Alright, so I had to finally get “legal” as far as The Adventurist was concerned.  If you will look to the upper right hand corner of this site, you will notice a new area–the “Legal Mumbo-Jumbo”.   What this is, is the license and copyright information for this site.  If you will click the link (the highlighted words) it will take you to my legal agreement.

What this agreement does is that it allows a blogger or website or anyone else for that matter to republish, reprint, or distribute any article found on The Adventurist as long as you follow three criteria: 1)  That you acknowledge The Adventurist as the source by including a link back to this site as well as including my name as the author,  J. Alan Hendricks, of the article being used. 2) That if you decide to use an article on your blog, webpage, ect. that you send me a note and let me know where it is being featured and lastly, 3) that any portion of this site or it’s written or photographic material submitted by myself or any writer of this site shall not be used on a Commercial Website without the expressed consent of the owner, myself, J. Alan Hendricks.

This is just a little bit of protection I have set up for myself as this site continues to grow and generate interest from abroad.  It is a binding contract and in every sense of the law, Legal.

Now on to the fun stuff!  I have updated the left-hand side-bar with a couple of new additions. 

1. If you will scroll down past the AlanArnette RSS Feed, you will notice a small photo and link that promminently says “Donate your Opinions, Save the Planet” featured on a very nice photo of someone rock-climbing.  This comes from the Laneo website–I think being the outdoors types that we are, that it is very important for us to protect our world and natural and wildlife resources.  This great feature will let all of us help without spending a dime.  It is really a neat organization and I am proud to make myself and The Adventurist a part of it.  By the way, this is not advertising–no one has been paid.  This is trying to keep in the spirit of keeping this a free site for all of my loyal readers.
2. On past the Laneo Ad, You will now find a pretty neat feature called “Global Visitors”.  What this does, is it allows everyone to see where the readers of The Adventurist are arriving from.  It will also rank the top 10 countries that have visited this site.  Should be pretty interesting to watch and will be nice to know how far out in the world The Adventurist is being read.
3. Below the “Global Visitors” Box, you will now find a small tag that says “Blog Top Sites”.  This is a ranking of Blogs and how they are doing.  There will be a small number listed to the right, in a small box giving The Adventurist’s current ranking–which I see is currently 399–but I just put it up and it is new, so I am sure the ranking will rise (hopefully)
4. and lastly added is a small text link that says “Who Links to Me?”  If you will click this, this will give you information on who links to this site–how many links are found in search engines ect. 

 For the most part all of this new stuff that I have added will aid all of us to know and understand how this website is working and doing in general.  This is a way that I can allow all of you to be a part of our continued growth and success.—Now click that Laneo link and go SAVE the World….

The Albany, New York Times-Union recently published a “Letter to the Editor” by a David Anderson from Saratoga Springs.  In this letter, David decides to make his voice known as he speaks out against “Mr. and Mrs. Adventurist”–

“Is it just me or does a climbing “accident” on Mount Hood, Ore., seem to be coming about as regular as a Baghdad car bombing? All I can surmise is a great number of “adventurers” are as unlucky as they are intrepid. (Or, perhaps, unskilled.)”

I am almost positive that David would not be talking about the Mount Hood tragedy that took place in December of this past year where Brian Hall, Jerry Cooke, and Kelly James seemingly lost their lives.I know he is not talking about this incident in particular because…well…these three climbers were as prepared for anything to happen as anyone could be.

They had left notes at the Mt. Hood station detailing thir plans, they had left notes in their cars for their families and rescuers if needed, they had cell phones with them…they had extra supplies to help in case something like this would happen…..and yes, David….ALL three climbers had the previous experience to take on this challenge.  This was a training mission for Everest…They had put their years of hard work at climbing into this expedition…

David goes on to discredit himself in his very own article…

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Now, I don’t profess to be particularly well-versed on the technicalities of mountain climbing, nor do I  care to comment on the value of the risk/thrill benefit to those individuals involved.”

Then, David, we ask….why are you doing so??  It is people like you that are trying to bring a bad name to climbing–for people that are like you–that no nothing about the sport–or a challenge for that matter–

He continues…

“I do know that since the early ’70s, about 100 of these “recreationists” have lost their lives on this mountain. Whether hikers are brought back dead, alive or not at all, it cost the taxpayers plenty to mount a rescue. ( A very risky business in and of itself.)”

