SALEM, Ore. — Mark Luscher has rounded third base and is headed for home for the second year in a row. But “home” is so far uphill you can’t go any higher.
The Albany contractor is close to becoming one of fewer than 100 people to have climbed the highest summit on all seven continents.
He was turned back just above 25,000 feet on Mount Everest a year ago when he developed acid reflux and couldn’t keep down food or water. He left March 29 for another try at standing on top of the world at 29,035 feet by about mid-May.
Luscher, 60, has been declared healthy by his physicians, but they’ve been unable to diagnose what went wrong last time.
“I think I learned quite a bit, and I have several ideas that I think will reduce or eliminate the acid reflux,” Luscher said.
Luscher arrived at base camp at 17,700 feet, six weeks before his summit attempt of Everest last year and in the process of getting acclimated made two climbs up 23,631-foot Pumori.
But ruptured blood vessels in his nose forced him to breathe through his mouth, giving him a sore throat and making breathing and swallowing difficult.
“All factors considered, when you cannot eat, drink and breathe, you are in big trouble,” Luscher said. “I made the decision to terminate the expedition on my own terms. I decided it would be best for me to leave on my own power, rather than have the mountain dictate to me.”
“Climbing Everest is the hardest thing I’ve tried. A great amount of energy and endurance is necessary to continue throughout a long day or night when it’s cold, the wind is blowing and it’s snowing, and all the while you’re climbing high and steep above the rest of the world.”
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