Reflections On A Glimpse Into The Life of Apa Sherpa

Apa Sherpa is to Mt. Everest what Michael Jordan was to basketball.  He has succeeded and excelled at every level.  Mt. Everest is his NBA Finals.  With finesse and strength, Apa Sherpa has slowly carved a reputation that will be very hard to surpass in the world of climbing.  He has successfully summited the world’s highest peak an unprecedented eighteen times.  An achievement that no other climber can lay claim to.

The Salt Lake Tribune recently had an opportunity to meet up with Apa Sherpa.  It is an insightful and unglamorous look at how Apa, although the epitome of climbing on Mt. Everest, struggles to live in his second home, the United States.

In 2006,  Apa Sherpa moved from his native country of Nepal to Salt Lake City, Utah.  The move was due, in part, to Apa wanting to help out his family who remained in Nepal.  He wanted to build a foundation that would help to keep his kids from having to embark on the same path that he chose on Mt. Everest, ushering up climbers to the top of the world’s highest peak.  A job, that by all accounts, could very easily rank right up there with the most dangerous jobs in the world.

Apa Sherpa, while recently being afforded the opportunity to actually climb on his own merits, struggled for many years carrying up climbing gear, tents, and oxygen for many of the world’s top expeditions on Mt. Everest.  The Sherpa people are known for their stamina and abilities to carry heavy loads at high altitude, offering many of them a steady job each spring.  Most make more money in a month than what they could in a single year, in Nepal.

For the past ten years, many climbers from the western world have relished in an unabashed celebrity status upon reaching the top of Mt. Everest.  Many have turned their successful summit into books, speaking engagements, and a whole slew of other means to earn a successful living after achieving what many consider the epitome of mountain climbing.  Apa Sherpa wanted a piece of the pie for himself.  Not just himself though, but for his family.

The article in the Salt Lake Tribune paints a picture that is insightful, yet a bit disturbing for someone of Apa’s stature in the climbing community.  He will no doubt go down in the journals of Everest history as one of the best climbers of all time, yet, in Salt Lake City, Apa Sherpa walks around unnoticed and struggles to survive monetarily on a day to day basis.  He lives with a close friend, Jerry Mika, who gives Apa room and board, as well as a job with his own company designing outdoor equipment.

Apa Sherpa is very intent on offering his own family a better means to survival.  I recently covered a few items, most notably a Poisk Oxygen canister, that were being featured on Ebay.   In the listing for this item, it was made very clear that all proceeds were going to help support Apa Sherpa’s family in Nepal.  Apa is pretty open about his wishes, yet, in the United States, he is finding the road to be a bit more rough than say, a Conrad Anker or Ed Viesteurs.  Both of these guys have been able to turn their love of adventure into full time jobs that goes to support even more adventurous expeditions.

Why Apa Sherpa has not been elevated outside of the mountaineering community to a higher status in the world, is actually quite dumbfounding.  He still struggles with gaining sponsors for his climbs, and even at that, is still looking to Ebay to make a few bucks so his family can survive.  This seemingly tells a tale of the difference between eastern and western climbers and how they are perceived in the media and the public.  I am not going to go as far as to make this a racially biased issue, but perceptions going out in the world would suggest that climbers can make a decent living in the United States with companies just throwing money around to potential expeditions.  This is just simply not the case for most foreign climbers who come to the United States in search of the ‘motherlode’ if you will.

All of this is quite sad, but does reveal some insight into the different perceptions that companies and the media place on ‘local’ climbers, as opposed to those that were foreign born.  Even with 18 successful Mt. Everest summits to his credit, Apa Sherpa is still finding life to be quite tough.

In the past couple of weeks, most people in the United States do not even realize that one of the best climbers in the world, Inãki Ochoa, died on Annapurna.  When Inãki first got into trouble, there was nobody around that could help the struggling climber at high-altitude.  Within two days time a call went out to all climbers in the area.  In the days that ensued, some of the top climbers in the world would race to Annapurna, risk death for one of their own, and still come up shorthanded.  It was an amazing effort from all fronts.  Even though the rescue was not a success, it did show us the heart and soul of many of the world’s elite climbers.  In the United States press, this story of heroic efforts and dubious tragedy has not even garnered a mention.  It didn’t feature American climbers or American Companies, so why would the public care?

