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Showing posts from November, 2010

Air Force Seven Summit Challenge

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The Air Force Seven Summit Challenge is travelling to Antarctica's Vinson Massif. At the top of the 16,076 foot mountain, two airmen plan to do pushups to raise money for the children of Special Ops warriors. Rob Marshall and Graydon Muller will leave on November 24. Supporters have pledged monetary donations for each pushup performed and foot climbed by the two Hurlburt Field pilots. All of the funds go to the Special Operations Warrior Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to the children of airmen who have been killed in battle or training accidents. The group of Air Force climbers has raised more than $40,000 from previous ascents. They hope to raise at least $10,000 on the Antarctica climb. Marshall, who is a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, started the challenge to show the strength of the Air Force. Muller, a member of the 6th Special Operations Squadron, hopes the team will set a world record as the first military team to complete the S

Jennifer Jordan Tells Untold Story of Ill-fated 1939 Mountaineering Expedition

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This week I met award-winning author, filmmaker, and screenwriter Jennifer Jordan. She was in Arizona talking her book “The Last Man on the Mountain: The Death of an American Adventurer on K2”. It’s an amazing story about Dudley Wolfe, the first man to climb K2, the world’s second-highest mountain. After making it higher than any member of the expedition, a sick and severely dehydrated Wolfe was abandoned during the descent. Sixty-three years later, Jennifer Jordan discovered his remains. Photo : Authors share mountaineering stories and their books. Jennifer Jordan with a copy of Irion Books’ “Murder on Everest” while Charles G. Irion with a copy of Jordan’s “The Last Man on the Mountain” . Photo : Jennifer Jordan shares her story about climber Dudley Wolfe at an REI store in Arizona. Photo : My autographed copy of “The Last Man on the Mountain”. Jordan's website: http://jenniferjordan.net and Facebook Page: Last Man on the Mountain .

Seven Summits Climbing Records

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The Seven Summits challenge has been tackled by countless climbers but only 275 have actually completed the task. This challenge includes summiting the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Currently, there are two different Seven Summit lists. Both include Mount Everest, Mount Elbrus, Mount Kilimanjaro, Vinson Massif, Mount McKinley and Aconcagua. One list includes Mount Kosciuszko, while the other instead includes Mount Puncak Jaya, also known as Carstensz Pyramid. Thirty percent of the climbers who have completed the Seven Summits, have reached the eighth peak as well. Over the years, several records have been placed by those who have completed this monumentous task, below are a few of the current records. First: Richard Bass in 1985 Last: Sonia Carlos in 2010 Oldest: Ramon Blanco at 70 years old Youngest: Johnny Collinson at 17 years old Fastest: AC Sherpa in only 42 days First Female: Tabei Junko of Japan First Married Couple: Phil and Susan Ershler First Perso

The Internet Reaches New Heights: Mount Everest

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Technology has officially reached new heights! Mount Everest, the highest point on earth, has received internet connection. Climbers can surf the web, send a Tweet and make phone calls from the summit of Mt Everest. Until now, climbers were forced to carry heavy and expensive satellite equipment to transmit information and images from base camp. On the climb, mountaineers carry hand held VHF radios to talk with base camp, though an expedition might also carry a satellite phone to contact sponsors and family. Because of NCell, this is no longer needed. Climbers now have access to wireless internet and telecoms at the peak. This will greatly increase the safety for climbers on Everest. Distress calls from the death zone will be heard and answered more quickly due to this new technology. Satellite phones are infamous for poor reception at the top of Everest; the opportunity of internet on Everest has now solved this problem. Interactivity between climbers and the outside world has n

"Save the Poles" Expedition

Arctic explorer Eric Larsen has spent the past 15 years traveling across the globe to some of the most remote places on earth. Larsen is the first person to send a tweet from the North Pole on Earth Day. On his "Save the Poles" expedition Larsen traveled from the North Pole to the South Pole and summited Mount Everest along the way. Larsen's expedition was meant to bring attention to global warming. In the video below Larsen discusses his adventures and expedition with CNN.