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12th FTW instructor pilot summits Mt. Everest

  • Published
  • By Bekah Clark
  • 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. --  An active mountain climber since he was a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Capt. Marshall Klitzke, a native of Lemmon, S.D., has felt at home in the mountains since he was a little boy.

"My grandfather was from [Colorado Springs] so I had visited the area since I was little. He always took me into the mountains to hike or fish and that's when I fell in love with them," said Klitzke. "I've always felt very comfortable there."

Klitzke, an instructor pilot with the 557th Flying Training Squadron at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., along with six fellow U.S. Air Force members, climbed Mount Everest, reaching the summit on May 20.

The Airmen are all members of the [U.S. Air Force] Seven Summits Challenge team, an independent group of Airmen who, through the sport of mountain climbing, aim to spread goodwill about the Air Force. The team also uses its efforts to support and raise money for wounded warriors.

The team is aptly named for its self-imposed challenge to climb the highest peak on each of the world's continents. Since 2005, the team has scaled Mount Elbrus in Europe, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Mount McKinley in North America, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, Mount Kosciuszko in Australia, and finally, signifying the completion of their goal, Mount Everest in Asia.

According to Klitzke, who has also climbed Mount Rainier in Washington and Ama Dablam in Nepal, the group is the first military team to scale all seven and the first U.S. military team to summit Mount Everest. The Mount Everest climb was the only climb Klitzke did with the group.

"A buddy of mine, Kyle Martin, and I have climbed together since we were cadets," said Klitzke, "He put Rob Marshall, a V-22 pilot and the co-founder of the group, in touch with me. Rob offered me a spot on the team for the Everest climb due to my previous experience climbing in the Himalayas."

To prepare for the climb, Klitzke cites living in Colorado as a benefit.

"Physically, you have to condition yourself and living in Colorado you have the benefit of having the mountains in your backyard," he said, also crediting military training with his and the team's success.

"In the military you're constantly dealing with and working through problems and it gives you that edge for how to push through challenges," he said. "It goes back even to my basic training at the Academy. That life experience in the military really bears true on the mountain - sometimes you just have to push through, put your head down and focus on putting one foot in front of the other."

That training aside, Klitzke is quick to acknowledge the risks of the sport, especially on a mountain as perilous as Mount Everest.

"You're always very conscious about how it is such a long ordeal, especially with the elements you're dealing with," he said. "You're living on rocks and ice for a month and a half, so something as simple as spraining your ankle has huge ramifications."

Maintaining physical health and stamina for the summit push, which according to the team's blog takes on average 12,000 calories to complete, is vital.

"You're [at such a high altitude] that your body has to burn so many extra calories just to continue to exist," he said. "I lost about 28 pounds from the time we landed in country to when we finished the climb."

The group spent about 50 days in country to accomplish the climb.

"It took two weeks just to hike to the base camp," said Klitzke. "Once you're there you have to acclimate so you go up part of the mountain several times before the summit push. While we were there we estimate that we climbed more than 44,000 feet total.

"You go up to Camp One and come back to base camp, then up to Camp Two and back down, then up to Camp Three and then back down. This basically triggers your blood to create more red blood cells so that you can maintain safe blood oxygen levels."

Once the group acclimated, it took about four days for the summit climb - at 4:30 a.m. on May 20, the team reached the summit.

"You spend almost two months getting there, and even though you only get 15 minutes to take everything in it is absolutely worth it," he said. "It was pretty amazing getting to see the sunrise over the Tibetan plains and watch the whole world light up."

Now that he's climbed the highest peak the planet has to offer, Klitzke has his sights set on medical school.

"While mountaineering will probably always be a part of my life, I have a passion for trying to help people and I feel like I have a lot of ability to do that," he said. "So my next goal is to become a pilot physician."

The experience of a lifetime wouldn't have been possible without the support he received from his commander and squadron, according to Klitzke.

"They were nothing but supportive before, during and after the climb. I'm really thankful for all of the encouragement and support they gave me."

"We couldn't be more proud of Marshall and the team," said Lt. Col. Bradley Oliver, 557th FTS commander. "In addition to climbing Mt Everest, Marshall is an instructor in all three of our aircraft and is an exceptional officer. I hope his next dream of going to medical school is realized."