Tales of adventure inspire teens

What does climbing Mount Everest, returning a ‘‘yeti relic’’ to a monastery and crashing a plane all have in common? Mike Allsop has done them all.

Allsop gave the opening speech in a line up of remarkable mentors taking part in Palmerston North Boys’ High School’s leadership week, which began yesterday. The event is taking place at schools nationally.

Allsop grew up in a singleparent home, and believes he was able to achieve his goals because he worked relentlessly and systematically toward them.

After fighting long and hard to become a pilot, he was crewing a Twin Otter plane from America to New Zealand when the fuel delivery system failed. He and a co-pilot called for help, but had to ditch in the ocean on a moonless night, using flares the Hawaiian Coastguard sent up to guide them.

Despite being forced seven metres down in the dark water, he fought to stay calm, fight for air in the cockpit, and then reach the surface.

Achieving his goal to climb Mt Everest was just as much of a battle of will and discipline, he said.

As well as preparing for the altitude and exertion, he researched snags and dangers by listening to as many stories about the climb as he could.

He escaped an avalanche by a whisker, with a split second decision to unhitch from his safety rope and take his chances leaping over crevasses.

One of the monasteries nearby had been robbed of a treasured relic, believed by the monks to be the hand of a yeti, so Allsop presented a Weta workshop-made recreation in an ornate carved box.

Allsop passed on three key tips: Dream, make a plan and break it down into steps, and never give up.

When he wanted a new challenge, he googled ‘‘how to run’’. He took his time to prepare, fighting injuries and setbacks and then ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents to raise money for charity.

‘‘If you believe you can, then you will,’’ he said.

‘‘Hearing first-hand from people who have set themselves lofty goals, who have worked hard to achieve them and who have made valuable contributions to New Zealand society is incredibly important,’’ said boys’ high deputy rector Gerard Atkin.

‘‘We want our young men to aspire to be the very best that they can be in whatever field they choose to pursue.’’