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Xixabangma team aims to boost interest in mountaineering in Singapore
News 5, News 8, Channel NewsAsia "Singapore Tonight" - 20 May 2002
By Asha Popatlal
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The Singapore Xixabangma Expedition 2002 team, which successfully scaled Mount Xixabangma, hopes to do boost interest in mountaineering in Singapore. The first South East Asian team to conquer the Tibetan mountain-Alpine-style also aims to raise standards of mountaineering here.

Singapore Xixabangma Expedition 2002 team leader Robert Goh and team member Edwin Siew finally touched the summit on Thursday at 1.35 pm Singapore time. "When we reached the summitt, Edwin and I, we had tears in our eyes because we had finally arrived," said Dr Goh.

But the final stretch had its hairy moments, such as the possibility of falling when strong winds blew. And once the Singapore team went over 8,000 metres-called the "Death Zone" because the air there is paper thin-it became a battle between mind and body.

Team member Edwin Siew said: "Without supply of oxygen, we could only take baby steps, about five breaths per step. The wind was tremendous. We could barely stand up for the summit bid." 19 climbers have already lost their lives on this mountain since 1999.

And the team did not take any chances this time. Injured deputy team leader Dr Mok Ying Jang dropped out of the summit bid, for fear of letting down the team. Dr Mok said: "I had to make a heart-wrenching decision. To go up or not to go up with them. If I went up, I might jeopardise the entire expedition." For now Dr Robert Goh and his team just want to return to sunny Singapore, where it will prove to be a welcome respite from the -20 to -30 temperatures they are used to right now.