● Game Changers
Adventure
On top of the world
Top: entering the Lhotse couloir in the Death Zone; bottom: climbing through the Lhotse couloir.
From the tennis court to the world’s tallest peaks – Cian O’Brolchain takes on Lhotse. By Erik Bigalk and Jade Bentley
Cian O’Brolchain oncehad adream ofWimbledontennis stardom.Hismother hadbeenatennisplayer andO’Brolchainhad inheritedhertalentfor thegame.Buthisroots hadalwayspulledhim totheIrishfoothillsand he’ddreamedofbeing amountaineerlong beforepickinguphis firstracket. “Istartedtrekking withmydadfroman earlyage,”herecalls. “EvenGrandpawas akeenhillwalker.We wentalloverIreland andabroad.Iwas10 yearsoldwhenIleftall thatbehindfortennis.” After15yearsof trying,herealised hewasnevergoingto makeittoWimbledon. O’Brolchainhadto findanewgoal. “Ihadalwayslivedan activelifeandsetting goalsthatwerejust aroundthecornerwas
C
nevermystyle,”he admits.“So,Iwent straightforthetallest goalofthemall.” Overthepasteight years,O’Brolchainhas puteverythingbehind hismountaineering passion.Inpreparation forEverest,heandhis teamlaunchedthe 32StepsforCystic Fibrosiscampaign, whichaimstoimprove lungtransplant facilitiesinIreland. Climbersraisedmoney forthecampaignby scalingthehighest peakineachofthe 32countiesinIreland. “Thatwasjustthe warm-up,”hesays. NextwereMtBlanc (France,4808m),Mt Denali(USA,6190m), ChoOyu(Tibet,8188m) andMtKilimanjaro (Tanzania,5895m) beforehefinally conqueredMtEverest (Nepal,8848m)–all betweenJune2010and May2012.Butitwas toweringMtLhotse
(Nepal,8516m)that heldthestrongest pullforO’Brolchain.
Atallorder Theysaythereisno mountaintoohigh forthosewhoare passionateandwilling toputinthehardwork. Butnotmanyaimas highastheworld’s tallestsummits. O’Brolchaininvited Sherpasandclimbers tocollaboratetocreate WorldSherpas–atruly globalmountaineering andtrekkingteam eagertoputtheoryinto practiceastheyset theirsightsonLhotse –theworld’sfourth highestmountain. Theintrepidteam setoutona46-day expeditiononApril5, 2017.O’Brolchain wasnostrangertothe Himalayasandthe challengesLhotse wassuretopresent. Highaltitudes,totally unpredictableweather
Left: base camp, 5345m (Everest and Lhotse). 42
MEN’S FITNESS
MARCH 2018
conditions and the fragility of steep, rocky snow- and ice-covered terrain can be fatal to even the best and most experienced climbers in the world. Therefore, time management is absolutely crucial – when to hold off, when to push through and when to rest. Of course, the extreme temperatures and high pressure mean that climbers and equipment need to be at their best. A lot of the equipment needs to be specifically designed to survive in that environment. As for climbers, strength and endurance training, as well as the right mindset, are paramount for a successful ascent.
“There are always challenges that can put the whole expedition at risk,” O’Brolchainsays.
How an Aussie watch joined the climb A chance meeting at a mutual mate’s house in Brisbane started it all. During a friendly chat around the BBQ, O’Brolchain mentioned how important a good watch is to a climber onatoughexpedition. Alsoatthebarbecue wasGrantMenzies, general manager of Australian watch manufacturer Adina Watches. Menzies, who designs bespoke timepieces, was up for the challenge. “I bet we could build you a watch that will