By Dawn Yip
Singapore will have to wait a little longer for its first woman to conquer Everest.
Linda Tan, who had set her sights on the summit of Mount Everest, left Camp 4 on the evening of May 25, but turned back after 4 or 5 hours of climbing. Explaining her decision, Tay Chee Meng, who spoke to Linda earlier today, said that she was moving too slowly and knew she would not be able to make it to the summit in time. Climbers typically have a fixed window each day before wind speeds pick up making the summit too dangerous.
"She was very disappointed," said Chee Meng. Unsurprising given the numerous obstacles Linda had to overcome to get as far as she did – from fund-raising to training to the temporary closure of the mountain and even battling a chest infection during the expedition. But Chee Meng was also quick to honour her achievement. “She's the first Singaporean woman to attempt to conquer the mountain on her own and managed to make it to Camp 4. Spending three nights at Camp 4 is already a feat in itself."
Great Eastern, Linda’s employers who also sponsored her attempt, was similarly supportive in its response. Said Tan Hak Leh, Great Eastern's Managing Director (Singapore), "We are very proud of Linda who has done her best to scale to heights that many would not even dare to think about. What is most important is that Linda is safe. We will always admire her for her tenacity and drive. Great Eastern is glad to have supported Linda in her quest to conquer Everest. We are sure that this experience has enriched her and will pave the way for more great journeys."
It is too soon to ask if Linda will make another attempt nor whether her employers would sponsor such a venture. For the moment, Chee Meng said that Linda has no desire to climb any more hills nor mountains, though upon prompting she did concede that "Bukit Timah is fine."
We at Red Sports share Linda's disappointment, but celebrate what she has managed to achieve. To us, she embodies what it means to be "Always Game", and it’s been a privilege for us to share her journey.
Click here to read previous stories about Linda Tan’s Everest journey.
[…] reach the summit around Singapore noon time the following day. According to a report on Red Sports (http://redsports.sg:80/2008/05/28/linda-aborts-summit-attempt/), Linda turned back after climbing for 4-5 hours as "she was moving too slowly and knew she […]
Can I have Linda Tan’s email address, I need to seek a permission to quote her in an article to be written by me.
My email address is yining88@singnet.com.sg.
Thanks for your help.
Buzz McCoy, former partner of investment bank Morgan Stanley, has been following Linda’s story. He is the author of the Harvard Business Review classic “The Parable of the Sadhu” which is based on his climbing experience in the Himalayas.
He had this comment to offer: “Linda is a mature mountaineer, not a failure. I would much rather be on a rope with someone who is willing to turn back.”
Thanks for the info, Regret unable to go welcome our courageous lady back, as attending a work meeting. Send news of Linda’s adventures whenever available. Better still, post a video on her return to Singapore.
Best regards.
Hi everyone, Linda will be arriving back in Singapore tomorrow:
Date: Tuesday, 3 June
Time: 2015 hrs
Terminal: Changi Airport Terminal 2
Flight: SilkAir MI 411 (Kathmandu – Singapore)
Siyan, I’m happy for you that you have come this far. To me, you have made it. More importantly, I’m glad you are safe.
55 th anniversary of Mt Everest (29 may 2008)
31 dec 2007
total summits= 3677
total no of person= 2436
total no of death = 210
Everest 2008
290 summits
1 death
” Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”- William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925)American Politician, Orator & Lawyer
chuan
Certainly, Linda will try again, one day. But don’t ask her just now.
Happy return.
WOW! Good to have so many ppl supporting Linda. 🙂
Like many trekkers who promised themselves they would never trek again. I see many planning for a more challenging trek a week later… I believe Linda has put in lotsa lotsa effort for this climb. I would ask her a month later if she wanna climb.
UPDATE! Linda has descent from Camp 2 to Base Camp, rest for lunch, then from Base Camp to Pangboche on 29th May. As of now… Linda is planning to fly back Singapore asap. May Singapore welcome this determined lady home. 🙂
James, Linda will be back in early June but flight details not confirmed yet.
U are alreadi an inspiration to many of us by attempting and reaching so far.
Have a good rest and safe trip home.
Cheers 🙂
Does redsport know when is Linda coming back and on which flight?
Thks
“The one who determined to make it.will make it!”
Reinheld Messner
hey da, you’ve achieved so much and made everyone so proud! you’ve gone really, really far nonetheless. chin up! you inspire us still!
Great effort, Linda! You’ve been an inspiration nonetheless!
So long as if you do your best, its good.
Nice try!~
Theodore Roosevelt’s thoughts are also very encouraging:
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. Who strives valiantly, who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deeds, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause.
Who at the best knows at the end of the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold
and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
I always remember Ed Viestur’s word of wisdom : To summit is optional, to come down alive is mandatory. Life is too precious. You have done your best, and for that you should be proud.