Listen to the Art of the Pivot interview from the Lonely North Ridge of Everest in 2024

An hours listening to this will take you from Nepal, up Ama Dablam (just for a bit of acclimitasation) and into Tibet for a rapid ascent up the North Ridge of Everest with climber Scott Cutlan.  

It’s a unique perspective, with his strong and unedited take on everything from the theme park of Everest’s South Side, to climbers walking out of Base Camp on oxygen, to a very lonely and special climb up the North Ridge of Everest.

In a year when 9 out of 12 teams trying to get into China and climb Everest didn’t even reach Base Camp, Scott Cutlan managed to jump the hurdles to access Tibet and travel around to the North Side of Everest.

Climbing with his lone Sherpa Pemba, and using the services of a local Nepali operator Climbalaya, he finally reached Tibet, and with his recent acclimitasation climb up Ama Dablam, moved rapidly up the mountain, summiting in May, 2024.

It was a far from certain outcome, with permits, visas, travel and sickness all requiring a level of perseverance and as Scott points out, the ability to pivot. And not only to pivot, but to pivot in the right direction, stick to the goal, modify the plan, and finally stand on the top of the world.

Which as he points out in his interview, wasn’t even the best part.

“The two most important things: Know why you are doing this. And have a risk management plan, and don’t compromise on it.” Everest from the North Col Camp, the route ascending directly up the snow ridge, before curving right as it steepens, then breaks out again onto the North East Ridge, climbs across the steps and onto the summit. Photo: Scott Cutlan
“You can’t help but feel so tiny.” Everest North Face with North ridge on the left, from the Rongbuk Monastery, Tibet. Photo: Scott Cutlan

 

 

Everest 2024 and the summit of Everest with Scott Cutlan. Photo: Pemba Sherpa

 

 

 

“It was the most peaceful moment of my life.  I experienced the honor and privilege of being on Everest alone, with no one else around.”. Photo: Scott Cutlan
“Climbing Everest was more about fulfillment than achievement.” Photo: Scott Cutlan