Colombian expedition Everest 1997 and 2000: Counselling in psychology

This article presents the methodology report in counselling psychology carried out with the members of the first Colombian Expedition to Everest. The team of mountaineers set out to be the first Colombians to reach the summit of the Everest in 1997. They continued working together in three further expeditions to Manaslu (1998), Cho-Oyu (1999) and Everest (2000), when the summit of Everest was finally reached. Using interviews made with members of the team, a case study was made looking from the social and sports psychology points of view. The study explored: a) the social dynamics and the interpersonal relations within the group and b) the individual perceptions about the mountains and mountaineering sport. Conclusions refer to the psychological traits of the mountaineers, to their performance in the mountains and to the internal social dynamics of the team. In addition to the case study, this paper gives an insight to the methodology of the study of small groups and in the psychology of mountain sports. (This article is also available in Spanish)