An Adventurist Editorial: The Stephen Fossett Debates

We should have all seen this one coming from a mile away–

Going into days 5 and 6 for the ongoing search of legendary adventurer Steven Fossett, people are starting to take their focus off of the search and more onto the debates surrounding these types of events when they occur–

First it began with how great of an adventurer Steven Fossett is.  Over the past few days this focus has slowly moved to the motives of a “Risk-Taker” and if Stephen Fossett’s family should be charged for the search currently taking place.

Both of these items are highly debatable and both of them generally always surround a high profile search, especially if the person involved was also a part of anything that has a certain risk-factor to it or has been the focus of media attention in the past.

Personally, I began taking notice of these debates around December of last year when three climbers became lost on Mt. Hood.  The ensuing search, that garnered massive media coverage, soon became a debate for a cause. 

It may be the cause of the general media’s focus to always provide something new to a highly viewed (and rated) story.  Running out of new leads, they hop back on the bus and get everyone involved in raging debates that once again spark interest to previous stories of the same general nature.

Two questions always emerge:  Should the families of the person being searched for have to pay for this service?  And secondly–the risk involved.  How could they do this to their families and loved ones?  What is it about risk that triggers these people to always endanger their lives? Read more

EverestNews Inciting Controversy with Editorial and a Response by The Adventurist

I recently headed over to EverestNews to check out what was going on at their site.  Needless to say, I was quite surprised by a small editorial piece they are currently featuring titled Everest Rumors, Lies, and Ridiculous Stories.

This is based on a few reports that this editorial is claiming as false.  First off, it denies an increase in fees leveled by the Chinese Government this past season on Everest.  It then goes into detail about many sites broadcasting rumors and lies, specifically mentioning the possible closing of the North side of Everest by the Chinese for the forthcoming 2008 Olympics.

EverestNews goes on the record as saying Everest’s North side will be open to climbers in the coming 2008 season and the number of climbing permits given will not be limited in scope due to the 2008 Olympics.  They also go on record as saying that the rumors of China trying to negotiate the closure of Mt. Everest’s South side, via Nepal, is also completely false.

EverestNews Claims the Following Regarding Fees:

Stories that the fees in China were increased several times over were also spread, FALSE again. Why? Guides did raise fees which one would assume resulted in much higher profits… For most independents and operators the Chinese took a minor fee increase.. One must wonder what is the agenda here? To get traffic to web sites? To get published in rags? To help raise profits for some? What???

EverestNews is crediting CTMA and CMA as being two of the reliable sources that this information is coming from:

The CTMA and CMA appear to be getting pissed off by all these rumors, lies and ridiculous stories… Including false stories about climbers, who grow in number year by year… This will probably result in changes from the Chinese many of us might not like….

Last year’s “High-Altitude Free Tibet Protest on Mount Everest!” which was a “set up” where Americans went to China to get arrested and were successful is expected also to cause more tension for the Chinese and climbers which combined with these ridiculous stories will result in tougher standards on entering for 2008….

Now a Few Words From The Adventurist

First off, the CMA respectively refers to the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the CTMA refers to the China Tibet Mountaineering Association.  Now that we know that all of this information is respectively coming from China we may make a few comments.

EverestNews is based out of Granville, Ohio–The United States.  Why would such a site be bowing down to a communist regime in regards to it’s editorials? 

If you go back and read the article as it is printed on the site, you can plainly see that this little bit of marketing by the two forementioned climbing associations in China is nothing more than Chinese Propoganda.  Yes, they might be pissed off at the press, but you do have to remember that China is hosting the upcoming 2008 Olympics and with all of the recent bad publicity regarding China of late, it is no wonder that they would put out a piece questioning the recent rash of bad publicity.

Regarding the climbing fees–on more than one occassion this past year, climbers were told, once they got to China, that their fees would be anywhere from $1000-$3,000 more than what was quoted before they left for the climb.  This information is documented in the climber’s expedition blogs rather substantially.  This did not just happen to US climbers, but even some expeditions from the Philipines and so forth.  This is documented and this information that EverestNews has released bears no weight.  Tell us the sources and give us the figures–until the proof is out there on such matters, it will remain the same.  Too many climbers were claiming the same problem:  A rise in climbing fees after they arrived to get their liscence, which was unmerited beforehand.

