Rob Gauntlet
The long, hard climb to success
Nineteen-year-old gap year students Rob Gauntlet, from Sussex, and James Hooper, from Somerset, walked into the record books this May when they became the youngest ever Britons to climb Mount Everest. Rob tells us what qualities he believes anyone wanting to achieve their goal should have.
When did your interest in climbing mountains start, and what inspired it?
James and I are school friends (we went to Christ's Hospital in Sussex), and we have always been interested in hill walking in the Lakes and Alps; from this, our interest branched out to rock climbing and mountaineering.
At what point did you start thinking that you'd like to climb Everest?
It was only about three years ago; we decided we would try to climb Everest before we had actually undertaken any mountaineering by then!
What, or who, inspired you to do this?
We were simply reading a newspaper article and thought to ourselves: 'why not?!'
What kind of preparations did you have to make in order to be ready to do something like that (mental, emotional and physical?)
It took three years of building up our mountaineering CV in the French Alps, Pakistan, Scotland and Nepal in order to make sure we had the experience to carry out such a major trip.
Mentally, you have to build up the adrenaline to do the climb, especially the final push for the summit, and think about how important it is to fulfil a dream.
How long did it take before you felt ready to go for it?
We had to raise the sponsorship, which was very hard, but we were physically, mentally and technically ready for the ascent.
Can you describe the journey briefly?
It was a spring ascent from the Tibetan side of the mountain, I was accompanied by six other members to begin with, with five summiting.
James and I summited with our expedition leader Stuart Peacock. We set off from the UK in early April 2006, and got to Kathmandu a few days later.
We were approaching the summit of Everest by mid May, and finally reached the 8,850m peak via the north route at 0315 BST on Wednesday 17th May.
It was incredible up there, looking out knowing nowhere in the world was higher than we were at that moment.
What characteristics would you say you have that have helped you achieve your goal?
Stubborn, bitter determination! Also, focus comes down to it too.
Were there any obstacles on the way?
Finding sponsorship was a big obstacle; we only found all of the money for the trip in the last three weeks before we were due to fly out from the UK!
Up until then, there was a big chance that neither of us, or only one of us, could go - but there was no way James or I would let that happen. Thankfully it all came good in the end.
Also, when we got to Tibet, we were caught up in Maoist rebel crossfire during which we had to hide under a table in a café!
What advice would you give to anyone who has an idea, like you did, and wants to make it happen?
Follow it up relentlessly. Don't let anyone tell you you're being ridiculous by having a dream or a goal. Never give up. James and I are really keen on getting the message out to young people to follow your dreams. Climbing Everest has been our dream for three years. Get out there, follow it up and make sure you make it happen.
What do you plan to do next?
Row the Atlantic with James.