robert mads anderson, sibusisu vilane, Everest

Summits with Sibusisu Vilane

On this day in 2003 I had the honor of climbing with Sibusisu Vilane to the top of Everest.

He has since gone back to also climb the North Ridge, as well as doing the 7 Summits.

More importantly, when we caught up for dinner in Kathmandu, I remembered how much fun he is. And, like Sir Edmund Hillary, has gone on from his Everest success to greatly assist in a number of very worthwhile causes.

Sibusisu Vilane and Robert Anderson, Everest summit. photo: David Hamilton – who has now completed 10 successful ascents, guiding for Jagged Globe. 
robert Mads Anderson, Sibusisu Vilane, Everest, Hillary step
Robert and Sibusisu heading over the top of the Hillary Step and onto the ridge leading to the top of Everest. A joyously early morning and at that moment, no one else in sight. Photo: David Hamilton. 
Everest summit ridge, Sibusisu Vilane
Everest Summit Ridge. Cocooned in down, face a mask, isolated and alone even when others are around you. Photo: David Hamilton
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Sibu at Everest Base Camp – one of the most naturally talented high-altitude climbers I’ve had the fortune to meet and climb with. Photo: Robert Anderson

This is an article in Outside online profiling Sibusisu on Everest.

For the full story of my climb together with Sibusisu, up to the top of Everest, and then a very long and eventful descent, I cover it in Chapter 9 of my recent book, Nine Lives – Expeditions to Everest.