Summiting Mount Adams with Martin Densham
There are many reasons people give as to why they climb a mountain. To be at one with nature, the physical challenge of high-altitude mountaineering, achieving a personal ambition, to bag a peak, or as George Mallory commented prior to attempting Mount Everest, “because it’s there.”
For me it’s a combination of all the above, as well as spending time with my climbing partner of 20 years, who has a busy life in Australia with his family. These days we need a solid excuse to spend some lads time together! However, as we climbed Mount Adams earlier this month, I started to draw analogies between going on this expedition and my professional role as a project manager at Greencastle Consulting.
The best way to view this analogy is to explain that the risks may not be financial or reputational as with project management, more so physical, but the phases required to ensure a successful outcome are the same.
On Mount Adams the customer need was given. We both love to climb. The initiation phase was also straight forward, as our requirement to achieve a summit in two days were met by picking the Cascades, an area we’re familiar with. It’s an area that has multiple peaks less than two hours’ drive from international airports, and in June it typically has good weather. So shortly after this discussion the planning could begin.
This phase was a lot more involved, as safety is paramount. Failure to get this part right can cost you your health. Equipment, timings, routes, medical provision, rescue plans, logistics all come into play. As a veteran, and my fellow climber being an aircraft engineer, meant we were well versed in the five Ps. Other considerations were regulations from the National Park Service and communications home to keep our loved ones aware of progress.
Execution is the most fun, as well as the most extreme. It’s here that everything comes into sharp focus. Once you head up from the trail head you can relax to a certain extent as you’ve arrived. Not long after though issues emerge; thin air, unexpected weather, equipment failure (or on this occasion, kit left behind) and emergent medical conditions. In addition, limited water, food, and difficult terrain serve to compound challenges to performance and the timeline and ultimately jeopardize reaching the summit. Overcoming these is my favorite part. But it doesn’t always go well. And this often occurs on the way down.
After summiting on our second day we got disorientated during the descent, which resulted in us having to make a difficult traverse on a steep snow field, with a ridge of a volcanic rock at the base. I lost my footing and headed down the slope, we weren’t roped up, as with only two people this could result in two casualties. Luckily, I was able to self-arrest using my ice axe and digging in my crampons. This ran against the prescribed method as digging in crampons can cause you to flip feet first. After free-falling for 30 feet, I came to a halt five feet short of the rocks. The snow was very soft, so my ice axe had a hard time biting, hence I was using my crampons as a last resort. Experience, training, confidence, the right equipment, and making a judgement call under stress meant no harm was done. We were able to walk off the mountain to enjoy another day.
My next favorite part is the closing phase, this involves going back to our accommodation, getting a shower and grabbing a steak. After a few beers later that evening, where we discussed our lessons learned, the final question of the expedition was, where next?
About the Author
Martin Densham is a Senior Consultant at Greencastle. He applies a thorough and highly dedicated approach to problem-solving and team management, to ensure the highest standards of project, program and portfolio execution. He specializes in financial consulting and has a wide range of financial and project management certifications.
Prior to joining Greencastle, Martin was the Director of a non-profit providing financial assistance and advice to active-duty personnel and their families in Japan and S Korea. He retired from the British Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer in 2013, during which time he deployed on operations worldwide, and attended the US Naval Postgraduate School to study for his masters. He also has a master’s in business management, a range of financial qualifications, and continues to broaden his knowledge of process improvement and change management methodologies.
