Carol Masheter

Carol, myself, and Pal

Carol had at least one reason more than the rest of us for continuing on. At the age of 61 years 7 1/2 months, Carol, on May 24 2008,  had become the second oldest woman to summit Mt Everest. Since time she had sumitted each of the remaining seven summits --except one. 

Earlier this year Carol had arrived in New Guinea to climb Carstensz Pyramid. She had signed up for an expedition that would use helicopters to skip the grueling trek to Carstensz. It would be a chip shot for her, rounding out a world-class climbing resume and placing Carol in the rarefied company of those who have managed to "touch 'em all." But it was not to be. The promised helicopter never materialized and, after many days of frustrating delays, the expedition fell apart. 

So Carol was back to try again. Now 65 3/4 years old, she was going to do it the hard way. She would trek to Carstensz. If she were successful, Carol would be the oldest woman ever to complete the seven summits. A world record!

BTW- Carol published her own account of the Mt Everest climb and the events in her life leading up to it. No Magic Helicopters (Aventine Press) is an interesting and honest telling of what it means to climb Mt Everest today.