An evening with Mr Hemant Albert Soreng

Introduction

On July 12, we had an inspiring session featuring Mr Hemant Albert Soreng, Founder, Rustik Travel. Mr Soreng climbed Mount Everest on May 22, 2024.

Mr Soreng drew parallels between the rigorous demands of high-altitude mountaineering and the dynamic corporate world. He illustrated how preparation, perseverance, and adaptability are crucial in both arenas. He delved into the importance of setting clear goals, building a reliable team, and maintaining unwavering focus amidst adversity. Through personal anecdotes, Mr Soreng explained how we can embrace these essential qualities, fostering a mindset that is ready to tackle the highest peaks in business and beyond.

About Mr Hemant Albert Soreng

Mr Soreng is a serial entrepreneur, digital evangelist, and the founder of Rustik Travel, a company dedicated to sustainable experiential travel. His journey to the Mount Everest is not just a tale of physical endurance but a testament to strategic planning, resilience, and the ability to navigate unforeseen challenges.

Mr Soreng’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2000 when he co-founded eDeltaC Communications, one of India’s pioneering digital marketing agencies. This was later acquired by the globally renowned Ogilvy.

Mr Soreng is also an avid adventurer. He has completed the Ironman triathlon, and participated in numerous marathons. He is also interested in scuba diving, documentary filmmaking, and high-altitude mountaineering, making him a modern-day Renaissance man.

Mr Soreng’s academic credentials are equally impressive. He holds a degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering and an MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Mr Soreng frequently returns to academic settings as a guest faculty member and speaker, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with aspiring entrepreneurs and students. An accomplished author and blogger, Mr Soreng writes extensively on topics such as adventure, travel, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. His insights and narratives have inspired many to pursue their passions with vigour and dedication.

History of Everest

Mount Everest stands at around 8,850 meters above sea level. In 1852, Radhanath Sikhdar established that this peak was the highest in the world. Several years later, Sir Andrew Waugh, the British surveyor general of India, renamed the mountain after his predecessor, Sir George Everest. The Nepali people refer to the summit as Sagarmatha, which means goddess of the sky. The Tibetans use the name Chomolungma, which means mother goddess of the universe.

The first expedition set out to climb Everest in 1922. But that British team led by George Mallory did not reach the summit. In 1924 Mallory and his climbing partner disappeared during another attempt. In total, 15 expeditions attempted to reach the summit, and 24 men died before the peak was conquered. Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal reached the summit on May 29, 1953. They ascended Everest via the South Col route.

In 1960, a Chinese and Tibetan team became the first group to reach the summit via the North route. In 1975, Junko Tabei of Japan became the first woman to reach the summit. In 1978, Peter Habeler and Reinhold Messner made the first successful climb without bottled oxygen. In 1980, Messner achieved the first solo ascent. In 1983, David Breashears broadcast the first live television pictures from the summit.

Since 1953, only 6600 people have climbed the Everest. About 550 are from India. As already mentioned, Mr Soreng is one of them. He climbed Mount Everest on May 22, 2024.

Leadership learnings

What were the lessons Mr Soreng learned from the Everest expedition?

Mr Soreng began by emphasising that a leader can be anyone, even someone at the junior most levels. What matters is not seniority but the skills the person brings to the table. During the Everest expedition, there were many situations/circumstances where people demonstrated their leadership skills.

Passionate

Passion comes first. As a child, Mr Soreng had gone to Sikkim and seen the Kanchenjunga in the early 1980s in all its pristine glory. There were few tourists then. The environment was clean. It was a beautiful sight. Mr. Soreng became passionate about mountains. He later developed an interest in climbing and trekking. Since 2005, he has been climbing and trekking.

Mr Soreng is also passionate about sports. He was an avid sportsman during his school days and led his school football team. This taught him the discipline of fitness and the importance of teamwork and gave a sense of leadership.

Inspire

In 2010, Mr Soreng left his corporate job. He was trying to figure out what he should be doing.

In 2011, he went to the Everest base camp for the first time. He was overawed by the occasion. It was the time of the year (first week of April) when summiteers were moving to the base camp. Rubbing shoulders with the sherpas and others who were proceeding to the summit was an inspiring and exhilarating experience.

At Namche Bazaar, 3500 m above the sea level, he saw a commotion and came to know that the BBC film crew was shooting a movie on an 81-year-old gentleman by the name of Shailendra Upadhyay. He was an Indian freedom fighter who had moved to Nepal after independence. Mr Upadhyay was also the first foreign minister of democratic Nepal during 1986-90 and represented Nepal in the United Nations during 1972-78. At 81, he was all set to climb Mt Everest. Mr Upadhyay was trying to break the record set by a Nepalese climber who scaled the Everest at the age of 76.

Unfortunately, Mr. Upadhyay died while coming down from Camp 1 during the acclimatization process. Mr Soreng felt sad on hearing this. But as a close friend remarked, Mr Upadhyay had died while doing what he loved the most. This inspired Mr Soreng. As leaders, we must inspire others around us.

Multiskilled

We need not be an expert in all the areas but at least we must be at an intermediate level. Then only, we can contribute more and understand what other people are doing. During an Everest expedition, multiskilling helps climbers to be self-sufficient and not overly dependent on the assistant sherpas. For Mr Soreng, trekking/climbing is the main passion. But he has many other interests too.

Process driven

Climbing Everest is not a one-day affair. It involves years of preparation. Mr. Soreng took years to decide to climb Mount Everest.

Training: Once he decided to climb Everest, he followed a rigorous process for improving physical training and mental strength. Mr. Soreng did this for one year, 6 days a week, without fail. The fitness regimen included climbing/conditioning (20 kg backpack), cardio/running strength training.

