Aahana Swrup
In May 1996, a devastating blizzard took over Mount Everest and resulted in the deaths of multiple climbers—both professional and adventuring. Amidst this real-life tale of tragedy and fortunate survival, Beck Weathers emerges as a unique personality who managed to escape almost certain doom, persevering through some of the worst that the hulking mountain has to offer. His story was immortalized through cinematic dramatization in Baltasar Kormákur’s 2015 film ‘Everest.’ It follows the journeys of mountain guides Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, whose team got caught in the worst of the storm during their descent from the Summit. In the film, Josh Brolin’s portrayal of Beck Weathers adds a sense of persistent and miraculous hope to the narrative. Thus, the climber’s life remains a point of interest even outside of the big screen.
Beck Weathers Underwent Several Amputations After His Remarkable Survival
Beck Weathers charted an incredible journey during his Mount Everest expedition as one of Robert Hall’s eight clients. The Texan climber—who was professionally a pathologist—got his start in the sport in 1986. Unfortunately, he faced complications in the high altitude as after-effects of his radial keratotomy surgery. Although he attempted to descend the mountain afterward, he eventually got stuck in the blizzard and was left behind due to his weakened state. A series of hardships followed, which Weathers somehow overcame despite his deteriorating health until he eventually made his way back to a Camp all on his own. Despite the low chances of survival, Weathers still managed to make it through another night before he reached a lower camp where a helicopter-aided evacuation took place.
As of the time of writing, it remains one of the highest-altitude medical evacuations ever executed. In the aftermath that followed, Weathers had many more challenges ahead of him. His horrifying experience had left his limbs, nose, and parts of his face severely frostbitten. As a result, part of his right arm, the fingers and thumb from his left hand, and parts of his feet had to be amputated. Additionally, his nose was also amputated and had to be reconstructed. Furthermore, his body sustained a number of medical issues, including creaky joints and poor circulation. Still, the sheer miracle of Weathers’ survival remains. Thus, the climber has found a second chance, which he continues to treasure.
Beck Weathers is Still Married to His Wife, Peach
When Beck Weathers first undertook the Everest expedition in 1996, his marriage was in an incredibly tumultuous state. The climber, who used mountaineering as a coping mechanism for his depression, had ambitions of climbing the Seven Summits. However, it had a grating effect on his personal relationships, especially with his wife, Peach. Therefore, the latter had been considering getting a divorce from her husband. Nonetheless, she decided to give Weathers a second chance following his near-death accident. Thus, the climber realized his adventure-seeking ways would result in a rather lonely life without a wife or kids.
For the same reason, Weathers decided to turn over a new life and prove his transformation to his family. Today, while in his 70s, he remains in a blissful marriage with Peach. He’s still close to his children and has even become a grandfather. Still, for a brief moment, he did consider indulging in another adrenaline-heavy interest: flying in a Cessna 182-Turbo. As such, it’s evident that despite what life throws his way, the climber has retained his sense of adventure.
Beck Weathers Practices Medicine and Shares His Story as a Motivational Speaker
Beck Weathers has continued to share the inspiring story of his survival with the world in a number of ways over the years. In 2000, he published his autobiography, ‘Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest,’ which he wrote with co-author Stephen G. Michaud. The book delves into his own account of the events of the 1996 Everest Tragedy, as well as the story of his life both before and after the incident. Furthermore, he extended a helping hand in the development of Baltasar Kormákur’s ‘Everest’ by making himself available to actor Josh Brolin for crucial conversations that helped the actor understand his on-screen character.
Today, Weathers mostly shares his tale through motivational speaking. His unique experience of surviving the brutal blizzard while near the top of the world’s highest mountain remains a source of consistent inspiration for many. Most recently, he was a guest at the Texan school, Lamplighter’s 2023-2024 Dolores Evans Speaker Series. However, outside of the same, the man seems to prefer a quiet and private place like Dallas, Texas, where he resides with his family. Additionally, the former climber also continues practicing medicine as a pathologist.
Read More: Peach Weathers: What Happened to Beck Weathers’ Wife?
