Not since May 29, 1953, when Edmund Hillary, and Nepalese Sherpa guide, Tenzing Norgay, reached the top of Everest have climbers been more thrilled to reach the summit. Our joy likely exceeds that of Hillary's as he had the benefit of cool weather and snow. We have traversed the path to hell, where the sun has burned all colors but grey from the earth's palette, and stand, fittingly, on rock barely cooled since being belched from the bowels of the earth. (Did I mention it was hot?)