What Does “Taking ForEverest” Mean?
Once I decided that I was actually going to pursue Everest, I knew I needed a !kewl name! for the project, but nothing I came up with sounded quite right. Then, while joking with one of my best friends about the road ahead, I happened to say, “It’s probably going to take me forever.”
“Take you for-everest!” he quipped.
We laughed, but I knew instantly that was the ONE!
The Literal Meaning
Climbing Everest isn’t something you rush. I am committed to NOT be the person being drug to the summit. I want to be a competent, self-sufficient member of a team. And that takes time, skill-building, a lot of money, and even more patience.
Kilimanjaro taught me about altitude and expedition life.
My next stop is Ecuador, where I’ll train on glaciers and develop technical climbing skills.
Next comes bigger climbs like Aconcagua and technical U.S. routes to practice rope work, crampons, and crevasse rescue.
Then I’ll need to test myself at 8,000m, on peaks like Cho Oyu, where oxygen is needed.
Finally… Everest.
The Deeper Meaning
I ran with the name because it was funny and realistic, but the more I thought about it, takingforeverest came to mean something more personal. It’s also represents the time it takes to grow into the version of myself who’s ready for that challenge.
For years, I didn’t believe I was tough enough, athletic enough, or worthy enough to even dream of Everest. But every step—every mountain, every failure, every tiny moment of progress—is shaping me into someone who can stand there with confidence.
In that sense, “taking forever” is really… proof of transformation.
The Balance
There’s also a practical side to this. I’m not a professional athlete with all the time in the world to train. I don’t have an unlimited budget or anyone paying my way. I work a full-time job, pay a mortgage, juggle relationships, and plan PTO like everyone else. Climbing isn’t my career. It’s my side hustle!
So every step has to be carefully balanced with “real life.” And that’s the story that’s really important to me.
TakingForEverest reminds me to be patient with myself.
To honor the process. To keep moving forward no matter how long it takes.
This isn’t just the story of reaching the highest point on Earth.
It’s the story of everything it takes to get there.