Andrew T Lincoln

Andrew Lincoln Hall (1955-2012) was a distinguished Australian mountaineer, author, and adventurer. He was a key figure in the first Australian expedition to summit Mount Everest in 1984, which blazed a new climbing route. Hall's life was marked by extraordinary resilience, notably surviving a harrowing ordeal on Everest in 2006 when he was presumed dead at a high altitude during his descent, only to be found alive hours later. He authored seven books, many detailing his climbing experiences, and co-founded the Australian Himalayan Foundation. His contributions to mountaineering were recognized with the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Australian Geographic Society's Lifetime of Adventure award. Hall passed away from mesothelioma at the age of 56.

Born in Canberra, Andrew Lincoln Hall developed his passion for climbing early, honing his skills at local crags and even training by traversing university buildings. His formal mountaineering career began with expeditions to New Zealand in the late 1970s. This led to a significant 1978 expedition to Dunagiri in the Indian Himalayas. During this challenging ascent, Hall and his climbing partner Tim Macartney-Snape were instrumental in forging a new route to the summit. Despite facing severe weather conditions and a perilous descent that involved spending an additional night exposed on the mountain, Hall was eventually rescued via helicopter, an event that may have been one of the highest in Himalayan history at the time. This successful expedition solidified the partnership between Hall and Macartney-Snape, paving the way for their future Himalayan climbing endeavors.

Lincoln Hall's mountaineering achievements included multiple ascents of significant peaks worldwide, most notably two expeditions to Mount Everest. The 1984 expedition, in which he participated, marked the first Australian ascent of the world's highest peak and established a new route. His most dramatic experience occurred during his 2006 Everest ascent. While descending from the summit, Hall collapsed at an extreme altitude of 8,700 meters, suffering from severe altitude sickness that caused confusion and hallucinations. His guides, facing diminishing oxygen and deteriorating conditions, were eventually forced to leave him, and his death was reported. Miraculously, twelve hours later, another climbing team discovered Hall alive, albeit severely frostbitten and disoriented. A large-scale rescue operation ensued, with climbers abandoning their own summit bids to assist him. Hall was brought down the mountain, ultimately surviving the ordeal, though he lost extremities to frostbite.

Beyond his climbing feats, Lincoln Hall was a prolific author, penning seven books that shared his adventures and insights. Among these were works detailing his Everest experiences, including 'Dead Lucky: Life after death on Mount Everest' and 'Alive In The Death Zone: Mount Everest Survival.' His near-death experience on Everest was the subject of documentaries, highlighting his resilience and the dramatic rescue. Hall was also a founding member of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting the peoples of the Himalayan region. He was a respected speaker, sharing his stories and experiences with audiences globally. His life and contributions to mountaineering were formally recognized with the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Australian Geographic Society's Lifetime of Adventure award. Lincoln Hall passed away in 2012 at the age of 56 due to mesothelioma.

“I imagine you're surprised to see me here”

“The summit is still there and we can go back. Lincoln only has one life.”