Whether or not you’re a climber of mountains yourself, there are many lessons to be taken away from Gary Ingber’s recently published memoir, “Chasing Shangri-La: A Soul-Searching Journey to the Himalayas” (Apprentice House Press).
The founder and former CEO of Open Road Technologies, a software design and development company, Ingber, 73, lives with his wife, Iris, in Worthington Valley in Baltimore County. Both are alumni of Milford Mill High School and the University of Maryland, College Park and belong to Beth Israel Congregation in Owings Mills.
Ingber recently spoke with Jmore about the inspiration for his book, which was written in honor of his son, Michael, and Jonathan Loden, the son of his close friend and business partner Timothy Loden. In 2006, Jonathan Loden died of cancer at the age of 33.
Jmore: What inspired your love of mountains and climbing?
Ingber: As a kid, I was in awe of the Himalayas and the search for Shangri-La. But life got in the way, and the childhood dream faded. When I walked away from the software company I had founded at the age of 57, the dream was resurrected.
Me being me, I had to go for it.
What are some of the other climbs you’ve undertaken over the years, and does your family share your passion?
My son, Michael, shares my love for mountains and climbing — I didn’t give him much choice! As a kid, he climbed Mount Washington and Mount Shasta with me, and when he was 17 we summited Kilimanjaro together as part of a Climb for Hope. [Climb for Hope is a local nonprofit that raises funds for cutting-edge breast cancer vaccine research at Johns Hopkins Hospital.] Michael missed his Beth Tfiloh high school graduation for that one!
I’ve also climbed Cotopaxi, the world’s highest active volcano in Ecuador, did a Grand Teton male-bonding climb with partners and clients from my software business, and have taken treks with my wife in Peru and Patagonia.
This book was written in journal form. Was this the actual journal you kept on the trip?
Pretty much. I made some minor changes when I got home and during the publication process.
Why was this the right time to write and publish the book, 15 years after this particular climb?
Family and friends had long nagged me to get the memoir published. I blew off those suggestions until I stumbled across Apprentice House, a student-staffed publishing company directed by professors and industry professionals at Loyola University Maryland.
Destiny played its hand on bringing the book into being!
How has the climb continued to inspire you to this day?
It continues to inspire me every day of my life. Doing really hard stuff is life-changing. It strengthens your kokoro [a Japanese phrase for one’s heart, mind and spirit]. As I tell Michael in the book, ‘When you win in the high places, you know you can win anywhere.’
Have you made any life-altering decisions in the intervening years?
The trip was a crossroads for me. It led me to my second act. My first act as CEO of a software company was all about making money, for my clients and my company. In my second act, it’s about leaving a legacy, making a difference and the world a better place.
Are you still in touch with your fellow travelers and guides whom you talk about in the book?
No, and that’s a big regret.
What do you hope readers take away from the book?
To ‘re-wild’ themselves. To leave their comfort zones, rise above routine and monotony, and take on really hard challenges. The rewards will be there.
Hearts will be fuller, compassions deeper, horizons wider and their memoirs way, way better.
Any other adventures in the works?
Naturally. I still have a few lives left in me! Adventure is in my blood. I’ll be climbing peaks and diving reefs as long as life lets me, this time around embracing those adventures with my kids and grandkids.
“Chasing Shangri-La” is currently available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
A former Baltimore resident, Carol Sorgen is a freelance writer based in Portland, Ore.
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