You Don’t Fool Around With Mountains, by Selebelo Selamolela

You Don’t Fool Around With Mountains, by Selebelo Selamolela. ISBN 9781415200568 / ISBN 978-1-4152-0056-8

You Don’t Fool Around With Mountains, by Selebelo Selamolela. ISBN 9781415200568 / ISBN 978-1-4152-0056-8

In 'You Don’t Fool Around With Mountains', Selebelo Selamolela describes his highlights in mountaineering in Southern Africa and other parts of the world.

Selebelo Selamolela  

[...] Finally the summit was in full view. For a moment I stared at the peak. It looked liked a block of overhanging ice about to fall off. The view of the summit kindled in me a sense of great excitement. In half an hour I would be making history. I would make my claim to fame. I would stand and be counted amongst the brave and courageous who had embarked on the mammoth task of climbing Mt Everest. That moment was the climax of the day. I realised that I still had to climb the last section before I reached the summit. I stilled my emotions and focused on getting to the top of the world. We had been climbing for 12 hours along dubious rocky terrain in bitterly cold, sub-zero temperatures. I was exhausted; it was an effort just to stand on my feet. The climb to the summit was a struggle. I could not turn back. I had come a long way. I would take three steps and run out of breath. I pushed myself and kept moving. Eventually I reached the end of the safety rope. I was too weary to unclip myself from the rope. I stopped to take one last deep breath. Making my way carefully, I walked slowly towards the summit. With each step I took the view of the landscape became more overwhelming. My mind started to play the images I had stored of how I would celebrate when I reached the summit. I had imagined posing for my victory summit pictures. A couple of people from my team were there when I arrived. I recognised Micha and Jamie, our expedition leader. One final giant step and I was at the top. I took off my oxygen mask and my glacier glasses. I paused and my mind and heart were lost in wonder at the Creator's workmanship. My mind could not comprehend the fact that I was literally on top of the world. I felt a sense of awe as I gazed across the endless landscape. Among the hundreds of surrounding peaks, Changste, which appeared gigantic when I was at Base Camp, now looked like an insignificant hill. I snapped out of this trance. I was beginning to struggle to breathe. I realised that I had to leave quickly. Jamie had ordered Micha to descend and was reminding me that I could not stay any longer. I took off my backpack and reached into it for my camera to take photographs of the panoramic surrounds. I could see that clouds were brewing around the summit. In a deep and harsh voice Jamie ordered me to descend. I could not leave - I had not yet taken a single photo. I reached into my bag again for flags and emblems. My camera refused to function on exposure to the weather. Jamie took a few pictures with his camera.
I drank some water quickly and ate a Clif Bar - an energy snack. Jamie was becoming more and more anxious and agitated and told me we had to descend immediately. There were only five people left on the summit. I was the last climber from my team to descend. I replaced my backpack and put my oxygen mask on firmly. I took one last look at the heavens, knowing what lay ahead before I returned to safety. I wished I could go to sleep and wake up later, strong enough to cover the last few miles. [...]

This is an excerpt from the travel report: You Don’t Fool Around With Mountains, by Selebelo Selamolela.

Title: You Don’t Fool Around With Mountains
Author: Selebelo Selamolela
Type: Travel report
Imprint: Umuzi
Publisher: Randomhouse Struik
Cape Town, South Africa 2000
ISBN 9781415200568 / ISBN 978-1-4152-0056-8
Softcover, 15x22 cm, 188 pages, several b/w photos

Selamolela, Selebelo im Namibiana-Buchangebot

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