From Kilimanjaro to Everest
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:35:19+02:00Key moments in the journey of life. Looking back at the course of a lifetime, there are certain moments where, if you’d made a different choice, you’d be living [...]
When past performance doesn’t predict future success
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:35:28+02:00Why super-star hires can be an expensive mistake In a culture that worships success, failed projects normally just sink out of sight, vanishing without explanation. One prematurely terminated adventure [...]
When I met Nelson Mandela
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:35:36+02:00"I know you are going to succeed." The thing about camp two on Everest - at least back in the day when there were only 11 teams [...]
Sherpas attack climbers on Everest – what’s really going on?
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:35:50+02:00News that a group of Sherpas attacked three climbers, two of who are current international superstars in the mountaineering world, began to wash across my FaceBook feed yesterday and the [...]
Video of the Everest North Ridge expedition ’99
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:36:01+02:00Jan Horn filming at base camp * Cathy O'Dowd filming at 7000 metres All the footage was taken on the Everest 1999 expedition, the mountain footage shot [...]
Everest North-East Face Expedition 2003
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:36:11+02:00THE EXPEDITION REPORT The dream: to attempt of new route on the world's highest mountain in the 50th year of its first ascent. Our team of four, Ian Woodall, [...]
1st South African Ascent of the North Ridge of Everest
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:36:21+02:00This article appeared in edited form in the Mountain Club of South Africa Journal 1999. 24 May 1998 We had been climbing since 2.30 a.m., picking our way up [...]
Everest North Ridge 1999 expedition report
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:36:30+02:00Cathy O'Dowd (left) on the summit of Everest with Pemba Sherpa and Ian Woodall. 1999 Karrimor Everest Expedition Cathy O'Dowd and Ian Woodall flew out from Johannesburg on [...]
Everest North Ridge 1998 Expedition Report
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:36:40+02:00The Mr Price Himalayan Challenge Everest Expedition was the second South African team to attempt the North Ridge of Everest. Another South African team had reached 7400 metres in [...]
The Great Storm of 1996
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:36:49+02:00The most famous storm in the history of Everest. Four teams sitting on the South Col, wondering whether to go for the summit in the morning, despite the marginal weather. [...]
South African government tribute to 1996 Everest expedition
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:36:58+02:00RESOLUTION I have the honour to notify you that the National Assembly on 30 May 1996 adopted the following Resolution: That the House (1) recognises that there is nothing more [...]
Standing on top of the world
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:37:06+02:00One of the questions I am most commonly asked is: what did it feel like to stand on the summit of Everest? The text below comes from my book [...]
My first time to the top of the world
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:37:16+02:00Wits University in Johannesburg was where I did my undergraduate degree and their Mountain Club was where I began climbing. This article was written for the Wits Mountain Club [...]
Joining my first Everest expedition
Cathy O'Dowd2020-05-23T16:37:23+02:00Most people I meet assume that Everest must have been childhood dream and my first Everest trip the culmination of years of planning. In fact it really hadn't occurred [...]