Last year it moved late, so people sat in base camp all May just waiting for an opportunity to go.

Ever since I was a little kid I'd read these adventure books. I'd read about Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Every time my dad moved to a new military base, the first thing I'd do was climb the highest hill around, which usually wasn't very high.

We had not planned on having any vote, other than just to study (the contract), ... It's not a public hearing, but it is a study session. We will take comments. And then if it seems suitable to the property owners involved -- who we're most concerned about -- we will have a vote on Sept. 26 (the next council meeting) on this issue to start the ball rolling for a new bridge.

I have to be realistic. Everest has about a 33 percent success ratio. That's a one in three shot. I'm a little older than most. This is my first trip. Most people wind up making a couple of trips before they summit. I don't know what my chances will be.