By Paul Patras, Staff Writer

Ohio National Guard member Quincy Stang attempted to not only rise to the challenge of climbing Mount Everest, a feat that few humans can accomplish but also sought to preserve one of nature’s most formidable landmarks. Through sheer will, dedication, and a commitment to service, Stang set his eyes on the goal of having a “net negative” impact on the mountain, removing more than his load of equipment and litter as he tried to summit the mountain. 

Stang’s call to service for the Ohio National Guard began after September 11th, 2001. For over two decades, he served his country not only in places such as Iraq and Syria. Stang worked in sustained relief efforts during national tragedies such as in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, as well as helping during the COVID pandemic. 

In order to have a “net negative” impact on the mountain, everything he brought with him, whether it be climbing equipment, oxygen or supplies, (many items that climbers often leave behind), he brought them all down with him, as well as an extra kilogram of debris he found. 

On his final push to the summit, weather conditions were not in his favor. He made the decision to maintain his safety and turn back at a spot in between camps three and four. At an altitude around 25,000 feet, the weather conditions were deemed too unsafe for a trip that should have only taken about six hours.

Stang stated that It ended up taking him about 14 hours. While he was in view of the summit, he put his safety first and began his descent, a decision that very well could have saved his life. 

Mount Everest is well known as the tallest mountain on Earth, standing at just shy of 30,000 feet, around the same height at commercial planes fly. Located on the border of Nepal and Tibet, the mountain is where even the most experienced climbers go to test their mettle, battling through fierce storms, frigid temperatures, the dreaded Khumbu icefall and the “death zone” at the summit.  

Stand stated that “there’s that no quit mentality that you’re going to kind of go after something, whether it’s big or small, and you’re going to kind of give it all you have”. In tandem with multiple agencies in Nepal, a GoFundMe set up by Stang in hopes to enable sherpas on Everest to pick up litter and preserve the mountain for generations to come. 

Although Stang did not reach the summit, he does not consider this a failure. He attempted to summit the tallest mountain on earth as well as being conscientious enough to reduce his environmental impact. Stang will be climbing in Alaska in the future and Stang plans on climbing Everest again in two years.