This is an educational resource based on the Wikipedia article about Lincoln Hall. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

Ascent to Resilience

An exploration of courage, survival, and the indomitable human spirit of Australian mountaineer Lincoln Hall.

Discover Lincoln Hall 👇 The Everest Ordeal 🧗

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!


When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Lincoln Hall: An Overview

Personal Details

Lincoln Ross Hall (19 December 1955 – 20 March 2012) was a distinguished Australian mountaineer, adventurer, author, and philanthropist. He was recognized for his extensive contributions to mountaineering and his remarkable story of survival.

Born19 December 1955, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Died20 March 2012 (aged 56), Camperdown, Sydney, Australia
OccupationAdventurer, Author, Philanthropist
SpouseBarbara Hall

Accolades and Recognition

Hall's significant achievements and contributions were recognized through several prestigious awards and honors throughout his career.

  • Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM): Awarded in 1987 for his service to mountaineering.
  • Australian Geographic Society's Lifetime of Adventure Award: Received in 2010, acknowledging his lifelong dedication to exploration.
  • Life member of the Australian National University Mountaineering Club.

Defining Contributions

Beyond his personal climbing achievements, Lincoln Hall was instrumental in establishing philanthropic initiatives and sharing his profound experiences globally.

  • Author of seven books, documenting his adventures and insights.
  • Founding member of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in the Himalayan region.
  • A sought-after speaker, sharing his unique climbing experiences and lessons learned with audiences worldwide.

Formative Years

Academic Foundations

Born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Hall pursued higher education at the Australian National University, where he studied Zoology. His academic environment provided a backdrop for his burgeoning passion for the outdoors.

Early Climbing Pursuits

Hall honed his climbing skills at local crags, notably Booroomba Rocks in the Australian Capital Territory, where he pioneered several challenging routes. His early training also included ice climbing in the Snowy Mountains and utilizing university architecture for practice.

A Career in the High Peaks

Himalayan Beginnings

Hall's significant mountaineering journey began with expeditions to New Zealand (1975-1978) and culminated in the 1978 ANUMC expedition to Dunagiri (7,066m) in India. There, he and Tim Macartney-Snape successfully pushed a route to the summit ridge, demonstrating remarkable endurance and partnership.

Notable Ascents

His career is marked by numerous first ascents by Australian climbers and ascents of major peaks globally:

  • Mount Everest: Part of the first Australian expedition in 1984 and reached the summit on his second attempt in 2006.
  • Mount Minto, Antarctica: Led the first Australian ascent in 1998.
  • Annapurna II (7963m), Nepal.
  • Makalu (8481m), China-Nepal border.
  • Carstensz Pyramid, Irian Jaya, Indonesia: Including pioneering the "Hall Route" in 1993.

Miracle on Everest

The Ordeal

During the descent from Mount Everest on May 25, 2006, at an altitude of 8,700 meters (28,543 ft), Hall succumbed to severe altitude sickness, likely cerebral edema. Confused and hallucinating, he was left behind by his guides as night fell, with expedition leader Alexander Abramov ordering the guides to abandon him, believing him deceased. His family was informed of his death.

A Dawn Discovery

Remarkably, the following morning, Hall was discovered alive by a summit team led by Daniel Mazur. After spending over 12 hours without oxygen at extreme altitude, Hall was found conscious, changing his shirt. Myles Osborne, part of the rescue team, described the moment as one of "total disbelief."

"Sitting to our left, about two feet from a 10,000 foot drop, was a man. Not dead, not sleeping, but sitting cross legged, in the process of changing his shirt. He had his down suit unzipped to the waist, his arms out of the sleeves, was wearing no hat, no gloves, no sunglasses, had no oxygen mask, regulator, ice axe, oxygen, no sleeping bag, no mattress, no food nor water bottle. 'I imagine you're surprised to see me here', he said. Now, this was a moment of total disbelief to us all. Here was a gentleman, apparently lucid, who had spent the night without oxygen at 8600m, without proper equipment and barely clothed. And ALIVE???"

– Myles Osborne

Unprecedented Rescue

An extensive rescue operation, described as "unprecedented in scale," was immediately launched. Mazur's team abandoned their summit bid to assist Hall, while 12 Sherpa guides were dispatched from base camp. Hall was brought down to the North Col and then Advanced Base Camp, walking the final section. He survived with frostbite on his fingers and a toe, a testament to the extraordinary efforts of the rescue teams.

Legacy Beyond the Summit

Literary Works

Hall eloquently documented his experiences, particularly his survival on Everest, in several impactful books:

  • White Limbo: The First Australian Climb of Mt Everest (1985)
  • The Loneliest Mountain: The Dramatic Story of the First Expedition to Climb Mt Minto, Antarctica (1989)
  • Blood on the Lotus (fiction) (1990)
  • First Ascent: The Life and Climbs of Greg Mortimer (1996)
  • Douglas Mawson: The Life of an Explorer (2000)
  • Fear No Boundary: The Road to Everest and Beyond (with Sue Fear) (2005)
  • Dead Lucky: Life after death on Mount Everest (2007)
  • Alive In The Death Zone: Mount Everest Survival (2008)

Media Features

His extraordinary survival story captured global attention and was featured in numerous documentaries and television programs:

  • Dateline NBC: "Left for Dead on Mount Everest" (2006)
  • Miracle on Everest (2008), based on his book "Dead Lucky."
  • I Shouldn't Be Alive: "Left for Dead on Everest" episode (2011)

Philanthropy and Speaking

Hall channeled his experiences into positive action, co-founding the Australian Himalayan Foundation and becoming a respected motivational speaker, sharing profound lessons on resilience, risk, and the human spirit.

Final Ascent

Passing from Mesothelioma

Lincoln Hall passed away on March 20, 2012, at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, at the age of 56. His death was attributed to mesothelioma, a form of cancer often linked to asbestos exposure.

His friend and fellow mountaineer Greg Mortimer, who was present at his side, described his passing as peaceful. Hall resided in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, with his wife and two sons, who survived him.

Selected Bibliography

Published Works

A comprehensive list of Lincoln Hall's notable published works:

  • White Limbo: The First Australian Climb of Mt Everest (1985)
  • The Loneliest Mountain: The Dramatic Story of the First Expedition to Climb Mt Minto, Antarctica (1989)
  • Blood on the Lotus (fiction) (1990)
  • First Ascent: The Life and Climbs of Greg Mortimer (1996)
  • Douglas Mawson: The Life of an Explorer (2000)
  • Fear No Boundary: The Road to Everest and Beyond (with Sue Fear) (2005)
  • Dead Lucky: Life after death on Mount Everest (2007)
  • Alive In The Death Zone: Mount Everest Survival (2008)

Related Figures

Beck Weathers

An American climber who also faced a near-fatal ordeal on Mount Everest, being left for dead during the infamous 1996 climbing season. His survival story shares thematic parallels with Hall's experience.

Learn More ➡️

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio
Click here to open the "Lincoln Hall Climber" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about lincoln_hall_climber while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

Discover other topics to study!

                                        

References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Lincoln Hall (climber) Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data, primarily Wikipedia, and may not capture the full nuance or be entirely up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information presented here is not a substitute for expert consultation regarding mountaineering, survival, or any related field. Readers are encouraged to consult official sources and qualified professionals for specific guidance.

The creators of this page assume no liability for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided.