Wow – can’t believe this was a year ago!!
If we’re connected on social media, you’ll have seen I’ve been sharing memories, pictures and videos of my 7day summit push on Everest.
What it felt like, what it looked like and what it took to stand on top of the world.
And on this day last year, after an absolute gruelling 7hrs From Camp 3, I’d finally made it to Camp 4 – also know as the South Col (7950m/26,083ft).
I was officially in the death zone!!
An area around 8000m+ where there’s not enough air pressure or oxygen for humans to survive.
Your body starts dying cell by cell and every second spent there, you’re a second closer to death than life.
As my risks were significantly higher than others before I’d even begun due to getting sick, lack of acclimatisation and breathing issues, I made a promise to my family & partner, if things were too dangerous I’d turn back.
However, it was at this time, I realised I was at the point of no return. If high altitude sickness suddenly took over me or I lost control of my asthma – it was game over.
Which, in itself was really scary but just a harsh reality of Everest plus there was still a LONG way to go to the summit so didn’t allow myself to dwell on those negative thoughts.
If I didn’t believe I could make it.
I wouldn’t.
We arrived at C4 around noon (local time) and would start our summit push @ 8pm.
In that time, the goal was to simply eat/drink/rest as much as possible so that’s exactly what me, my Sherpa and porter did – it was cozy haha.
I was struggling, exhausted and had fought so hard for every breath just to get to C4 that my message home was to say if I didn’t make it to the summit, I was just really proud of myself for making it this far as it was already the hardest thing I’d ever done by a million miles.
I focused on silencing those demons of self doubt and fear and visualised standing on top of the world.
My kids were at the forefront of my mind and one of my biggest fears was someone telling them their Mummy Lee wasn’t coming home…so I harnessed that fear into strength & motivation.
And at 8pm (local time), we set off in the darkness and further into the death zone, aiming for the top of the world!!
Keep posted to my Facebook and Instagram for what happened next (please follow/like if you don’t already).
❤️ Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025.
️ Tomorrow marks my 1 year anniversary of not just making a lifelong dream come true but also completing my journey from rock bottom to the top of the world.
The old me who was reliant daily on Prozac, wine and vodka, struggling with mental health issues, whilst battling a 15 year eating disorder that was slowly killing me – could never have achieved this.
But I grew into the person who could.
✅ From self loathing to self love.
✅ From feeling self conscious to self confident
✅ From beating myself down to building myself up.
A year prior to becoming the 7th female to summit the highest mountain in the world, I was also complete beginner and had only summited 1 Munro.
It’s been a process and crazy journey full of ups and downs but the purpose of sharing my story is always to try inspire and motivate others.
I truly believe that with self belief and the willingness to put in the work, you can achieve anything.
And it all starts with the power of self-talk because:
“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right either way” – Henry Ford.
Lee ‘fueled by self belief, powered by dreams’ Donald x
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