@Kate

I was thinking about posting another comment, but I’ve been tied up for the last few days. The first AC comment was mine – although it was a puerile joke, it was actually intended to convey genuine respect for what Kate is planning to do.

In my misspent youth, I did a bit of umbrella dangling and rock scrambling – both from respectable heights, although not together. What Kate proposes to do is very hazardous – anyone who thinks otherwise needs to wake up and check their event logs. Everest is not an environment where you get a do over if you make a mistake. If you think otherwise, then you are suffering from complacency or over confidence, and when parachuting, both of these will kill you. 30 years ago, I lost a good friend and a special lady because of over confidence – not hers, someone else’s. Unfortunately, it happens.

I would say to Kate that I am very envious of her; in my salad days I would have jumped at the chance to have a crack at jumping on Everest. I actually found my old jumpsuit in a box in the attic a couple of years ago; it doesn’t fit anymore – must have shrunk in the wash or something.

I would offer some advice, but it’s probably all horribly out of date. I would however suggest you think of what to say when you leap out – my group had agreed on the phase “Airborne”, but in fact what I shouted was “Oh SHHHIIIIIIiiiiiiii………”. If you want something inspiring to read, I would suggest the poem “High Flight” by JG Magee – I still get goose pimples when I read it.

Have a good time Kate – it will be an awesome experience and one that you will remember for ever.

Signing off - wishing you clear skies and safe landings.

@Kate - 'Male' privilege

Thanks for commenting.

I think its a double edged sword :-) On one side our histories have potentially given us advantages that many young girls do not have (However in my case my first computer was actually the family's TRaSh 80 and we all had access to it. I was just the one interested in it. There was no parental conditioning there.). Society is at fault. However by giving special treatment you highlighting the 'unusualness' of women IT and hence reinforcing the stereotype. You're doing the right thing but things are never simple.

BTW many of my 'boy' activities I learnt as a woman, motorbikes, fast cars, snowboarding and so on...