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CNN Live At Daybreak

Illinois Man Hopes To Be Oldest Climber of Everest

Aired March 27, 2002 - 06:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Scaling Mount Everest remains a daunting task for any climber. A group of five women leaves today from New York with that goal in mind.

And CNN's Keith Oppenheim has the story of a 71-year-old Illinois man who won't take no for an answer, not even on Everest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AL HANNAH, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER: ... and most importantly, we have crampons. Without crampons, we're going to be dead.

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's with enthusiasm Al Hannah talks about the verge of death. And that's exactly where he plans to go. By late May, the 71-year-old man hopes to reach the top of Mount Everest. And if he gets there, he'll be the oldest person to have climbed the world's tallest mountain.

Two years ago, he got within 300 elevation feet of the summit, two hours climbing. But turned around because of exhaustion and a break in his concentration. That, he says, won't happen again.

HANNAH: I'm not worried about sliding into China, which is 8,000 feet down over this side, and sliding into Nepal, which is 6,000 feet down on this side. I'm not going to think about that this time, though.

OPPENHEIM: What he is thinking about is his equipment. From ultra light clothes to oxygen bottles, Hannah knows his gear is the key to staying alive.

(on camera): What's the temperature outside like outside when you're wearing all this?

HANNAH: Well, we're going to be anywhere from 20 above to 40 below. Because we...

OPPENHEIM: Is that actual temperature?

HANNAH: Actual temperature.

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): Hannah, by the way, still runs his commercial mortgage company and trains at night. He believes, firmly, his body and mind are ready. HANNAH: I can think of the summit, I have pictures of it, I have it visualized. I know what the worries are going to be. So we'll get there. I'm going to be there.

OPPENHEIM: I'm Keith Oppenheim, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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