This past week has seen two pretty controversial pieces here at The Adventurist take center stage.  The first one titled “David Sharp HAD to Die” was recently mentioned on ExplorersWeb and has seen well over 2,000 people stopping by to check it out in the past few days alone.

The David Sharp issue continues to be a very hot topic, even a year after this incident took place.  The media and the Climbing Community have been very vocal on their thoughts and concerns over this incident and it seems like everyone has their own opinions.  I figured I would highlight a couple of these opinions that have been shared here on The Adventurist, just to show you a bit of the differing viewpoints taking place:

First, From reader Yolan:

I am still amazed that people have a problem with climbers dying on Everest…..if you plan to take a risk like that, it is a known factor in the whole “picture”. Expecting a Sherpa (or anyone else for that matter) to risk his/her life to save yours, is way out of line….. ethics be damned…cerebral edema may not be a complication that a climber can prepare for, but as a climber, you have to know it is a potential hazzard in the “death zone” (called that for a reason!!) in a situation like and Everest summit attempt, it should be made very clear…. every person for himself!!!

From reader Leon:

It is unfair for members of the public to have such a negative opinion about how climbers are left in the death zone to die because they have never experienced being at that altitude and in such extreme conditions.

When a climber sets foot on a mountain, he or she SHOULD be awear of the dangers and be prepared for the unexpected.

And Lastly, from reader Helen:

Yolan and Leon have missed the central point here - from all reports 40 climbers passed David Sharp on the way UP. 40 still relatively fresh climbers with Os and Dex, 40 climbers with thoughts ONLY of the summit. You’re damn right the “public” have a negative opinion. Most people I talked to at the time (public all) could not imagine why anyone would think being the 431st or so person on top could possibly outweigh saving another “climber”. What story would YOU rather tell back home ? I made it to a summit thats been climbed a thousand times ? Or I saved a life ?

These comments just tip the surface of this great debate, but none the less, it is very interesting to see the different views expressed.

The second piece that seems to be drawing alot of attention is a piece I wrote just a couple of days ago titled “Dave Hahn, Usha Bista, and How The Mainstream Media Bites a Big One“. Read the rest of this entry »

For the second time in two years, a Japanese climber has become the oldest climber to summit Mt. Everest.

Katsusuke Yanagisawa, 71 years–2 months–and 2 days old has claimed the title after making a successful summit on May 22.  Ang Tshering, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, has confirmed this feat.  Katsasuke beat the previous record of Takao Arayama set last season when Takao was 70 years, 7 months, and 13 days old.

Katsusuke climbed nearby Cho Oyu last season, and from there could look across at Mt. Everest–that is when his new goal started to take shape.

Everest was much more difficult than I expected. It was difficult to breath, hard to walk. Even coming down the mountain was more difficult than I had thought it would be.

Katsusuke further mentioned that he was very tired and had also lost partial mobility in one of his arms during this amazing feat.  He also stated that this was definatley the last High mountain that he would be climbing.

The crazy Dutchman Wim Hoff, who was attempting to climb Mt. Everest in shorts this season, has finally been found…

Ever since pictures of Wim on Mt. Everest over a month ago began to appear, I have been trying to track down his where-abouts.  I finally have some new information on the Crazy Dutchman, and as far as I know, I am the first to report it.

Wim Hoff’s attempt on Mt. Everest succeeded, in a sense, as Wim was able to go as high as 7,400 meters (yes, in shorts) before having to turn back for Basecamp.  Wim’s ultimate goal, as he so graciously made very clear, was that he wanted to stand on Everest’s summit and shatter the altitude record for someone …yep, in shorts.

Now Wim Hoff is an interesting character and he draws attention wherever he goes for some of the antics that he has carried out over the last few years, but I think a lot of us are still wondering if a high altitude record even existed before Wim made this effort.  For that I don’t have the answer.

All I can say is that Wim had to turn back on his effort as his feet were literally to the point of freezing solid.  We all know Wim is a tough guy, but -30 degrees in sandals?  Now there is something to be said about that…just not sure what it is at this point..

Needless to say, Wim successfully made it back to Basecamp and is not planning a second excursion like this one, though a rumor circulating has him heading for the North Pole in the coming months…just not sure if he is taking a shirt along for this ride or not….as always, it will be interesting none the less.

Meagan McGrath was honored recently for her daring rescue of Usha Bista by the Nepal mountaineering community.

McGrath, who was on her descent after reaching the Mt. Everest Summit, encountered Usha Bista who had become a victim of Cerebral Edema, a build-up of fluid on the brain.

McGrath was the first to come across Bista and soon she was joined by Dave Hahn and a member of his Sherpa team.

Meagan McGrath, 29, from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada was given bouquets of flowers as well as ceremonial scarves by the Nepal Mountaineering Association for her efforts in this rescue and for being the first on the scene.

Usha Bista was able to be brought down to lower altitudes, where currently she is still recovering from the effects of cerebral edema–

First off, let me be the first to say that, quite frankly, I am pissed.  Luckily, I am not mainstream media and can rightfully say whatever I want to on this platform–so, I am pissed.

The media has picked up the recent story of Dave Hahn’s incredible high altitude rescue and once again turned it in to the David Sharp incident–

For the last two months I have been covering the news from Mt. Everest, I have not seen one…NOT ONE story about anything to do with Everest or the great accomplishments, or the 5 or more other rescues, or the 5 deaths…NOT ONE STORY ON EVEREST until this one in the mainstream media!

What Dave Hahn rightfully done was incredible, he saved a life that probably would have died within hours..but the media has already stepped in and skewed the story.

They have seemingly jumped on the “words” of various climbers claiming that Usha Bista was left by her team on Everest, without knowing ANY of the background, or for that matter, even her name.  They simply call her Usha.

It amazes me that they will report this story, skew it for the public, then cry about climbers rights, climbers etiquette…and try to arouse a reaction out of the public.  This is what is wrong, not only in the climbing world, but in news reporting in general! 

The facts have been stated at least two days ago by myself and a couple of other places about the circumstances surrounding this rescue mission. 

Usha Bista was rescued.  She was rescued by Dave Hahn.  She was found alone and in dire shape.  That is what is known.  NOTHING ELSE at this point.

At the same time, there are two paragraphs in the piece I just got done mentioning, talking about Usha Bista.  Another three about DAVID SHARP.

In a way, I have worked in mainstream media in the past as a journalist.  I know how these things go.  They have pieced this whole scenario on what the IMG team first reported on their Expedition Site.  But they state everything as fact even though it was stated that it was not known if she was left behind and further details would not be known until the IMG team had a chance to talk to her.

One other thing I found interesting in this bit of media circus journalism was the fact that they had a comment about this situation from Dave Hahn himself, as follows:

I was very concerned because her oxygen had run out. She was virtually unresponsive, and in a precarious spot on the mountain, on a steep snowy slope,” Hahn told The Times via satellite phone from Base Camp.

This is ALL Dave had to tell the Times, I guess, about this rescue mission, as nothing else was printed in reference to this conversation.  Now, I am not going “whistle-blowing” here, but do you not think that Dave would have at least talked about the rescue mission and what occured while he was on the phone?  It just seems like the rest should have been included.  Or was it excluded for a reason?  Here is more:

She was at a similar altitude to the cave where Sharp died on May 15, 2006, after an estimated 40 climbers passed him by, most of them without making any attempt to save him. His death sparked an international controversy, with some arguing that a rescue would have cost more lives. Others, including Sir Edmund Hillary, condemned the cynicism of commercial mountaineers.

Usha, like Sharp, was apparently on the sort of barebones expedition that charges clients typically as little as $8,933 and provides them with only basic equipment.

Also like Sharp, she was too weak to move when she was found by David Hahn, a veteran American guide, and his sherpa, Phinjo Dorje, on their way down from the summit. Hahn and Phinjo Dorje decided to risk their own lives by taking her with them, even though she was only semiconscious and suffering from severe cerebral oedema, or water on the brain.

Right there is 90% of this News report!

Do Not believe what you read in the media!  They Over-hype, Over-sensitize…and quite often never give you all the facts.

Alpine Climbing and climber’s ethics have taken a huge hit because of the David Sharp incident last season, perhaps in a way it was good, as this season did see quite a few rescues take place in high altitude..but at the same time not EVERY RESCUE is David Sharp!  Each and every instance is different and unless you are actually on that freakin mountain you have no idea how you would react, so quit your whining and crying and tearing down of a world you know nothing about!

Mountaineering is about risk.  It is about accomplishing the unachievable.  A test of self.

David Sharp did die.  He died in a horrible way that even to this day is still controversial in terms of what is and isn’t known…I just think that it is time we all move beyond David Sharp and quit trying to draw attention and raise opinions, cause a ruckus and deface a lifestyle all for the sake of alittle airtime. 

By the way, this story was featured on FoxNEWS today and is still found on their website, but I don’t suggest you go over their to check it out or you’ll be biting a big one just like they hopefully are.

This is something just a little bit different than my usual posts on this site, but this was definately to good to pass up!

Jamison Stone, 11, yes that is right–Eleven–brought down this humongous pig recently in near Delta, Alabama.  This above photo is REAL!

This was a WILD pig found in the woods near where Jamison was hunting and could actually set a new world record for size and weight. 

Jamison seemingly hit the pig with 8 .50 caliber rounds, chased it through the woods for three hours then casually walked up to it and shot it point blank in the face! 

This wild pig weighs in excess of 1,060 lbs and it took some tree clearing and a backhoe to get it up and out of the woods.  The Hams alone on this pig would be as big as car tires!

So what is Jamison planning to do with his Prize Hog?  First he is going to have the head mounted by a local taxidermy company and then the rest will be mde into nearly 700 lbs of the best sausage Jamison has probably ever had.

By the way, even at 11 years old, Jamison is a seasoned hunter.  He bagged his first deer at age 5.

This just has me wondering in amazement right now how a wild pig, first off, can grow to this size, and secondly..how in the world had nobody found this creature before?

I told you this wasn’t like my usual posts found here, but I think you will have to agree with me when I say that this defiantely had to be an adventure.

Jamison, when asked about his plans for the future, said that he would probably never bag something that big again, but he will keep on hunting.  As for the present, he seems to be enjoying the attention that this has brought to him and has even been cast a small part in a small horror flick coming out about what else?  A Killer Pig.

Well, The Adventurist hopes that this is the first of many adventures for this youngster to come, but I think all of you will agree when I say that, right now, all he should be worrying about is bringing home the bacon. (sorry, but had to get it in there.)

Many of you have noticed over the past couple of months that I have pretty much been exclusivly covering the Mt. Everest Season.  Well, that season is beginning to wrap up and it will be time to venture out into a few new directions.

I guess in order to comprehend my goals with this site, first you must realize what Adventure means to me.  Adventure comes in many shapes and forms, but most generally when speaking of Adventure, it involves the outdoors.

I have previously covered stories from the North and South Poles, Mt. Everest and the world’s highest mountains.  This will continue as always, but for many of you the thought of venturing to these places is merely a dream or positive thinking.

Adventure to many of us can be found much closer to home.  Mountain Biking, Trail Running, Hiking, Camping, Fishing, Kayaking–on and on.  We are all attracted to the great outdoors, but many of us aren’t neccessarily the “Ironman” type.

With this in mind, I will be broadening my approach around here in the coming weeks and months ahead.

Each day will bring coverage of a new topic–and perhaps daily themes as I get this off the ground and start heading in the direction I want this site to go.

There are many places to explore–sports that just about any of us can take part in–Gear to help us along the way–and issues that we all believe in and respect–such as the environment, that I will be delving into.

It will be a journey for all of us.  Yes, it will be a little bit different, some things will stay the same…but it will all lead to that one goal I first set out with–Adventure.

On another note, this past week I surpassed the 75,000 visitors mark to this site and have done so in 6 months!  That is incredible to me.  When I began this site 6 months ago, my first goal was to get 100 readers–haha.  Little did I know the far reaching abilities that a site like this could garner.

This just goes to show that there were and are a large number of people interested in the very things that I have come to value.

Adventure is about setting goals.  Achieving the unachievable.  Seeing places as no others have seen them before, but in a sense, Adventure is also, quite simply, about having fun.

The Teva Mountain Games held in Vail, Colorado will be kicking off in less than a week.

This week long competition will be featuring some of the best athletes in the world in a number of disciplines associated with the Vail, Colorado mountain scene.

You will get plenty of climbing action as well as Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Trailrunning, and yes, even flyfishing in this week long tournament. 

The true highlight of this competiton though has to lie with the Ultimate Mountain Challenge, a two day event featuring groups of 1-4 individuals competing in four different events.  The events will include a down river kayak sprint, the Nature Valley XC Mountain Bike Championships, The Cytomax 10k Trailrunning Championships and the Trek Hill Climb to finish things off.

The Ultimate Mountain Challenge will be handing out prize totals in excess of $11,500 this year.

Floyd Landis, the controversial Tour de France Winner last year is also said to be competing in this years Teva Mountain Games.

Closing out the ceremoney will be one of my favorite bands, The Samples.  If you have never heard these guys live, you have definately been missing out.  These guys can flat-out Jam!

It looks like it will be a great time in Vail this y