First of “7 Summits” Conquered

AIM Member Martin Benning is on a quest

AIM Member Martin Benning is on a quest to be the youngest cancer survivor to climb the highest summits of each of the seven continents. The “7 Summits Cancer Climb” is intended to bring hope and awareness, and to show other cancer survivors that they, too, can still fulfill their dreams. In June, Martin and his team conquered Alaska’s 20,320-foot (6194 m) Mt. McKinley (Denali). We caught up with Martin, at home in Seattle, for an update.

AIM: Martin, recently you successfully completed your climb of Denali in Alaska. Tell us a little about your experience.
Martin: Climbing Denali was by far the best experience of my life to date. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing team comprised of two very strong climbers, Justin Craven and Vik Sahaney. The magnitude of Denali and most of the peaks in Alaska was very humbling, and presented quite a challenge for the team. Carrying 60-pound packs in addition to 40-pound sleds is hard work. However, we did prevail and reach the highest peak in North America on June 17th, two days ahead of schedule. We also did not have any lasting illnesses or permanent injuries—just a little frostbite and hypoxia at the 17,200-foot camp, but that’s all.

AIM: This was not a simple climb! What were your greatest challenges?
Martin: Climbing is very challenging, but I think in this case once we got to the mountain, we had already surmounted the crux of the climb. Funding and logistics were definitely one of the biggest challenges. Denali can be a vicious mountain with 100 mile per hour winds and temperatures reaching 20 below zero, even in the summer months. Having good, high altitude, expedition gear was essential for this climb. I had to start planning this expedition over two years ago, just to make sure I could accumulate the gear and set up the logistics for the team. Luckily, we got gear help from companies like Second Ascent in Seattle and Dennis Gafvert, President of Outdoor Adventure Sales and representative for The North Face. During the climb, we had several challenging days. The weather was not the best for many days, and we had to climb with heavy loads through high winds and snow. We also skipped the typical Camp 2 and moved directly from Camp 1 to Camp 3, which was a pretty tough day. Above Advanced Base Camp, we climbed the very steep headwall and then a fairly exposed ridge just below the 17,200-foot High Camp. The weather on that day was not good, either. Summit day was also difficult. At over 20,000 feet, it’s very hard for your body to get the oxygen it needs to survive. After summit day, we got pinned down at high camp, which was very demanding on our bodies. The hardest part of the climb however, was the descent. We climbed from High Camp all the way down to Base Camp in one long 14-hour push. Most teams typically do this in two days. However, the idea of a hot meal and hot shower after 14 days on a mountain is very motivating.

AIM: You have been taking many AIM products. How do you feel they contributed to your successful climb?
Martin: These days, the AIM products are the first piece of gear to go in my pack. I also take AIM products off the mountain while I’m training. AIM BarleyLife® is definitely the backbone of it all. The AIM GinkgoSense™ is very powerful while we are climbing because it helps circulation, which helps oxygenate the blood. This is essential in a hypoxic environment.

AIM: Climbing mountains has to be a life-changing pursuit. What have you learned from climbing Denali?
Martin: I have a very different perspective on life and the world since I began climbing in 1999. Denali took me to a whole new level. I realized you have to live every day like a summit day. After I got back from Denali, I also learned that you could lose 15 pounds in two weeks on that hill. When you’re burning upwards of 5,000 calories a day, it’s hard to get enough food down. Climbing is also very physically demanding, and it’s important to stay healthy to be successful.

AIM: Congratulations on completing the first of your “7 Summits Cancer Climbs,” Martin! What is next for you?
Martin: In February, my team will head to South America to climb Aconcagua at 22,831 feet. Aconcagua is not only the highest mountain in South America, it’s also the highest mountain in the world outside of the Himalayas. Until then, we will be climbing in the Cascades this summer to train, as well as finishing up the business end of things for the 7 Summits Cancer Climb organization. Vik and I will be working on obtaining 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the IRS so donations can come in tax-free. As soon as we finish uploading Denali photos to the website, we will launch it (www.7summitscancerclimb.org). This should happen (hopefully) in the next few weeks. Now that we have our first peak under our belt, we’re hoping that we can get more sponsorship and bring in plenty of donations for cancer research and patient support.

Martin is a “man on a mission.” You can keep up with Martin’s climbs by visiting the AIM athletes section, or on Martin’s site at http://7scc.org/. We wish Martin well as he pursues his dreams.

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