Avalanche Kills 10 On Turkey’s Mt. Zigana

A Turkish mountaineering club has been devastated by the deaths of 10 members following an avalanche on Turkey’s Mt. Zigana.  Seventeen members of the hiking and mountaineering club were swept more than 1,600 feet down the 7,200 foot Mt. Zigana.  Seven members were successfully rescued by authorities and villagers, with ten perishing during the avalanche.

The mountaineering club was in the midst of their annual winter sports celebration at a local Mt. Zigana resort.  The celebration is used to draw in skiers to a small resort near the Black Sea

We were walking and before we realized what was going on, the avalanche came on us,” Ural Ayar, one of the survivors, told NTV television by telephone. “The snow dragged our friends along and unfortunately they were buried.”

Mountain rescue teams used dogs in trying to find the trapped members, but called off the search once the sun went down.  You can find the full report here.

The names of those involved in this incident have not been released.  With that being said, I need to make a personal complaint to the Associated Press for publishing photographs of the dead victims lying in the snow.  The families of those involved should not be subjected to the photographs before they are notified of their loved one’s situation.  Come on.  Have some humility guys!

Let’s keep all of them in our thoughts and prayers today.

K2 Summits, New Route on Gasherbrum II, and more..

Over the past week most of my time has been used covering the recent Michael Reardon tragedy.  This is not to say that nothing was happening though, but I felt that I had the opportunity to do something for Michael and his family and friends that other sites just couldn’t do.

To get back up to pace, I will be offering a synopsis of what has been going around in the headlines.  So let’s jump right in…

Avalanche on Gasherbrum II

On July 19, a massive avalanche was reported from Gasherbrum II.  The Amical Team, hoping for a summit push, was suddenly buried in snow.  One member died in this tragic incident, another member was unable to be located, and the rest of the team suffered various degrees on injury.

Hirotaki Takeuchi, a member of the devestated Amical team, reported in to ExplorersWeb about the incident saying that the group got swept up in the avalanche and carried down 300 meters to the seracs. 

Other teams on GII soon went up and helped in a massive search and rescue which resulted in Hirotaki and others being able to survive this ordeal.  Much credit is given to these teams in their efforts for this rescue between Camps 2 & 3 on Gasherbrum II.

Italians Summit Gasherbrum II, Establish New Route

Karl Unterkircher, Daniele Bernasconi, and Michele Compagnoni made alpine history today as they successfully summited Gasherbrum II via a new route–The North Face.

The team had been climbing for the past three days, and began a successful push for the summit a bit earlier today.  This is great news following the tragedy on GII earlier this week with the Amical Team.

For more on this story, please stop by The Adventure Blog for more information.

Massive Summits on K2 Today

Around 3:30 Pm today reports started circulating that the first team to reach K2’s summit this season had arrived.  That was just the beginning though…17 more climbers would soon top out on what many people claim as the world’s deadliest mountain.

Over the years, K2 has had a total of 269 summits.  That is right, 269.  In Comparison, Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak as well as most publicised, had well over 500 summits….this year alone.  K2 has also claimed the lives of 69 people in the process, giving it a death-to-success ratio of 24%.  One in four have died trying to bag this coveted peak.

For more on the list of successful K2 summiters today, I will refer you to ExplorersWeb for the complete story.

On a sad note, a yet unnamed Sherpa took a tragic fall and perished during today’s activities.  The Sherpa, who was working with the Korean Men’s Team, slipped and began to fall.  Two climber’s close to him tried to grab him as he came by, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt.  More details on this tragic incident will be expected in the coming days.

The Adventurist: A Call to All Outdoor Writers and Photographers!

I have just put the finishing touches on a new “Submit & Contact” Page here at The Adventurist.  I am hoping that this new feature will be accepted and used by all of my great readers.

This page goes into detail about a few things I am looking for here at The Adventurist–and ways you might be able to get involved.

Do you love Adventure Writing or perhaps Great Outdoors Photography?–Help me share your incredible talents with a much bigger audience!

Head on Over to the “Submit & Contact” Page, found on a tab right up above this article, and Share your Adventures with the World!