As far as the Chinese trying to close the North or the South sides of Mt. Everest for next season.  This news, as I myself have also mentioned, has come not only from the United States press, but also the Press organizations from around the world, including Nepal.  It is known that the Nepali Government was approached with an offer to shut off the South side as well…even though, this offer by the Chinese could have fallen through in the last few days.

Next, we come to a couple of possible threats handed out by the CMA and the CTMA about possible changes taking place over the 2008 Everest season.  These changes are in reference to the “One World-Free Tibet Protest” that took place this year, as well as the Chinese becoming “pissed off” at the stories and rumors coming from Mt. Everest.  They claim this protest was a simple “set-up” to get the organization holding the protest arrested, and in a sense..free publicity.  That may very well be the case, but in another note, the “Free Tibet” campaign has been going on for well over 50 years now.  Each year new protests are enacted to bring the Chinese occupation of Tibet to the limelight.  It just so happens that this years protest took place while China was trying to do their initial Olympic Torch training run to the top of Mt. Everest.

What the CMA and the CTMA are essentially doing is giving themselves an excuse to deny liscences to climbers in the upcoming 2008 season.  They will base this denial on the rumors and lies of the foreign nations trying to take part in next years Everest season, as well as political turmoil of not knowing exactly what people are planning on doing.

While the supposed facts being represented on EverestNews merit no basis, it boggles my mind that an American Company such as EverestNews has seemingly given the Chinese Government an outlet for their remarks–given the Chinese’s past record.

Anyone remember Nangpa La?  Last year the Chinese military opened fire on a group of people trying to cross from Tibet to Nepal–essentially political refugees trying to leave a country they despised–some were shot in the open, in front of 60 or so climbers–including a nun who was mortally shot and killed.  After this incident, the Chinese Military seemingly invaded the ABC camp and essentially looked things over and waited.  They had captured some 30 odd children, women, and men, and taken them into custody as well.

Many people are scared of speaking out against the Chinese.  The guides could very easily lose their bid to attempt Everest and other peaks in the Chinese Himalayas if they don’t keep their mouths shut about such incidents when they do take place.  China has essentially used political power and intimidation factors to keep the “real” stories on Everest and other peaks silent.

Nangpa La was real.  Photos confirm the merciless killings.  Still climbers involved in the incident from around the world are reluctant to speak out against the Chinese.

In 2007 the Chinese Basecamp at Everest featured a security fence and armed guards.  N0 one was allowed around their encampment and secrecy was held as an asset.  At one point a couple of climbers got stranded high on Everest and the Chinese refused to take part in any kind of search and rescue efforts.  This should clue you in a bit on their priorities.  China is about China.  They protect through armed tactics and intimidation. 

So why would EverestNews take a stand and essentially side with them by posting this very Pro-China editorial?  The editorial even fails to mention who the writer was.  I feel the reason may be as simple as the 2008 Olympics.  They are positioning themselves to be “the source” of news and info coming out of China.  On the otherhand, by taking such matters and putting themselves in the public light with such a controversial move, I can not see how this will benefit them at all.  They may get the news coming from China, but at the same time they are alienating the climbers from around the world that understand the tactics China uses in an effort to “control”.

EverestNews makes the following question regarding the rumors, lies, and deceptions and the press that has put them out.

One must wonder what is the agenda here? To get traffic to web sites? To get published in rags? To help raise profits for some? What???

I am only speaking for myself at this time.  I have no advertisers.  I have no site sponsors.  Trying to draw traffic to a site such as this one has no meaning.  It does not benefit me in the slightest.  On the contrary, by putting up an editorial that questions the basis of information regarding Everest and other mountains–by saying they are lies, rumors, and so forth–we do need to question these intentions–EverestNews is essentially questioning the same people that they get all of their information from–The climbing expedition blogs.  They post no news that isn’t spoken first-hand from the Expeditions themselves on their own sites–and they do so 90% of the time word for word.  So who is to blame for the lies, rumors, and so forth?  Rather than calling out people that you yourselves rely on for information–perhaps you should look at yourselves.  This is a weak and futile attempt at bringing in viewers that already question your standards in the field.  China or no China, by printing the threats and “control” tactics, you are becoming nothing more than one of the many puppets you are trying to speak out against.  Just something to think about.

