Summit Murder Mystery Series

Publisher and author Charles G. Irion discusses his unique book series (Summit Murder Mystery Series) - murder at the world's highest mountains on the Back-Story Radio Show. Charles also talks about his climbing expeditions on Everest and Kilimanjaro - two of the seven summits from the series. Listen now ... Listen to internet radio with BackXStory on Blog Talk Radio

Most couples plan their honeymoon to go on cruises, Hawaii, traveling through Europe. Not many use their honeymoon to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and raise money for Climb for Cancer Foundation. Jamie Berk and Lori Parent plan to get married in three months and will spend their honeymoon in Tanzania. The trip wasn't intended to be their honeymoon, at least not at first. The trip is a climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa to raise money for cancer patients. Berk lost his mother's sister to cancer, and one of his colleagues at The Orthopaedic Institute's Alachua office is battling the disease. This trip is a way for him honor their memory. The trip is being organized through Climb for Cancer Foundation, a group that organizes climbs, funded by participants and focuses on meeting the needs of patients and their families. The couple has committed to raising $20,000 together. Parent estimated they have about $5,000 to go, although they would love to reach $50,000. According to Pare...

Recently, Makiko Iwafuchi, a 49-year-old Japanese woman, went missing for 12 days in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. After she was found she explained how she survived by eating bamboo shoots and drinking water. Makiko left her hotel on May 25 to trek to a nearby lake in Gosaikunda, a religious site for Hindus located at an altitude of 4380 meters. Unfortunately, she lost her way in a forest and was only saved when a group found her by accident. "The trail seemed pretty clear and I thought I would not get lost. I was confused and took the wrong trail," Makiko told reporters in Kathmandu. Makiko is an experienced trekker and hiker. For two days she didn't move and stayed in a small cave. To keep herself fed, Makiko ate leaves, bamboo shoots and kept herself hydrated by consistently drinking water. Makiko formerly traded jewelry but is now a full-time traveler. Upon her rescue she appeared exhausted and had minor injuries to her feet, but otherwise suffe...

Over 200 days ago climber Richard Parks began his attempt at the 737 Challenge to raise one million euro in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Care. The challenge includes becoming the first person to summit all three poles and the Seven Summits in seven months. The three poles include the geographical North Pole, the South Pole and the highest summit on earth, Mount Everest. The Seven Summits include: Mount Elbrus, Mount Everest, Mount Aconcagua, Mount McKinley, Mount Puncak Jaya, Vinson Massif and Mount Kilimanjaro. Today, Parks only has one mountain left to complete his challenge: Mount Elbrus. This week he arrived home from Alaska and Mount McKinley and will leave soon for Russia and Mount Elbrus. The Marie Curie Cancer Care organization was established in 1948. Now, more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals help provide care for terminally ill patients in the European community and hospices, while supporting the families of patients. The organization curre...

Irion Books recently learned that Connie Gregory, a regular book reviewer of the Summit Murder Mystery Series, lost her battle with cancer. According to Connie, who hosted a review Blog, "I adore reading good mysteries and novels and now I am writing my opinions and feelings about them. Two things I love to do read and write!" Her husband sent us an email to notify us and wrote that Connie loved the Series. Our thoughts are with her family. We will miss you Connie. Thank you for everything.

Apa Sherpa, Guinness World Record holder of the most summits of Mount Everest, has announced he will not climb the world's tallest peak again. He has been quoted that he will not climb above base camp in future visits to the mountain. Apa Sherpa first summited in 1990 and since then has climbed 21 times. The most recent summit was earlier this year. The 51-year-old mountaineer has been involved in the Eco Everest Expedition since the beginning of the campaign. Mount Everest has become increasingly filled with trash left behind by climbers. The Eco Everest Expedition works to clean the polluted mountain. Apa Sherpa has broken his own record of climbing Everest several times in the past and we can expect his name to remain in the record books for some time.

High altitude climbers have a new option for shelter while scaling mountains. Slingfin has designed a tent, which according to the company, all of the components are equally strong, making the tent stronger as a whole. Based on Web Truss technology, Slingfin tents are designed to increase strength and are easier to set up. The system is constructed out a series of poles that fit into a continuous tent structure. All of the tent poles are made from aluminum and are the same length. This allows climbers to pitch the tent easier and faster. The company has also added reflective strips, in case the tent is assembled in the dark. The tents range in size from standard alpine and mountaineering tents to a 23 foot dome. Smaller structures are used for sleeping quarters for climbers, while the larger ones are used as dining halls and communication centers. Slingfin was created by industry veterans Martin Zemitis and Timothy Baka, both co-founders of Mountain Hardwear. Beyond the mountaine...