EVEREST CLIMBERS FROM UTAH MEET 2 OF THEIR 3 GOALS

      Dr. Keith Hooker fulfilled a dream he'd had for a lifetime.

      After returning Oct. 17 from a treacherous attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Hooker, an emergency room doctor at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, said he and a team of Utahns accomplished two of their goals."We wanted to come back alive, come back as friends and reach the summit. We accomplished the first two," Hooker said at a press conference Friday.

      Five Utahns began the expedition. Howard Chuntz, a Provo attorney, and Doug Hansen, owner of Hansen Mountaineering in Orem, returned home early because of serious illness.

      Hooker and two others, Stanton Smith, a Salt Lake podiatrist, and Craig Bishop, a member of the Utah National Guard, struggled through freezing temperatures, exhaustion and lack of oxygen.

      Smith went the furthest - he came within 4,000 feet of the summit. Hooker said he reached 20,300 feet and had "had it with the weather and exhaustion." Mount Everest peaks at 29,000 feet.

      "We told each other that if one of us died, we would just leave them there," Hooker said, "But fortunately the three of us only had minor illnesses."

      Hooker, the attending physician, said he took very few medical supplies and did more reassuring than anything that the hikers' ailments weren't too serious.

      The team had prepared for the expedition since 1987. During the five years leading to this year's attempt, they prepared physically and financially by scaling smaller peaks and raising money for permits and equipments. The cost of the trip exceeded $62,000, Hooker said.

      Hooker lost about 30 lbs. on the expedition. He said the altitude created problems - like not being able to breathe and severe headaches.

      Hooker said he wouldn't have considered doing it again two weeks ago, but now it is a possibility.

      "My body is still recovering. I still get headaches and have trouble sleeping," Hooker said. "But it was worth it."