First off, the term “Recreationists” is a VERY loose term…watching TV is a recreation….so is walking the dog…ect..ect..

Then he goes on to say that the Taxpayers are footing the bill for the rescues….which I will add is TRUE..the first true statement I have read in this article.  BUT—these people are paid to do this job–even if they were not helping in the Mountain rescue.  As far as the “Taxpayer” dollars being considered, I am guessing David that you are talking about the Police, Fire and Rescue, and other state and federally funded offices taking part in the rescue.  As such, all of these people are on a SALARY which means that they are payed to do absolutely nothing at times….and other times…YES they are expected to work and do their jobs…

As for the other rescue personnel being involved, Most are Volunteers…they WANT to be there, they WANT to help–and they do this service at no charge.  They accepted these risks before they began and offered their services.

“Please, let me pose one question here: Does anyone see a problem with requiring these yahoos to post a bond to pay for their rescue before letting them go up there? I think doing so would certainly be an example of good judgment on the part of the taxpayers and the Forest Service whose poor guys and gals have to risk life and limb attempting to save those whose own judgment is obviously not that sound.”

Yahoos…..yeah, that is right…YAHOOS.  Since when has the media allowed the bashing and name calling to be printed?  Wait, I forgot…the Presidential Elections are around the corner…but anyways..

David wants climbers to post a bond in order to be able to climb…this idea might make his heart feel like he is doing good while he is sitting there watching his TV looking for another group to bash…but as long as the rescue personnel –police-fire and rescue..ect… are ALREADY being paid for these services, I don’t not see what this will do, other than keep people from visiting these places that require the “Adventurists” money in order to survive.

I have covered a recent story involving The Polar First Team–where they are trying to fly a helicopter on an around the world journey.

Well, the guys over at THE LZ have decided to take this adventure upon themselves as well.  What is The LZ you ask?  If you have ever wanted to be a part of a great adventure, but never knew where to start..then maybe you should head on over to their site.

THE LZ is a group of helicopter enthusiasts who are creating and flying along with the Polar First Team–all while being connected to the Internet.  That is right.  The Enthusiasts over at THE LZ are flying the same routes as the Polar First Team all through the marvelous wonder of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator..

These fellas never even have to leave their living room to become, in a certain respect, a part of aviation history.

THE LZ though is not only for Polar First Followers and Enthusiasts though, these guys are actually designing and tracing the history of some of the greatest helicopters to ever fly the skies, and all doing it through Microsoft Flight Simulator.  THE LZ offers flight instruction for the beginning online pilots of the world as well as contests and well….if you are good enough at what you do…you may even make the Hall of Fame.  I highly reccomend checking out their site…and discovering what happens when intelligent minds meet the Internet for a sweet little twist on Adventure.  Nice Job guys and thank-you for bring this story to my attention.

The coming 2007 Everest climbing season is bound to spark the return of the years old debate about whether High Risk Adventurer’s should have to foot the bill of being rescued in remote places.  I know that The Adventurist has covered this topic in the past–I even published a discussion about it that may be found here.

I am not going to sit here and rehash a beaten horse–what is interesting to me, and the purpose of this new post is to enlighten some of you that may not know—this discussion has been a topic of concern for at least the past ten years.

My theory on this is that since High Risk–or as they are called today–Extreme –Sports have surfaced as a money-making beast for a lot of people..and more coverage is given to these Extreme Sports, that this discussion will rage on in the future as well.

Take this editiorial published on the BBC News Network for instance.  This one surfaced in 1998–almost ten years ago–about this same discussion.

Please Read “Should High-Risk Adventure Sports be Banned?”

This debate will rage on with more and more heat as more and more publicity is brought into the sometimes “Tragic” stories of High Risk accidents.  There is just no way around that.  High Risk Adventurists will not quit doing what they love–and the public “tax payers” will not quit ridiculing them for doing it.

During the Mt. Hood tragedy of last December–while rescuers were out there volunteering there own time and money, this debate popped back up to the surface and changed an incredibly sad momment in time for the three lost climber’s families–into a debate that everyone NOT involved in the rescue efforts thought to be important–

It is sad to think that the men and women who have nothing to do with These risk takers are trying to take away something that really…they know absolutely nothing about.