Also, if you are looking to put me to work, there is info there as well….

Cheers-

J. Alan Hendricks, Editor

Swiss Avalanche Kills 6 Climbers

Some sad news coming from Switzerland today as it is being reported that six climbers have been killed in a massive avalanche taking place on Jangfrau Peak in Central Switzerland.

The Swiss Army has not confirmed who the climbers are at this time, but they are questioning that perhaps it could be members of their own team.  The Swiss Army is reporting that they had two teams of three new recruits that had been training in the area at the time of the accident.

Jangfrau Peak stands at 13,642 feet high.  The climbers had reached a height of 12,470 feet when new snow gave way beneath them and sent them plummeting to the valley below.

The bodies of all 6 climbers have been recovered and official word as to who they are is still waiting to be released.

For the Associated Press News Story on this tragic event, Please click HERE.

The Adventurist: New Directions Leading to the Same Horizon

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.

BREAKING NEWS: DHAULAGIRI AVALANCHE CLAIMS RICARDO VALENCIA AND SANTIAGO SAGASTE, TWO OTHERS SURVIVE

ExplorersWeb has posted that Ricardo Valencia and Santiago Sagaste were killed today in an avalanche on Dhaulagiri.

The avalanche occured at Camp 2 as the spanish expedition, the only expedition still at Dhaulagiri, were waiting out a storm at Camp 2 to proceed to the summit–

The Avalanche swept down as Valencia and Sagaste were in their tents waiting out the storm. 

Two other members of the Spanish Expedition, Javi Serrano and Austrian Gerlinde Kaltenbruner survived the ordeal in their tents only a couple of meters away but did lose all of their climbing gear and supplies in the process.

Serrano and Kaltenbruner were helped down Dhaulagiri by two more spanish expedition team members that were stationed at Camp 1.

The team had launched a bid for the summit on Friday but got caught in a storm and were in the process of waiting it out before they proceeded.

The Adventurist would like to offer it’s condolences to the family, friends, and associates of these two lost climbers.  Our Prayers are with you tonight and in the coming days.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Five Missing Climbers on Mt. Hood–May 12, 2007

After going to a couple of different sources, I can now give you a better update of the situation on Mt. Hood that has taken place tonight.

The five climbers are stranded at the 9,800 foot level on Mt. Hood.  They are currently in contact with Mt. Hood and Hood River Authorities.

The climbers were wearing tracking devices which are now the law in Oregon and on Mt. Hood.

Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Strovink said the climbers had a mountain locator device, a global positioning system and were in contact by cell phone.

The climbers have been advised to build a snowcave until a possible rescue attempt in the morning can be made.

The names of the five climbers involved, at this time, are not being made public.

The circumstances surrounding their difficulty on Mt. Hood was apparently involving bad weather and near white-out conditions.

It is noted that at this time, all five climbers are safe and doing well.  No injuries have occured and a rescue attempt will be made in the morning.

Let’s all keep our fingers crossed. 

It is noted that with all the publicity last year of the three climbers who tragically perished on Mt. Hood in December, that there has been quite a bit of coverage taking place on these Mt. Hood Incidents.  It is also noted that in any given year that there are roughly 20 search and rescue efforts that take place on Mt. Hood.

Last year’s tragedy brought Mt. Hood to the limelight and ever since, any time a climber gets into trouble it makes national news, but keep in mind–most of these search and rescue efforts, especially in the spring and summertime are successful.

BREAKING NEWS: Five Climbers Go Missing on Mt. Hood

Five Climbers have been reported missing on Mt. Hood this evening.  Not alot of information is known at this time about who the climbers are or their situation, but a search and rescue effort has been put in to place.  It has been noted that the climbers were in contact at one point with the rescue team but their exact location on Mt. Hood is currently unknown.

The climbers had left the Timberline Lodge earlier today.

As this story developes, I will refer back to some of my old sources on my previous coverage of The Mt. Hood Tragedy in December of 2006, in an effort to keep you posted on any new developements.

Once again, Five Climbers have went missing on Mt. Hood.  Further details will be forthcoming as this story breaks and more information is released. 