China vs. Mother Nature: The Quest for Artificial Weather

Who controls the weather?  This debate, in a round about way, has been taking place for centuries.  When the weather was unbearably dry, ancient Indian nations would come together and perform their “Indian Rain Dance” to try to persuade the Gods to open up the skies–

Step ahead a couple of centuries to the present.  A lengthy article in the Asian Times Online goes into detail about how China has been in the process of manufactoring weather since 1958.  No, this isn’t science fiction.

China has seemingly developed a way to not only make it rain when it wants to, but to also control such things as hail storms. If you are still questioning the validity of all of this, The Chinese Government has stated that their methods have already been used to control the weather for such international events as the 1993 East Asian Games and the 1999 Horti-Expo in Yunnan..and next up on the list?  The 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing.

So How Does This All Work?

It would be alot easier to explain that China just hits a button, but actually it is a rather large scientific process.  To bring it down to scope, the basics of the process involves firing rounds of silver oxide ammunition into the clouds.  The weight of the silver oxide will cling to the water in the clouds and bring it back down to the ground.

This is a pretty interesting and scientifically proven method that just happened to be developed by the United States in the 1940’s and 50’s–but we lost interest in this on the belief that Mother Nature usually wins..

China has went on to take this research and expand significantly on what has been known about weather formation.  Each of the Chinese Provinces now has it’s own Artificial Weather Modification Base.  This is all controlled by the Chinese Government and they say when to enact the weather changing science.

The Artificial Weather Modification Department boasts over 32,000 chinese employees, as well as 7,100 anti-aircraft guns, 4,991 special rocket launchers and 30 specially equipped aircraft to help in this process.  This is a large expenditure, but the thoughts behind it’s development can not be taken lightly.  It was original enacted to help with the issue of drought that plagues a big size chunk of China.

There begs to be a couple of questions asked though…Silver-Oxide is a known polutant and poison in large quantities, how will this affect China in the future?  They do mention that the silver oxide they use is in such small quantities to not have an effect on the environment, yet what happens as it builds up over the years?

Another question?  If China can do this, why has this idea not been exported to the likes of Countries in Africa that could definately use this technology for both water and food, which they are currently suffering a major crisis with?

In a way though, this all seems pretty much amazing to me.  If the United States would seemingly begin to use this technology, perhaps we could gain control of the massive wildfire outbreaks in the West, or they could broadcast a report of Artificial Rain on the news and we would all be guaranteed of knowing just when to bring the ol’ umbrella…

What are your thoughts?

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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

$5000 Charge for Wilderness Rescue Ignites Debate–Again.

A Kansas man has been billed $5000 for a wilderness rescue after he injured his ankle while hiking along a steep hillside.

This debate has been raging for well over a year now–whether or not people in the wilderness, when accidents happen, should be liable to pay for their rescue.

Kansas is only one of a number of states who have been looking in to billing people that have come to need a rescue involving local authorities.  Colorado also has a similar law in place and one is also currently making the rounds in Utah.

The great Blog, Two-Heel Drive ran by Tom Mangan, tipped me off to the forementioned article featured in the June 18th issue of Rocky Mountain News discussing this incident, as well as the debate raging in Kansas.  You may read the whole article HERE.

As far as Colorado is concerned, there has recently been news that another individual will be billed $7500 for his subsequent rescue as well.

This is reigniting a big debate amongst outdoor enthusiasts.  Should they be charged or shouldn’t they?  I have already expressed my own opinion on this matter as it pertains to climbers needing rescued–(please see story posted HERE, for my opinion.)  How much is to much?

Alot of us go out and try to enjoy the peace and solitude of the outdoors for 1) it is great exercise, 2) it gets you away from the hustle and bustle of cities…and PEOPLE, and 3) It is alot cheaper to walk a trail then drive a car.

If all of us ran the risk of having to pay $7500 for rescue after a badly twisted ankle PLUS our own medical bills, would we still be outdoors?

Alot of the previous debate over this issue has occured mainly over climbers getting stranded high on mountains, as in the two incidents that have occured in the past year on Mt. Hood. More and more though, we as individuals are seeing this pop up for some things that seem–dare I say mundane?

I think the political motivation behind this issue has jumped from saving lives to making money, and in a sense, infringing upon our own freedoms to explore nature and the outdoors.

Perhaps a few people have taken advantage of the system.  Perhaps a few have ended up where they never should have been in the first place without the experience or guidance they needed to be there.  Is this a reason to Pigeonhole a whole section of the American population? Instead of going out to “Get Away From It All”, that “All” is slowly trying to step in and even take away the essence of being out there.

