No Summit out of Sight: Chapters 23–29

by Jordan Romero, Linda LeBlanc
This memoir recounts the incredible journey of Jordan Romero — the youngest person to climb the world's tallest mountains of every continent.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Prologue–Chapter 8, Chapters 9–15, Chapters 16–22, Chapters 23–29
30 words 10 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. incense
    a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
    The smell of diesel, incense, and curry filled my nostrils.
  2. wiry
    lean but strong
    Having read so much about their ability to carry heavy loads at high altitude, I was surprised by how wiry and small they were—probably no more than five feet four to five feet five.
  3. rickshaw
    a small two-wheeled cart for one passenger
    Next we hired bicycle rickshaws beautifully decorated with flowers and brightly painted images of Hindu gods and spirits on their sides, backs, and roofs.
  4. distinct
    clearly or sharply defined to the mind
    Every time I looked at him he gave me the stink eye—I had the distinct impression he really did not want this job.
  5. plume
    anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness
    I took my sunglasses off to get a better view of the mountain. It was right there, that white plume blowing on the summit where it pierced the jet stream.
  6. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    Dad whispered to me as we approached them, “It's important to remain humble in front of other climbers.”
  7. humility
    a lack of arrogance or false pride
    “He's doing the Seven Summits and only has Everest and Vinson left."
    I shot a sideward glance. Apparently he hadn't gotten the humility message.
  8. hypnotic
    attracting and holding interest as if by a spell
    The constant clanging of their bells, all at different pitches, was the music of Tibet—kind of hypnotic and always in the background at base camp.
  9. interim
    serving during an intermediate interval of time
    Advanced Base Camp was too far to reach in one day. We arrived at Interim Camp at nineteen thousand feet and settled in for the night.
  10. full-fledged
    having gained complete status
    I was a full-fledged, responsible member of the team—all of us had one another's backs.
  11. dexterity
    adroitness in using the hands
    Groups of Sherpas carrying big loads to Camp 1 passed us on the ropes with amazing speed and dexterity.
  12. disoriented
    having lost your bearings
    I was completely disoriented and blinded by the cloud of white around me.
  13. matted
    tangled in a dense mass
    His hair was matted with blood.
  14. precarious
    fraught with danger
    It looked even more precarious than the first. I remembered Dad saying he wasn’t comfortable here.
  15. petrify
    cause to become stunned or immobile, as with fear or awe
    Now I was petrified of being buried alive.
  16. enlightenment
    the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation
    The monk who had led us was meditating in the corner and must have fallen asleep. I heard a faint snore. He was very old. How many weeks, months, years had he dwelled here seeking enlightenment? I wondered.
  17. flurry
    a light brief snowfall
    By the time we reached ABC, the light flurry had morphed into a full blizzard.
  18. replenish
    fill something that had previously been emptied
    We swapped out our cylinders and ate some Hammer bars and cheese while melting snow to replenish our water bottles.
  19. curvature
    the property possessed by the arching of a line or surface
    I was higher than the clouds and could actually see the curvature of the earth with an orange line along it and an arc of white light above.
  20. ferment
    cause to undergo the breakdown of sugar into alcohol
    Dad poured some for everyone, but the Sherpas had their own drink. Chang was a local brew made from fermented barley, millet, or rice, and it still had grains floating on top.
  21. caravan
    a procession traveling together in single file
    A fire truck escorted us into town, followed by a caravan of cars honking their horns.
  22. commend
    express approval of
    As a fellow athlete, I commend you for challenging your determination, he wrote.
  23. hallmark
    a distinctive characteristic or attribute
    Your perseverance is the hallmark of a true champion.
  24. neutralize
    make closer to the middle of the pH scale
    “We each get three bags that contain, and I quote, ‘Poo Powder, which quickly turns waste into a stable gel for easy transport and safe disposal, plus neutralizes it to eliminate unpleasant odors.’”
  25. ordeal
    a severe or trying experience
    Lose a mitten and your hand could turn to stone and you wouldn't be able to zip your jacket or cover your face. Dad understood that after his Everest ordeal.
  26. balmy
    mild and pleasant
    We set out wearing light fleeces on a balmy 30-degree day.
  27. virtually
    slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
    I stood on the roof of Antarctica, staring in every direction at a landscape virtually untouched by humans.
  28. blustery
    blowing in violent and abrupt bursts
    High Camp was a cold, blustery place.
  29. lanky
    tall and thin and having long slender limbs
    Dad looked ridiculously funny because he was so tall and lanky and his skis were almost in a wedge.
  30. notorious
    known widely and usually unfavorably
    We left the next day for Mount Mansfield in Vermont, then on to New Hampshire's notorious Mount Washington and more wicked weather.
Created on Wed Dec 22 11:19:55 EST 2021 (updated Wed Jan 05 09:33:40 EST 2022)

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