Life before and after Everest: the story of a Ukrainian who rose to the highest peak of the Earth - ForumDaily
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Life before and after Everest: the story of a Ukrainian who climbed to the highest peak of the Earth

Vitaly Kozubsky became interested in mountains at almost 40 years old. The man has not yet been to the Ukrainian Hoverla. Outside the mountains, Kozubsky is the director of a utility company. And he is convinced that in his old age it will not be his work that he will remember.

Vitaly Kozubsky climbed the Everest 23 in May 2019. Valentin Sipavin, ALPOMANIA.COM

Now he has 44, and he climbed to the highest mountain of the world in embroidery. Why did he do it, how much did it cost and how his four daughters and his wife relate to his passion, Vitaly told BBC News Ukraine.

Is there life before and after Everest. This is the same notch in the biography as the creation of a family. Although for me it is not a feat and not the conquest of the mountain.

Look at Everest and me. How can I conquer this mountain? This if the flea sat on an elephant and overcame it.

I went up there in an embroidered shirt and wanted to show that we are Ukrainians and we are climbing Everest.

About death

When you go on such a trip, you assume a very small chance that force majeure may occur. But it is no more than when we drive a car on a long journey.

Most of the people who stayed there were simply not prepared, neither physically nor mentally. I don’t really like to say “died” or “perished,” they remained there. After all, they are still there.

I saw seven. They told me that this is the Sherpa (a people in Nepal, whose representatives often work as guides. - Рunits), since last year, and this is a client... about four years ago. Here - about 20 years ago.

I didn’t have to step over them, but on one occasion I almost sat down.

In that place I changed the oxygen cylinder. We walked along a narrow ledge at night, I saw an expansion on the way and sat down under this “shelf”. When Sherpa shone a flashlight at me, I saw that I was sitting 30 centimeters from last year’s Sherpa, who... They explained to me that he was going down, sat down here to rest - and that’s all. Exhaustion.

The route to Everest from Tibet is considered safer and less picturesque than from Nepal. Photo hero articles Vitaly Kozubsky

I tensed up twice on Everest. Once - when my oxygen mask froze three times and I couldn’t breathe.

I had to take it off, clean it, be without a mask, then it would freeze again and I would clean it again. This was at an altitude of approximately 8600 m. There is 70% less oxygen there than below. You breathe like a fish on the shore. Three to five minutes without a mask - and you’ll already be led.

Another moment was at the snow pyramid in front of the summit. I was a little led, and I felt on the verge of loss of consciousness. I was afraid that I would lose consciousness.

And if you don’t move your feet yourself, then you stay there. They will give you as much oxygen as possible, an energy drink, they will give you an adrenaline injection, they will take you by the arms and revive you as much as they can. But no one will take you in their arms and lower you from the mountain, because this is physically impossible.

I added oxygen to myself, brought myself to life, realized that I was a zinger, and woke up.

They say that the family did not think. There definitely did not think. There were no thoughts. You can neither empathize especially, nor rejoice. I always have it in high mountains, when my body is at the limit. You can think about family below when you're relaxed.

About life

I have four daughters. Three years, 12 years, 13 years and 21 year. During the farewell, I hugged and kissed my family. The eldest daughter took me to the airport.

The girls have become accustomed, probably, that I am going and returning. The family said that I was going to the Himalayas for a walk. I had no thoughts at all that I would die there, so I did not force.

I was determined that if I was already at the summit it would be bad, I would turn around and go down. Not a single mountain is worth even frostbitten fingers.

Feat? At the front it’s a feat, I understand that. And here it’s just climbing the highest mountain.

I would like, of course, that my children also see this beauty. But they don't really want to go to the mountains. The wife generally says: ready, if the room with a hot shower.

Girls are more sensitive to this. We go to the Desna with tents, and already on the second day it begins: that’s it, give us a hot shower and a bed. This is fine. Why should they share what is mine with me?

A trip to Everest costs from $ 30 thousand. This amount includes things you can't do without: permission to climb (a little more than $ 11 000), guide services (another $ 10-12 thousands). You also have to pay for the base camps where you stay: a road is laid for them and lights are provided, there are toilets. Still need 4-5 oxygen cylinders.

Of course, some people order a personal massage therapist and fresh vegetables for dinner - then this amount can increase significantly. But I didn't have it.

We talked in the family, I said that we would allocate so much from the budget, and agreed on this. Revenues allow. Nobody started saving on lunch or not going to the sea due to the fact that dad decided to go to Everest.

About embroidery

I come from the village of Buryakovka, Zaleshchitsky district, Ternopil region. Hence my embroidery. My aunt embroidered it for me about 15 years ago. My mother also embroidered this ornament - a repeat of the ornament that my grandfather wore. This is our family thing.

I was wearing two layers of thermal underwear, a fleece jacket, a light thin down jacket, then embroidery, and then the main “down jacket” that protects from extreme frosts. I put on my embroidered shirt already at an altitude of 8300 m, where we had our last stop before storming the summit.

I wore it periodically, and took it to the mountains for the first time in 2016, when I went to Island Peak in the Himalayas. Since then I decided that there was something funny about it. Usually he climbed with the Ukrainian flag - for example, on his first mountain, Kilimanjaro.

In the camp at an altitude of 7000 m above sea level. Photo hero articles Vitaly Kozubsky

If the flag is a symbol of the state, then embroidery is a symbol of the Ukrainian soul. For me it is somehow more tender and personal. Therefore, after Kilimanjaro, I started taking this embroidery everywhere: to Aconcagua, Elbrus and Everest.

I wanted to show that we are Ukrainians, we were able to not be forgotten about us. When we talked there in an international group, here was an Indian, here a Taiwanese... And they asked me: “Where are you from, from Russia?” (Where are you from - Russia? - Рunits). So I answer: “No, from Ukraine.” (No, from Ukraine. - Рunits). I corrected and identified it. That's what I wanted to convey.

I would not say that the value of my ascent would decrease if I could not bring the embroidery to the top. Probably, if even something happened to the embroidery (tore or lost), then Everest would still be worth it.

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