Finance: Finance too involves a process. An Everest expedition involves an expenditure of Rs 40-50 lakhs at least. The money is raised through a combination of own funds, borrowings and crowd funding.

Equipment: We must get used to the equipment and gear. If we wear them for the first time during the expedition, we will be in trouble. The equipment are also quite expensive.

Will: It is also important to buy insurance and prepare a will. We should be clear about the implications if we fail to return.

The expedition: The expedition itself involves an elaborate two-month process. At the base camp, climbers spend 8 days. Then they go to the next highest camp and climb down. By climbing high and sleeping low, acclimatization is facilitated.

The climbers offer a prayer at each camp to Sagar Mata to seek permission to set foot on her and grant safe passage and return.

Note:

The acclimatization routine consists of a series of increasingly difficult climbs interspersed with periods of rest and recuperation. The expeditions move up and down portions of the route during these series of climbs, resting overnight at the camps they have built. They may climb as high as a few hundred meters beyond Camp III during the exercises. When the groups complete the acclimatization routine, they return to Base Camp to rest and prepare for the ultimate push for the summit. Sometimes, one goes below the base camp for better acclimatization.

Without acclimatization, climbers would become more susceptible to altitude-related illnesses. In particular, climbers want to avoid high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a condition in which fluid builds up in the lungs, and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), swelling of the brain. Both diseases can cause death unless the climber descends rapidly to a lower altitude. Acclimatization helps to prevent disease. But it does not prepare climbers fully for the scarcity of oxygen at very high altitudes. Therefore, many climbers carry bottled oxygen during the final summit push.

Note: The climb

Base camp: It is located at a height of 5364 m 0r 17598 feet. Getting here itself is a big challenge.

Khumbu Icefall: Between Base camp and Camp 1 is the Khumbu Icefall. It is best described as a treacherous minefield of crevices (bottomless pits) and seracks. The icefall keeps moving.

Camp 1: It is located at 19,685 feet above sea level.

Camp 2: It is located at 6100 m or 21,000 feet above sea level. From Camp 1 to Camp2 involves a gradual climb. This is one of the hottest zones. The reflection of the sun makes it hot here. One can get dehydrated with temperatures reaching 40 degree celsius.

Camp 3: This is located at 7200 m, 23625 feet. Getting here involves a steep climb. Climbers are always on the rope.

Camp 4: This is located at 7950 m, 26085 feet, very close to the death zone which begins at 8000 m.

Mostly, climbers take the South Col route. This lies on the South side of Everest in Nepal. It is more popular, with easier access from Nepal. This route is considered slightly less difficult than North Ridge due to less technical climbing. However, the Khumbu Icefall on the South Col route is notoriously dangerous and unpredictable.

The Hillary Step comes just before the summit. It is a near-vertical rock face on the South Col route just below the South Summit. Climbing it typically involves using fixed ropes and potentially ladders depending on weather conditions. It can be a challenging and dangerous section due to high altitude and potential for ice fall.

When Edmund Hilary and Tensing Sherpa climbed the Everest, the Hilary step was one big boulder. But over time, it has been flattened. This could be due to earthquakes or the efforts of some sherpas to break it off.

People person

Ultimately, leadership is about dealing with people. The expedition team included people from India, France, Estonia, UK, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Argentina etc. Many survived but a few died. The camaraderie built during the expedition has prevailed.

Resilience

When returning from the Khumbu icefall during acclimatization, Mr. Soreng had an awkward fall. This led to a suspected ligament tear. It took 5 hours for him to move slowly back to Base Camp without aggravating the injury. (This happened on May 1). The doctor suggested he should abandon the expedition. Next day, Mr Soreng went to Kathmandu by helicopter. He consulted an orthopaedic surgeon who after doing an MRI diagnosed it as a ligament strain and not a tear. He was discharged the same day. After 8 days of recuperation in Kathmandu, Mr Soreng felt strong and confident and went back to the base camp.

Decisive

In mountaineering (and indeed other situations in life), we must take decisions on which our lives and the lives of others depend. These decisions are not easy. But we must be decisive during those critical moments. Mr Soreng and his colleagues took a number of decisions which in hindsight turned out to be correct.

During Mr Soreng’s expedition, everyone was waiting for a weather window during which only it is possible to climb Everest. While low temperatures are a major concern, a bigger challenge comes in the form of hurricane force winds and wind chill. When the jet stream dips south during the winter hurricane force wind speeds may reach more than 285 km/h (177 mph). Climbers will be blown away at the speed. This happens through the year on Everest. During May, on a handful of days, the winds relax, and the wind speed will be a more manageable 25-30 kmph. Based on the weather reports, the team chose the window of May 19-23. Many other teams also did so. So there were many climbers and consequently a traffic build up.

Mr Soreng decided to walk slower (up and down) than usual in view of the injury. He also took an additional sherpa (from Camp 4) who carried an extra oxygen cylinder. This was necessary in view of the slower climb.

The plan was to go from Camp 3 to Camp 4 at 2 am in the morning to avoid traffic. It would take 7-8 hours. But that night, it was snowing heavily. So, they decided to start the next morning. The visibility was poor and there was a heavy traffic build up. There was only one rope. Mountaineers were moving in both directions. Rescues were also happening. They arrived late. In fact, it took 11 hours to reach Camp 4. So, they decided to start for the summit the next day. It turned out to be the correct decision. That day, there were accidents and 6 climbers fell on the Tibet side, (4 were tied to the rope and survived.) 2 to their death.

They duly reached the summit the next day. After reaching the summit, Mr. Soreng’s mind went blank. He took some photos and decided to leave quickly. He realized that the expedition was not over till they returned safely to Base camp. Indeed, coming back safely was the final goal. There was snow and a big storm while climbing down and some died. Mr. Soreng descended to Base camp on May 23/24. It took 11 hours.

Q&A