Read more

Everest 2007 Update: Summits, Summits, and More Summits

Yesterday I posted an Interview with David Tait as well as Alan Arnette’s BIG Announcement–both of these items were pretty big news.  I didn’t post my usual update yesterday with all the previously mentioned stuff going on…so guess what.  That means this is going to be one HUGE update covering the events that has been going on for the last couple of days.

Before I get in to that though, I would first like to post a fair warning for anyone coming by this site from the Television Without Pity forum.  There will be at least one Everest: Beyond the Limit spoiler here today.  So if you don’t want to know what has happened–either skip this post, or come back tomorrow.  I do appreciate all of you stopping by though.

Alright, Let’s get to it:

David Hahn Summits for a Record 9th Time

David Hahn, climbing with IMG, has successfully summited Mt. Everest for his record 9th time.  This puts David as the single most productive Everest Summiter ever that is a non-sherpa climber.  Don’t fear though, I am pretty sure that Apa Sherpa’s current record of 17 will be holding for quite a few more years to come.

Here is a post that Dave made to his expedition website GreatOutdoors:

Hey Great Outdoors, hey this is Dave and I’m on the summit of Mount Everest, it’s let’s see, see if I can see my watch here, it’s 6:40 now we got here 15 minutes ago. Beautiful morning. Beautiful morning. We beat the crowd, and it gave us some trouble, aggravating coming up in the dark at sunrise up the step part of the South Summit, but everybody rested on the South Summit and me and Phinjo Dorge from . . . right there and we got the jump and then had the traverse and Hillary Steps to ourselves, splendid morning, beautiful shadows, casting big shadow of Everest out to the horizon. Just beautiful, really very thrilling, and uh going to give you another call in a minute here, oh boy, it’s exciting to be here. Think I can see as far as I ever have been able to, Makalu, Kangchenchugka, Shishapangma, maybe that’s Manaslu back there, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, beautiful. Beautiful. Okay call you back in a few minutes when my fingers thaw out again.

Sounds like a great view from the top of the World’s Highest Peak, Mt. Everest.

Gavin Bate’s Near Death Experience…Summit Denied

Gavin Bate, who was trying to pull off his own successful traverse of Everest, going North to South, had to call off his climb after nearly dying at 8300 meters.

To begin to put this into perspective, David was planning on traversing Everest with his “shadow” Sherpa Pasang Tendi, using the bare minimum of essentials–a light-weight single-skin tent, a small stove and bivi sack, and whatever else he could manage to get into his backpack.  Now let’s go to the details of what transpired as he attempted to reach the summit.  First, from May 19: Read more

Everest 2007 Update: DAVID TAIT SUMMITS, SummitClimb Summits 6..and more heading up!

David Tait Makes First of Two Summits!! 

At 1:30 am this morning I recieved a new dispatch from David Tait.

“To all you happy followers out there – David reached the summit at about 1.30 am this morning!! Through the fierce noise of the wind, he sounded jubilant as you could imagine. Fingers crossed as he makes his way back down the south please.

I’ll keep you posted. “

This is great news as David has been contemplating an earlier attempt at the summit than most. 

David is currently heading down the South Col Route where he plans to take a rest at BC and then head back up the South in an attempt to double-traverse Everest and earn his spot in the Mt. Everest Record Book.

I have not recieved word yet that David has made it back to camp but I did send him a congratulatory email and wished him the best.

SummitClimb Summits 6-

Six members of the SummitClimb team have also made the summit of Everest according to a new dispatch on their site…

The summiters included four climbers and two sherpas.  They are as follows:  Pemba Sherpa, Jangbu Sherpa, Stein Tant, Aldas Baltutis, Bjorn Vandewege, and Stephen Maginelle.

The Push is ON!!

It is also being reported that two others have now summited as well…no word yet as to who they are but details will be coming shortly…

UPDATE:  One of the two summiters is Ken Noguchi, leader of an environmental group that has been working to clean-up Everest the past couple of months…

AT LEAST 7 More Heading for the Summit…

It is also being noted that 7 others are currently heading to the summit on the North Side as well today..and I am sure many others will be following since the news of the successes happening from the North will be hitting camp fast and furious.

