Robie Vaughn '74 shows off the Culver flag after reaching the summit of Mount Everest on Friday, May 18.

51-year-old Vaughn thrills friends, family with his achievement

Saturday, May 19, 2007

By KEITH WHITMIRE / The Dallas Morning News

When Robie Vaughn reached the top of the world, the celebration extended all the way to his home in Dallas .

When Vaughn, 51, reached the summit of Mount Everest, news of the achievement was relayed to a gathering of family and friends in Dallas on Thursday evening.

"It was a big 'hip-hooray' moment," said family friend and fellow climber Dick Bass, who was at the gathering along with Vaughn's wife, Fallon. "She was just so thrilled, you can't believe it. He wanted it so badly and worked for it so hard."

Vaughn, an oil and gas executive, reached the summit along with two Sherpas at 7:15 a.m. Friday, Everest-time.

He radioed a message from the summit thanking his family and friends for their support.

Dispatches from the climb were posted on www.exploradus.com, following the expedition.

The Everest climb was just the latest endeavor by Vaughn, who was also a World Cup skeleton competitor.

"I think it [climbing Everest] is something he's been wanting to do since he's been a teenager," his brother, David, said. "We've climbed mountains together, smaller mountains, on and off for the last 25 years.

"He's always been a little more intense about it."

Vaughn recently climbed Argentina 's Aconcagua , the highest mountain in the western hemisphere, in preparation for Everest.

He arrived at the Everest base camp on April 12 to begin acclimating and make practice climbs.

After reaching the highest of four camps on Everest, Vaughn aborted his initial attempt at the summit Thursday to avoid injury after his feet grew cold. But the next day, with good weather conditions, Vaughn reached the top.

Vaughn is already well into his trek back down the mountain which, according Bass, can be the hardest part of the climb.

"You're so dadgum tired," said Bass, who climbed Everest in 1985. "Going down really is tougher than getting up. You've got the adrenaline flowing going up. Once you're up there, you wish some magic carpet would come and whisk you down."

Vaughn's son, Robert, is in Nepal to meet his father when he arrives at base camp. Vaughn's wife was with him when he first arrived at base camp but has since returned.

"I'm thrilled for him," Bass said. "I can't wait until he gets home and talk to him face-to-face."