“Krone” interview – Sabrina Filzmoser: “Dealing with death”

„krone“: Mrs Filzmoser, you were only the sixth Austrian to climb Mount Everest on Monday. What was it like at the highest point on Earth?
Sabrina Filzmoser: It’s very hard to describe what you’re feeling up there. Because in fact you are so exhausted that there are not many thoughts left. I wasn’t there too long, maybe 15 minutes. And I had already prepared myself for the even more difficult descent. But it was impressive.

What did you notice most there?
How low the other 8000’s around actually are. You find yourself on the roof of the world, everything is so big and so powerful.

Do you see the world a little differently now?
That is a difficult question. It took me a long time to realize that I need to take oxygen to keep my toes on and get back down the mountain. That feeling that your life is hanging by a thread has definitely changed me. You are so close to the limit and need so much luck.

So you’ve fought against using oxygen for support?
Yes, I was strongly against it, I didn’t want to take oxygen and had already made the decision earlier that I would return otherwise. At these heights, however, no rational decisions are possible – and then it’s too late, you just stay up there. Then no one can help you anymore.

But they got back safely…
After experienced climbers talked me into it, I knew I had to reconsider. Then I took oxygen for a minute or two and suddenly my toes started to tingle again, everything warmed up and my thoughts became clearer again. And then you see what a complete idiot you are.

Why did you want to do it without oxygen so badly?
Because it was already the case during my sports career that I always wanted to master everything without aids. But now I am not disappointed. It was a mistake on my part to think I should do it that way.

Were there any other critical situations, were you afraid?
No, I was never afraid because I had been preparing for a long time. But there was always respect for the unpredictable nature. You could always hear rocks falling, everything that moved at night and huge avalanches. But you get used to it and that humility will take you further the next day.

Do you also think about death during Ascension?
You are dealing with the fact that hundreds have already died there. But what makes you think is when you see dead people. They are in the middle of the trail, are frozen and you have to climb over them. If you handle it in advance, you’ll also know who these dead people are. You have to be able to deal with that.