Australia
7,310 feet/2229 meters
Summited October 27, 2011
7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s
With a tip of my hat to Dick Bass, who started all the 7 Summits stuff, I wanted to include Kosciuszko in my project. I had summited Carstensz on October 22, 2011, and flew immediately to Sydney, focused on completing my 8th of the 7 Summits climbs in one year.
Arriving in a bit of a haze, I rented a car to leave Sydney and rest up for a couple of days before going to Kosciuszko. However, once on the road, I kept driving thoroughly, enjoying the vast countryside of the New South Wales (NSW) area of eastern Australia.
Drive Left
I kept saying out loud, “Look right, drive left,” to cope with the swapped lane driving. I reached a small tourist town that served as a gateway to the Snowy Mountain area and asked for information about Kosciuszko at the information center. The polite woman behind the counter told me it was snow-covered, I needed snow shoes, and I would probably not make it. I smiled and politely thanked them.
The next stop was more encouraging, as I bought my entrance ticket to the Kosciuszko National Park. This time, I was told that many people climb it daily, and the route is a bit snow-covered. The summit proper was heavily corniced, preventing the usual approach, so everyone went straight up. I liked this scenario better!
I continued to the ski village of Thredbo and found a great studio apartment for one night; it even included Wi-Fi. As I looked out my window towards the ski lifts, however, low clouds covered the tops of the mountains. I knew the weather could be a problem, with many fellow climbers telling me that Kosciuszko proved the most difficult of all the 7 Summits, but I was unsure if that was a joke. Some said they were getting lost in dense fog, and others were experiencing high winds and blowing snow. So I went to bed wary.
A Perfect Day
The following day, the skies were as if someone had taken glass cleaner to the skies—pure blue, no clouds and temperatures in the high 30sF. I had considered taking the slightly longer route from Charlotte Pass rather than the ski lift from Thredbo. Still, in the end, the ski lift won out, and I bought my lift ticket and boarded it at the opening time of 9:00 AM along with a large group of international students.
I relaxed on the short ride up, reflecting on the culture shock of being in the jungles of New Guinea only three days earlier. This was my eighth climb, and I had been gone from home for almost seven of the last eleven months. But I was eager to stand on the summit of Australia’s highest peak on the mainland and looked anxiously ahead as the lift stopped. It was an 8-mile round trip with an elevation gain from 6,354′ to 7,310′.
The route was more than obvious—a raised metal grated boardwalk had been installed for the majority of the walk. Over 100,000 people a year do this walk, so the walkway was constructed to protect the fragile tundra. A few other people soon joined the walk, and I made good progress towards Kosciuszko.
It became visible about halfway. I was surprised at how large it looked, even from a distance. It was a classic, smooth mound standing high over the surrounding area. Completely snow-covered, I could understand how some people might go astray in harsh weather, but the day was beyond perfect.
8 Summits of the 7 Summits
I reached the end of the boardwalk, where the Kosciuszko Walk merged with the trail from Charlotte Pass, which started at 6,026′. All that was left was to gain the summit by going straight up the snowy mountainside. I was glad I had worn my jacket and gloves. It was a bit chilly, with a light breeze off the snow, but I stood on the summit in a few minutes. It had taken a little over an hour—the shortest summit climb of all eight by far!
I asked some of my fellow summiteers to take my picture while standing on the rock marker; it seemed everyone was doing this. I called for the eighth time from these climbs and posted an audio dispatch to my blog. Then I sat down on a big rock and looked around.
The first summit was Mt. Vinson in Antarctica on December 9th, 2010. This was the last summit on October 25, 2011. I had made every summit except Denali, which was stopped by weather, 3100′ short of the summit. But it was OK. I have been able to send our Alzheimer’s message of hope, need and urgency from each continent, reaching over 12 million people and raising money for research, awareness and caregivers.
It had been a good year.
Kosciuszko Resources:
7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s

In late 2010, I launched the 7 Summits for Alzheimer’s campaign, where I wanted to climb all seven (eight) of the Seven Summits in one year. The first summit was Vinson in Antarctica on December 9th, 2010. This was the last summit on October 25, 2011. I had made every summit except Denali, which was stopped by weather, 3100′ short of the summit.
I have been able to send our Alzheimer’s message of hope, need and urgency from each continent, reaching over 12 million people and raising money for research, awareness and caregivers. In 2025, I will continue to dedicate my climbing and public presence to honoring my mom, Ida, and raising research funds for Alzheimer’s nonprofits. Please consider a donation today.