Anatoli Boukreev

I am not sure the others are as committed as Rob Hall and Scott Fischer. I think there is more business now, and I know it will be impossible to stop this Everest business.

I travel to Jakarta, I see what an important country it is. I've been working with them for a year.

Concerned that others were not coming onto the summit and because I had no radio link to those below me, I began to wonder if there were difficulties down the mountain. I made the decision to descend.

My individual, psychological descent coincided, ironically, with my ascent into the public eye.

I have a naturally camp sensibility and a camp sense of humour. I love the icons that gay people love.

I see myself as a climber and an activist.