EP04: The Avalanche that Changed Everything - An Everest Perspective

The Avid Adventurer

“I had this perception that nothing bad could happen to me in the outdoors, and this was a massive wakeup call,” says climber and mountaineer Matt Moniz, of living through an avalanche that claimed nearly two dozen lives when it swept over basecamp on Mt. Everest as the result of an earthquake in Nepal. Still only a teenager, Matt leapt into action performing a search and rescue mission over the following days, and staying in Nepal for another month, ready to help. Though this experience has made him rethink his risk assessment and tolerance, his attitude remains, as it has always been, humble.

Though he has completed the highest peaks in all 50 states and all of Colorado’s 14-ers in the fastest time, Matt is still eager to be a novice. While a student at Dartmouth, he took up whitewater rafting and endured all the highs and occasionally embarrassing lows of learning a new sport. With all of the new skills and certifications he acquires and adventures he undertakes, he is most interested in showing other people the beauty and wonder of the outdoors, with the ultimate goal of preserving it for future generations.

Matt credits the key people in his life, including his father, for shaping his attitude toward the outdoors and his aptitude for outdoor sport, and emphasizes the importance of having mentors. On today’s episode of Avid4 Adventure, Matt discusses the scientific study he conducted on Mt. Everest, learning to sail with his family, and his plans to combine his experiences into something unique.
Quotes

• “Being in a really amazing opportunity of privilege, to be able to go on these expeditions, to have this experience, to not share that with people almost feels like a crime to me. The outdoors, to me, is one of, if not the most valuable resources on the planet, and if we don’t inspire and get people in the outdoors, that resource won’t be enjoyed by future generations, which is really scary to me.” (7:37 | Matt Moniz)
• “It’s a very humbling experience being a beginner, in any activity. I definitely felt that. Having a mentor in the space who is willing to help push your limits but also willing to understand your concerns is really important. Those experiences and those mentors can really make or break your experience in the outdoors.” (10:26 | Matt Moniz)
• “Everything is risky in life. Driving down I-70 during a snowstorm is incredibly risky. Whatever your risk tolerance is, there’s no correct or wrong answer. I don’t go back country skiing on considerably high avalanche danger days, but that’s a calculus that people have to make on their own.” (29:28 | Matt Moniz)
• “It’s a fine line to balance. There were definitely times when my parents said, ‘You are not doing something,’ and at the time I thought it was ridiculous. Looking back on it, it was a very good judgment call, and one that I couldn’t make on my own. On the flip side, there were definitely experiences that I’ve had that were closer calls, that I’ve had to revise and rethink my risk tolerance in the outdoors, and the only way I could do that was to experience it on my own.” (34:05 | Matt Moniz)

Links

Connect with Matt Moniz:

Instagram: matt-moniz

Twitter: climb7moniz

Avid4 Adventure website: www.avid4.com

Avid4 on Instagram: @avid4adventure

Avid4 Adventure on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avid4adventure

Email the host: [e-mail]

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm