Everest (8,848m), Tibet
Far from the crowds often seen in photos, there were only about a dozen of us reaching the summit that day. The wind had been blowing for days, dropping the wind chill to -47°C. I have never been so cold, not even in Antarctica or Alaska in winter. Reaching the top triggered emotions that were as intense as they were mixed—joy, fear, sadness, emptiness. Everest is a mountain that leaves a mark.