These Climbers are in our thoughts and Prayers tonight as this rescue mission takes shape.  We all hope and pray for a safe recovery and that everyone will be ok.

This story was first brought to my attention by the great folks at the Blogging Mt. Hood website.

Christine Boskoff Still Missing, Chinese Hampering Search?

In December 2006, Christine Boskoff and Charlie Fowler went missing while on a climbing expedition in China.  Charlie Fowler’s body was found in the snow on the desolate and hard to reach mountain in December.  It was presumed that Christine was dead as well.

There is a new UPDATE coming in today of this search and rescue attempt in China.

Mountain Madness has stated that the search for Christine Boskoff was called off last December after heavy snow and a huge avalanche risk–the search was to resume in the spring.

Mountain Madness is now exclaiming that the weather conditions in the search area is relatively the same.  Same high snow and the same threat for avalanches in the region.

From ABC of Mountaineering:

“They reported that they have a difficulty in getting the Chinese authorities to cooperate and still have to convince local police to allow the posting of reward signs, which delayed efforts by three days.”

If you would like to get updated on the Christine Boskoff Search you may read my past posts on this ongoing effort by clicking HERE.

Everest 2007: Inside Himex Basecamp, From The Outside

Nick Heil, a journalist for Outside magazine, has recently joined up with Russell Brice and his Himex team at Everest Basecamp and will be chronicling the Himex Everest Expedition this season for Outside magazine.  All of this is taking place in the Outside Blog.

Some quick observations about Nick Heil’s Blog about this Expedition.

First, is the shear size of Russell Brice’s Expedition this season.  Here are a few details:

1. The Himex team’s camp consists of 87 tents.
2. Of those 87–67 are two-person dome tents provided by Mountain Experience.
3. The rest are divided among “specialty” tents.  One each for the following:  Communications, Medical, Russell Brice’s Personal Bedroom, One kitchen for climbers, as well as one for the Discovery Channel Film Team, A Food storage tent, 3 mess tents, 2 client bathroom tents, 3 client storage tents, One Sherpa Kitchen, One Sherpa Dining Tent and 4 Sherpa Dorm Tents, and 2 Sherpa Bathroom tents.   They also have a make-shift film studio made of plywood, as well as “The Tiger Room”, which has been getting publicity for it’s geodesic shape, as well as it’s size..24 by 24 by 24 ft. high.

At this point I would like to mention that a lot of people, including myself, have been speculating about the big size of the chinese expedition team.  At this time, in comparison, the chinese team consists of 90 people, of which ten will be making a summit bid.

If the Himex team has less people–why so much room, and why has this not been mentioned in the press until now?

Also interesting to note, I recently had the chance to discuss the Chinese team with David Tait, a member of this season’s Himex team.  David told me that the Chinese really had no real “prescence” at Basecamp that was noticable.  Maybe this is because Brice’s Himex team is so large itself…

As far as why there is such a big layout of the Himex team, Nick Heil goes on to add:

“While this may seem excessive for a mountaineering expedition, it serves a functional and necessary purpose too. In the calculus of high-altitude climbing, discomfort and even boredom can feed stress and anxiety, and that costs energy. And in this game, the more reserves of energy you can take up high, the better your chances of success—and safety. Ultimately, it doesn’t make the climbing any easier, but it can make it more feasible. When you consider that climbing Everest necessarily entails putting your life on the line, why not do everything possible to stack the deck in your favor?”

The Outside Blog has been updated four times since it began on May 1st.  Other notable mentions on this blog include the recent summit and struggled descent of Maxut and Vissily just a few days ago–which to make a small matter clear–Alex Abramov , from 7Summits went to Russell Brice’s Himex tent to ask for help in getting Maxut and Vissily back down safely–as well as a good post on a meeting Nick Heil conducted with a good friend of The Adventurist, David Tait.

The Outside Blog becomes the fourth Blog to be covering this Himex Expedition.  It is definately getting some wide coverage, especially through the Discovery Channel Site, where they are keeping a blog as well.  It is nice to see yet another perspective that, to this point, doesn’t seem to be biased in the least.  This willd efinately be a nice addition as the Himex team starts to prepare for it’s summit bids in the coming days.

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