Eduard Kubatov, the president of the Federation of Mountaineering of Kyrgyzstan, shared his thoughts on how climbing Everest changed his life. In an interview for the "Kabar" agency podcast, he noted that this event radically changed his perception of the world.
“I often reflect on how it would have been if I had climbed Everest at a younger age—say, at 30 or 35. Perhaps my life would have taken a different turn. My priorities were completely different back then. I focused on money, comfort, my own home, a car, business, and large international projects. I achieved success and earned a lot, but at some point, I lost myself. This feeling of superiority over others became a deception for me. I wasn’t a bad person and didn’t commit dishonest acts, but my values were purely materialistic. After climbing Everest at 49, I realized that I had lived in illusions for the last two decades,” he said.
Now, Kubatov strives to use his experience for the benefit of his people.
