Rob Hall New Zealand climber and mountain guide who died during the ascent Date of Birth: 14.01.1961 Country: New Zealand

1. Rob Hall: The Tragic Story of a New Zealand Mountaineer
2. Following His Passion
3. Achieving Success and Tragedy
4. The Tragic End
5. A Legacy and Controversy

Rob Hall: The Tragic Story of a New Zealand Mountaineer

Rob Hall was a New Zealand mountaineer and mountain guide, best known for his tragic death on Mount Everest in 1996. Born Robert Edwin Hall in 1961 in Christchurch, New Zealand, he was the youngest of nine children. Growing up near the mountains, Hall developed a passion for climbing from a young age. At the age of 14, he even designed clothing for mountaineers and later worked as a designer before becoming a manager at 'Macpac Wilderness Ltd.', the largest outdoor equipment company in New Zealand.

Following His Passion

However, Hall was always drawn to the mountains and opened his own company called 'Outside' at the age of 21, allowing him to dedicate more time to his favorite activity. By this time, Hall had already climbed notable peaks like Ama Dablam and Numbur in the Himalayas. In the late 1980s, he attempted several eight-thousanders, but his ultimate dream was to conquer Everest.

Achieving Success and Tragedy

In 1990, Hall successfully summited Everest with his close friend Gary Ball. This marked a significant victory, giving them the confidence to set a record by climbing seven other eight-thousanders in just seven months. Inspired by their success, Hall and Ball founded their own company, 'Adventure Consultants', in the early 1990s. They organized commercial expeditions and guided climbers to reach their desired summits. Their reputation as skilled mountaineers and guides grew after successfully leading their first group to the summit of Everest in 1991.

Tragedy struck in 1993 when Hall's friend and companion, Gary Ball, died from high altitude sickness. Despite the devastating loss, Hall persevered and continued his work. In 1996, Hall planned another expedition to Everest with his team, including guides Andy Harris and Mike Groom, as well as six clients. On May 10, all nine members reached the summit, but they encountered a severe storm during their descent.

The Tragic End

The year 1996 became the deadliest in Everest's history, and Hall's group was not spared. They lost a Japanese climber and two American climbers to frostbite and exhaustion. The group split up, and Hall remained with the dying Doug Hansen at the South Summit. Despite courageous efforts from the team at the base camp, they were unable to reach the summit due to the treacherous weather conditions. On May 11, Hall radioed the base camp and had a final conversation with his pregnant wife, Jan Arnold. This was the last time anyone heard from him. His body was later discovered on May 23 by climbers from the IMAX expedition.

A Legacy and Controversy

Rob Hall's daughter, Sarah, was born two months after the tragedy. Many questioned why an experienced mountaineer and guide like Hall did not cancel the expedition, knowing about the impending storm. Some attributed it to overconfidence and a desire to take risks. However, others recognized that as a commercial guide, Hall should not have exposed his clients, who had paid substantial amounts, to such a dangerous situation. Unfortunately, nothing could be done to change the outcome.

In 2010, Hall's body was pushed down the mountain during a descent expedition organized by the Nepalese authorities. When they approached Hall's widow to offer her the opportunity to retrieve his body, she declined, stating that she did not want anyone else to put themselves at risk.