Nathan Schneider ('03) nearly climbed world’s highest peak as part of goal to scale Earth’s 'Seven Summits.’

Nathan Schneider ('03) came within 1,600 feet of accomplishing something no EMU graduate ever had before: reaching the summit of Mount Everest. But bad weather, even by Everest standards, and low oxygen reserves forced Schneider to turn back with the elusive peak within his sight.
"I know I made the right decision," Schneider said. "I didn’t want to succumb to 'summit fever’ and try something foolish."
Experienced climbers know that prolonged exposure to thin air produces a series of physiological changes, one of which is slowed and impaired reasoning abilities. The problems are compounded near Everest’s peak, which at 29,029 feet is the highest place on Earth. In fact, one of the 32 climbers in Schneider’s expedition reached the summit the previous day, but died on the descent, after falling and hitting his head.
In the area above the "Death Zone," which on Everest is between the final camp and the summit, Schneider needed to take 20 breaths between each step. He was mentally and physical exhausted and suffering from a cracked rib, an injury he received earlier on the trip as a result of a violent coughing spell. "You’re just not supposed to be there," Schneider said.
Schneider’s interest in climbing started before arriving at EMU in September 1998. The Perrysburg, Ohio, native climbed Africa’s Mount Kilamanjaro in 1997 while still in high school.
While at EMU, he worked part time at Eastern Mountain Sports in Ann Arbor. Using his half-off employee discount, he started acquiring the specialized gear that climbers require. During the five years it took to finish his bachelor of science degree in chemistry, Schneider added Aconcaqua (South America), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), Mount Elbus (Europe) and Mount McKinley (North America). Reaching Everest’s peak in May 2005 would have left Schneider only one summit shy of having scaled the "Seven Summits," the term given to the highest peaks on each continent. He has only Everest (Asia) and Vinson Massif (Antarctica) to conquer.
He is planning a return to Everest, but not any time soon. He’s currently a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati in the second year of the medical physics master’s program. Plus, it cost more than $13,000 for his "permit" fee paid to the Nepalese government in order to attempt the Everest ascent, money he earned and set aside over a period of years.
The journey began April 9 in Nepal, and was to culminate May 25, the scheduled day of his reaching the peak. His expedition included 32 climbers and 12 sherpas (or guides). Summit expeditions take place in May, June and July. Climbers can scale Everest from either Nepal or China, but access is regulated by the Nepalese and Chinese governments.
If he had been successful, he said he would have left behind a picture of his family as a memento. "As a climber, I’ve developed a strong respect for the beauty and power of nature," he said. "And I’ve learned that you need good judgment and patience to climb."