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 233: Paul McDonald: Former NFL QB had to go thru the tunnel to find happiness on the other side.
EP 232:: Morten Andersen- Hall of Fame Kicker talks mental toughness
EP 231: Apolo Ohno: 8 Time Olympic Medalist
EP 230: Kim Hess, Super Woman going after the Explorers Grand Slam
EP 229: Alan Ball a former NFL Player who learned the right way to do things
EP 228: Ethan Suplee; Life of a movie star..
EP 227: Robert Paylor- How this young man turned serious adversity into a gift.
EP 226: Ed Cunningham: From the NFL; then ESPN to winning an OSCAR! Wow..
EP 225: Jim Zorn- Life in the NFL. The transition from player to coach. ..
EP 224: Kevin Reilly living his best life post the NFL & Cancer
EP 223: Marc Wilson: From the Gridiron to Life after the NFL
EP 222: Jordan Thomas, Losing both legs was the gift of a lifetime.
EP 221: Freddy Couples: Master Champion. What it takes to be great..
EP 220: Frank Fumich- A Life of Adventure & Never Giving Up.
EP 219: The life lessons of coach Skip Hall
EP 218: Shailee Basnet changing the world from Nepal
EP 217: Jeffery Strueker Podcast
EP 216: Jeremy Poincenot world champion blind golfer Podcast
EP 215: Miracle on Ice Mike Eruzione Podcast
EP 214: 7 Summiteer John Waechter interviews Mark Pattison Everest climb
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