Even in the very best of situations, where the weather is perfect…the climbers are experienced and know what to do in an emergency, there is still a very real threat of something going terrible wrong…why should they be punished for an “accident?”

Yes, they take the risks, but why should they not be allowed to whenever these sports are considered perfectly legal at this momment? 

The Polar hut used by Robert Falcon Scott on his famous and ill-fated attempt to become the first person to successfully reach the South Pole–might be saved.

The British Government has given in to international public pressure about saving the hut and has bestowed a $481,000 grant–this after many previous attempts to deny any funding for the project.

As some of you may or may not know–Robert Falcon Scott successfully became the second person to find and land at The South Pole, but he perished on his return trip home.  Roald Amundsen, the first person to ever make The South Pole trek successfully also had used the hut in his successful bid for the Pole.

With the announcement of the SuperSherpas Expedition taking place in the coming months–as well as the goals behind this Expedition–of bringing the Sherpa people the respect they deserve, of helping to garner better wages for Sherpa Expedition leaders, and to help in educating the Sherpa Children and the Children of Nepal–I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at some of the Sherpa history surrounding Everest. 

Everestnews.com has by far the most historical and accurate, as well as most detailed history concerning the Sherpa people, and I will be directing you to their great site to check out a few articles.

First off, here is a basic overview of the Sherpa and the culture that surrounds them.  This article comes from Wikipedia.com.  Pay special attention to the section titled “Famous Sherpas”, you will find both Lhakpa Gelu and Apa Sherpa mentioned, both mmbers of the forthcoming SupierSherpas Expedition.  Please click “The Sherpa” for this article.

Now the rest of the information I would like to share with you comes from Everestnews.com.  You may click the following related articles for a comprehensive and detailed history of the Sherpa on Everest.  Hope you enjoy.

1. Sherpas who have Summited Everest 1953-1991–This list includes every known Sherpa to have summited Everest up till 1991.  Very interesting to note how many of them have been to the summit more than once..
2. The Sherpas of Everest Series–this is the detailed biographies of many of the Sherpas who have summited Everest or worked for Expeditions that have.
3. Apa Sherpa–I have added this page from The Sherpas of Everest series, as it pertains to the SuperSherpas Expedition taking place in a couple of month’s–and it includes a photo of Apa –so that now you will have a face to go along with the name.  It also includes a detailed Interview of this incredible man.  Very thought-provoking and sincere. A good read.

What I am hoping is that these articles will open your eyes as to the importance of the role of the Sherpa people regarding Mt. Everest.  To them, Everest is not an adventure, it is a job…a way of life…now I ask, should these courageous beings be treated any less than an Ed Visteurs…or a Rob Hall?  The Sherpa deserve the respect and wages that they have rightfully earned over the past 50 years on Everest…I think it is time that they and their families be given the right to earn the same wages as a “Western” Expedition leader would earn for the same job.  They deserve that much out of this World–to live a happy and full life and to be able to have a future with their families.

In my previous post I mentioned that I had been in contact with the SuperSherpa Basecamp.  Well, I am very excited to announce at this time that Apa and Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa have granted The Adventurist an interview by way of email and “The Token White Guy” Roger at SuperSherpa basecamp!

Ladies and Gentlemen these two men have 27 Everest Summits between them!  Lhakpa Gelu has held the World’s Fastest Ascent of Everest in HISTORY–the list goes on and on about the accomplishments of these two Greats–They are perhaps the greatest Everest climbers in history–as well as two of the least known.  That is all about to change…

They are on a mission to gain the respect and noteriety that the whole Sherpa community deserves…they have been stepped over and around when it comes to World Class Climbing–they have garnered the weight of being in the shadows–making some of the greatest climbers who they are today–without the World giving them what they truly deserve.  CREDIT!

It isn’t about Apa and Lhakpa Gelu…it is about their community..their people, and their way of life.  That is the whole essence of SuperSherpa–and the quest for the summit in 2007.

This marks the first time that I have been granted an interview not only from an Everest Expedition but also from a previous summiter of this great mountain. 

As an added bonus to this Interview, I will also be covering  the SuperSherpa Expedition to the Summit –from beginning to end…I am hoping all of you will stay tuned to this historic expedition.

J. Alan Hendricks, Editor