Mike Hamill is the founder and lead guide for Climbing the Seven Summits. His company focuses on the 7 summits, and a few other select mountains that Mike finds special. Mike gets clients to the top over 90% of the time, more importantly, he always gets his clients home safe.
Mike cut his teeth climbing in the White and Adirondack mountains of the northeast. On these climbs, Mike, built his resume, while finding his passion and calling. In the 90's when Mike first started collecting the 7 summits, he's completed the circuit 6 times since then, he realized nobody had created a comprehensive guidebook.
Mike got to work. His book "Climbing the Seven Summits" describes in detail how to put together a campaign to accomplish the goal. Mike downloaded his experiences into the book: the pictures, secrets, training climbs--everything.
Getting to the TopHamill's success in getting clients to the top of mountains is founded in their preparation. He refuses to cash checks to simply guarantee access to the mountain.
Aside--Over the years Hamill witnessed less professional guide companies take payment from climbers ill-prepared to take on Everest. Mike's decades of experience informs how he runs climbs. He knows when to make a call, denying a client a summit, yet saving their lives. Mike was on Everest in both 2014 and 2015 when the mountain claimed nearly 40 lives. Mike witnessed inexperienced teams and crews put people in jeopardy and at times lose clients, for the sake of a summit.
Rather he seeks climbers who build their summit resumes through progress, accumulating skills and experience rather than the ability to write a check.
Transition to the BossNow as the main guy at basecamp, Mike is the commander, he's climbing less and coaching more. "I'm focused on logistics, weather, personalities, management, I'm the one person at basecamp overseeing the entire operation. Now, I hire the guides, people I know, they get the clients up the mountain."
When Mike decided to start his own guide company, he gave up the safety of working for someone else. However, that sacrifice has rekindled his passion and unlocked love for his work, his clients and employees completely new ways.
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EP 273: Adrian Ballinger - Guiding and summiting big mountains all over the world!
EP 272: Kelly Lynn Adams. Making a pivot in 2023 and becoming the best version of yourself.
EP 271: Kenton Cool. The super hero who climbed MT EVEREST 14 times with no end in sight.
EP 270: Shane Jacobson, CEO of the V Foundation on kicking cancer and the impact Jim Valvano had
Yuriy Boyechko, CEO and President of Hope for Ukraine
Shawn Richardson is living her best life and turning her passion into a career.
Nancy Svendson on the life of Pasang, the 1st Nepalese woman to climb Mount Everest
U Conn Head Coach Jim Mora on becoming relevant again
Nate Boyer: From GREEN BERET to Hollywood.
Tom French: 1st Attempt of EVEREST failed. 2nd time was a charm.
Mike Tomczak: 16 years in the NFL and still accelerating in life. One of the good guys.
Pete Nordstrom on running Nordstrom, navigating the pandemic & family.
Joe Connor out to change the world through soccer
Jesse Bradley, from professional soccer player to almost dying from an allergic reaction to a malaria shot, Jesse talks about his redemption
Kristin Harila: Eleven 8 Meter Peaks down, 3 to go towards setting a world record
Don Munson: the voice of the Clemson Tiger tells how he rose to the top of the broadcasting game
Tom House: known as the guru of quarterbacks who has mentored Tom Brady, Drew Brees and many others.
EP 256 Miles Burris: transitioning from the NFL to the acting world and thriving..
EP 255 Matt Warren: Singer / Songwriter with multiple hits had to go through rehab to find his greatness.
EP 254 Terry Ahola Made the US SKI TEAM from 82'-84 but got injured which derailed his Olympic dream but he picked himself up and has transi
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