UPDATE:  The other 7 climbers mentioned to be heading to the summit is the other half of the SummitClimb Team.  They have decided to go up in two seperate parties.

APA and Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa from SuperSherpas On Summit drive from South Side!

Apa and Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, after counseling with Tashi Tenzing (Grandson of Norgay Tenzing, first summiter of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary) from the North Side, decided to begin an earlier push for the summit after the great summit weather on the North was being reported.  We are looking to hear from the Supersherpas Camp at 10 am this morning for more details on this summit push…Right now their plan to summit looks to be around 7 pm if all stays well and conditions don’t change.

If Apa and Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa are succesfull this will mark the first summits from the South this season as well as the 17th summit for Apa and the 13th for Lhakpa Gelu.  A total of 30 summits between them both.  Simply Amazing!

The Weather Debate

All of this activity is great news coming from Mt. Everest today as teams have been constantly worried about the poor weather conditions over the past two weeks.  This is bound to set off a flurry of further activity if conditions stay consistent.

Tashi Tenzing

With Tashi Tenzing consulting with the SuperSherpas Team about the good North Side weather, don’t be surprised if he makes his attempt as well today.  The Sherpas have an advantage over other climbers and don’t have to rely on resting at each camp as their bodies are more adjusted to the acclimatization..if he decides to go for it, it will be a fast push..

The Adventurist

I will try to keep everyone up to date as I can.  The news may come fast and furious though so please check back often for the latest updates.

CONGRATULATIONS

I would like to congratulate all of the climbers in their success today as well as wish everyone a safe and happy return!  Great Job Guys!

Special Word of Note:  Thank-you Alan Arnette, ExplorersWeb and EverestNews for your great reports!

 

Everest 2007 Update: Two More Summits and More…

Greg Child of the Discovery Channel Team is reporting that two more Sherpa have summited Everest–supposedly May 2nd:

“I’ve learned of another pair of successful summit climbs that occurred on May 2, when two Sherpas (names as yet unknown to me) with a large Indian expedition reached the top. The Sherpas left a statue of Buddha on the summit for Buddha’s birthday.”

Alan Arnette had  stated that after 7 people had summited last week, that it was only a matter of time before the Chinese and Indian teams both began their race to the top–looks like the teams themselves will be trying for a window any day now after the two Indian Sherpas have now made it successfully.

Also, Dutch climber Wim Hoff was spotted today–doing exactly as he said–trying to climb Everest in shorts.  Greg Childs, from the Discovery Channel team had a brief discussion with Wim about his crazy idea to summit Everest in shorts this season–and is quite entertaining.

One word of note concerning Wim Hoff, when he was spotted, he was sitting at 22,000 feet with nothing on but shorts–no shirt.  I am not to sure how Wim’s attempt will go down if he indeed does do this because, to me, this is not a true record…only a gimmick–but hey, IT IS Wim Hoff, if anyone can do it he can, and I wish him the best.

David Tait is reporting in his blog update today that the massive Chinese team is preparing to launch their summit bid, perhaps as early as tomorrow–May 9th.  David is also contemplating an earlier departure for the summit bid for himself and his Sherpa climbing partner–than the rest of the Himex Team.

It seems like many of the teams are suggesting a possible summit window opening May 12-16.  With this date being spoken throughout quite a few camps, it will set the stage for a very crowded climb towards the summit this weekend.

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.

Mt. Kilimanjaro: Up, Up, and Awake…

My good firend Kraig over at The Adventure Blog recently journeyed to the depths of Africa and to that continents highest Peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro.

As Kraig has been pretty busy recently on catching up on some much needed work, it has taken him a little while to get this great adventure mapped out for all of us.

As a surprise to Kraig, as well as a great read for all of you folks thinking about a trip to Kilimanjaro–I will put his recent trip reports together–Taking you Day by Day up the Majestic Kilimanjaro.

I will add that what I like about Kraig’s first-hand experience is, he makes all of us feel like we can do it as we journey with him.

The Adventure Blog Goes To Kilimanjaro

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Also of note, if you would like to read an interesting interview of Kraig, I suggest you head on over to The Outdoor Weblog for this nice two part series that they done after Kraig returned from his African trip. The Interview, Parts 1 and 2 respectively, shed some more light into this great trip, as well as tells how one prepares for making such a journey. A great read. You may “click” the corresponding number to read the two parts to this interview.

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