Sam Zurawel

We Did it for Chris

By 29029 Everesting

June 16^th, 2020

We're Doing It For Chris

It all started with a phone call from Matt Montgomery.

I knew that our friend Chris Devero had done 29029 as one of a series of events he had taken on to raise money and awareness for some great causes.. He decided to use his second chance at life, to ensure he spent it really living! There was a period when he was battling cancer that he wasn't sure there would be a tomorrow. And when tomorrow became a possibility, he got busy living! And he did so unselfishly.

When Matt called me, he started talking to me about 29029, and I remember thinking. 'Wow, this sounds cool... For him!' And then he asked me, "would you like to do it with me?" I immediately internalized it. 'No freakin' way! I'd never do that!' I've had a bunch of knee surgeries, so I don't like to walk, I don't want to hike, and I certainly don't like to run.

Before I had a chance to say no, Matt paused and said. "Well, we're going to do this. We're going to do this for Chris. Because Chris can't go. He's sick again." And that's when it dawned on me that he wasn't doing well. And I knew that we had to go and do this, because Chris couldn't.

Chris Was an Amazing Man

So without hesitation, I went from zero to 100. I called my wife to tell her, "I need to find a way to get to Vermont in October." Chris had experienced the first-ever 29029 event in 2017 and was planning to come back to reach Everest in 2018, but was unable, because his cancer was back.

Monty and I wanted to finish what Chris had started. Once we had committed, I went back and read all the reports Chris had shared about 29029. He was able to give us many things, even if we weren't able to discuss it directly with him because of his condition.

Chris was an amazing man.

When you run into people that met him, even for a short period, they remember him. That's the type of guy he was. He made a significant impact on so many people at 29029.

As the event weekend was unfolding, I realized that people who knew Chris started to understand what Monty and I were doing. We were there to honor him, and it came to the forefront throughout the event. It was so motivating to hear the positive things that others shared with us about their memories of Chris.

My last memory of Chris was being with him and seeing him smiling, he was a great guy, someone filled with joy and a person that you wanted to be around. Whenever I heard from him, especially as his cancer got worse, it was so meaningful.

In December, 2018, Chris passed away as a result of his cancer.

Stratton 2018

As we drove to Stratton, it was pissing down with rain, and it didn't look like it was going to subside. I remember the fact that it was cold and wet added to my nerves. Naturally, you fear what you don't know, and some of the vivid accounts that I had read of the 2017 event didn't help. The whole thing seemed so intimidating.

I remember standing on the start line and listening to Jesse's speech, it was terrific. It helped me put some of the feelings of apprehension aside. I can recall him talking about "take in the weekend, one step at a time."

And about "finding ways to be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable." That moment was the culmination of a lot of work, and it was emotional to get started.

I looked around at the faces in the crowd, and I realized that I was in the midst of some incredible people. It's a feeling that's hard to describe, knowing that everyone there is bringing something special to the weekend. The collage of faces at the start line is something I look back on with fond memories.

I was especially nervous about the last quarter of the climb in Stratton and how steep it was. Before the first ascent, it's hard to know how long it will take and how much energy you'll need to expend to get to that point.

For me, finishing that first lap felt like a real victory.

No Desire to Come Back

There was a massive sense of satisfaction when I completed 29029 in 2018. There was also a sense of disbelief. I never imagined that I'd be able to do an event like this. I felt like we did what we were supposed to do, which was to do our very, very best.

Before I collected myself after I finished, I hugged Matt Burrell from the 29029 team and with tears streaming down my face, I said, "I'm never f*&%in' doing this again!" I was physically exhausted and mentally beat. I had Chris on my mind for so much of the event, and I was wrecked!

Following that moment, my mind quickly turned to 'what would Chris do?' and that was simple - help other people get up the mountain by adding energy and support!

Once I got home, it all hit me.

The training, the experience at Stratton, the emotions involved. It was life-changing.

A Special Group

The decision to come back was led by Chris' best friend, Matt Hiley. His enthusiasm made it easy to rally the troops. I felt honored to play a part and to support our group with the knowledge and experience I'd gathered from my first time on the mountain. To have everyone come together was really meaningful. It's such an eclectic group of characters and we were all there for one reason.

To celebrate and honor the life of our friend Chris Devero.

I'm really thankful for a few guys in the group that do an excellent job of keeping everyone together. We've known each other since college, and some of them have been friends since middle school. It's definitely a close-knit group, and I'm grateful to be a part of it. Before 29029, I wouldn't say we were known for our athletic prowess!

Coming together in Stratton really was a celebration of life. Being able to share stories and memories of Chris with so many people, was extraordinarily special and amplified the meaning of the experience for us all.

I remember how impressed I was with Matt Hiley's effort throughout the whole journey. He had the perfect combination of giving it his very best while enjoying every minute of the experience.

A Moment I'll Never Forget

Chris' wife Katy had planned to bring us all together to share a special moment of remembrance. We found a spot on the top of the mountain and came together. We stood in a circle, held hands, and told stories. We laughed and cried. It was perfect!

We each spread some of Chris' ashes.

I walked away, feeling that Chris was smiling down on us. It's a memory and a moment that I'll never forget. It was a chance to remember that the 29029 experience really started with Chris in 2017. The connections he made and the impact he had on the community allowed us all to have these glorious moments. This event meant so much to Chris, and as a group it was memorable to experience that together. We were embraced by the 29029 staff and our fellow participants because he was worth it. He really made a mark on people, and that's a testament to the guy he was.