so monumental for NUS. The experiences and memories of this remarkable journey will last a lifetime!"
Invitations to join the team went out in late November 2002 to alumni, staff and students. Out of an initial applicant pool of over 100 people, thirty candidates were put through a stringent over-night physical and mental assessment in December, conducted by several members of Singapore's special forces.
The consultant team, made up of outdoor specialists and members from Singapore's National Everest Expedition in 1998 then examined the results of the assessment and interviewed all the instructors for feedback on the candidates' performance. After lengthy one-in-one interviews with every candidates, an initial group of 20 were chosen.
A meticulous programme was drawn up, comprising a strict regime for individual and team training, team-building exercises, mountaineering courses, and training climbs, designed to hone their climbing skills. In the process, the candidates were assessed and those deemed not to have reached the desired standard, or failed to gel with the team, were asked to step down.
Ultimately, 5 climbers remained to attempt the Everest Summit.