WORLD
from the
TALES TOP of the
Q & A with Sandra K. Athans, Author of Tales from the Top
of the World: Climbing Mount Everest with Pete Athans
What was your older brother Pete Athans, who is now an expert mountain
climber, like as a child?
Pete was curious about everything. Once he took apart our dad’s good watch to see how
it worked. Then he couldn’t put it back together! He also liked adventure. On our first trip
to New York City, Pete jumped into a big outdoor water fountain that was near a museum
we planned to visit. He started collecting the coins people had tossed in! My parents
weren’t happy and made him empty his pockets after they got him out. But Pete was a
great big brother. Together with our older sister Cindy, we always had lots of fun!
How did Pete become interested in mountain climbing?
Pete read about explorers, astronauts, and adventurers. He also scouted the woods near
our home. Tracking animal prints, searching for arrowheads, and building lean-tos from
tree branches were among his favorite things to do. On our property, we had a huge old
barn with haylofts for climbing. There were chicken coops and a graveyard too. Pete
loved exploring these places. As he grew older, one of his teachers told him about an
outdoor adventure program that specialized in climbing. The rest is history!
Do you ever worry about Pete when he’s climbing Mount Everest or another
mountain?
Although I try not to worry, I’m always uneasy—especially when he’s climbing to help in
a rescue. It’s risky, and unexpected things can happen.
Also, climbing Everest is demanding! Everyone is pushed to his or her limits. I remember
the first time Pete used a cell phone to call me from high on the mountain. Before cell
™
Tales from the Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest with Pete Athans
by Sandra K. Athans
LB ISBN: 978–0–7613–6506–8
Copyright © 2013 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Lerner DigitalTM and Lerner eSourceTM
are trademarks of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. www.lernerbooks.com
1
phones, climbers used two-way radios and often limited their conversations to team
members at base camp. I never knew anything about Pete’s progress on his early
expeditions until he was safely down the mountain. But technology changed all that. At
first I was excited by the idea that we could talk together. But when he called, he was
breathless and spoke s-l-o-w-l-y. It was very alarming! For the first time, I could hear the
struggle in his voice.
I often have to remind myself that Pete knows the dangers and is extremely careful. One
misstep on the mountain can end in regrets are Pete’s words. Still, I keep my fingers
crossed for good luck when he’s climbing.
Did you learn new things about Pete while working on this book?
Pete is humble and never liked talking about himself much, so I learned many new things
about him while working on this book. For example, I didn’t know the terrifying details
about his run-in with an avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall. It nearly killed him and his
good friend Lopsong.
I was also surprised by his incredible bravery. Pete has helped out with a lot of rescues
and placed himself at great risk. Some of these incidents are included in the book, but
there are many more. It’s incredible to think that when Pete was young, he was scared of
the dark!
Do you also climb mountains? Have you ever climbed with Pete?
I enjoy hiking and climbing, but I have never been a technical climber. Pete tried to teach
me once, but it was disastrous! He was set to belay (lower) me down the face of a 40foot (12-meter) rock wall, when I suddenly got scared and retreated away from the ledge.
I threw Pete off balance, and he nearly toppled backward. Oops! Pete was very forgiving
and continues to offer to teach me.
Despite this mishap, Pete and I hiked and climbed together for many years when
our family operated a children’s summer camp in southern New Hampshire. Mount
Monadnock remains among our favorite mountains. Some people claim Monadnock is
the most climbed mountain in the United States and the second most climbed mountain
in the world! It’s no wonder—the view from the top is stunning! Also, at only 3,165 feet
(965 m) high, it is a mountain that just about everyone can climb. Today, Pete and I return
to Mount Monadnock with our families as often as we can.
™
Tales from the Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest with Pete Athans
by Sandra K. Athans
LB ISBN: 978–0–7613–6506–8
Copyright © 2013 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Lerner DigitalTM and Lerner eSourceTM
are trademarks of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. www.lernerbooks.com
2