The scope of all of this is really quite hard to understand.  I cover all aspects of many of these climbs, including those of Apa Sherpa in 2007 and 2008, as well as the recent struggle and death of Inaki Ochoa.  Many of my viewers come from all over the world, with it being almost a 50-50 split between American readers and those from foreign countries.  Perhaps the companies that throw their money to the American climbing community could find a bigger audience, a more productive business, if they would just follow along and treat the international climbing community with the same vigor and thought that they do with the American climbers.  In the United States, our climbers are thought to be the strongest in the world.  If people would just open their eyes, many would get a very different outlook at how these statistics are being played out by the press.

Don’t get me wrong, I feel like supporting our own climbers, especially those that rank in the upper tiers of the climbing community, should be fully supported to continue doing what they do.  On a different note though, how cool would it be to see Apa Sherpa, or a Ueli Steck sporting Nike shoes on the television?  They emphasis the “Just Do It” philosophy perhaps even better than a Micheal Jordon or Labron James.  On top of that, the money would actually be going to those who need it.  People like Apa Sherpa.

Five Climbers Die In Avalanche–Update

I put up a post a few moments ago about five French climbers who have been killed following an avalanche. I am getting a few more facts now.

The guide, who was the only member to survive, is currently listed in critical condition, but stable. He has suffered abdominal and chest trauma and is currently conscious, but unable to speak.

Those killed in this terrible accident included four males and one female. As is the case with most situations like this, names have not been released until all family’s are notified.

The Avalanche occured near 8,000 feet of elevation. The climbers were dragged some 500 odd feet to the bottom of a gorge in the area. The climbers had been climbing and skiing in the vincinity of Gran Paradiso National Park near Turin, Italy.

The avalanche originated from a nearby peak after fresh snow had just fallen in the area. Punta Basei, a nearby 10,000 foot peak is said to be the original source of the avalanche.

All victims have been retrieved by helicopter. Their identities are waiting to be verified.

Source: USA Today

The Belays That Bind: The 2006 Reunion of the 1953 K2 Expedition Families

 

With the recent death of Mountaineering legend and pioneer Bob Bates making the news yesterday, I happened to run across this special Web only article on MSNBC recounting the events from the famed 1953 K2 Expedition.  I went into a bit of background on the details pertaining to this expedition yesterday, but this article is actually written by the daughter of Dee Molenaar, another famed member of that 1953 trip to K2.

Here is a part of Karen Molenaar Terrell’s recounting of some of the events:

During a storm, Art became ill with blood clots in his lungs, and as the others tried to maneuver him down a treacherously steep and icy slope to a lower camp, one of the climbers slipped, three ropes tangled, and five men—including my dad—found themselves hurtling uncontrollably down the mountain.

Pete Shoening, at that point high-man on the rope, was able to wrap the rope around his ice ax and perform a manuever known as a belay, single-handedly saving the lives of five of his fellow teammates including Dee Molenaar and Robert Bates.

Karen Molenaar Terrell then goes into some detail in her article about how a “reunion” of sorts happened to come together in 2006 for the descendents of the climbers involved in  the famed 1953 Expedition.

The ties that had bound their families together for over 60 years had finally brought all the descendents together.  This is a very nice read by Karen and shows that alot of the events that happen in a climbers life can show up years down the road.  Not only did the members of this reunion in Leavenworth, Washington finally get to meet the family’s of those involved in the 1953 Expedition, but they also got to share and relish in the personal history that happened to bring them all together 60 years previously.

Petzl Announces SARKEN Crampons Recall

One of the world leaders in climbing equipment and outdoor gear have announced a massive recall.  Petzl International has put up a recall notice for all pairs of SARKEN Crampons.

The recall comes after complaints that the front points on the SARKEN crampons are susceptible to early wearout after heavy use.

I don’t usually post information like this, but with something as important as crampons in the climbing community, this information, could, in fact, save someone’s life.

Petzl is asking that all owners of the Petzl SARKEN Crampons to discontinue use immediately and contact your local Petzl distributor to exchange the crampons for your choice of another brand.

Once again, this recall is for the Petzl SARKEN Crampons only and does not affect any other Crampons made by or for Petzl International.

For more information on this recall, along with contact numbers ect., please follow this link to their company website.

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

The Adventurist Unleashes The Wrath of The Adventurist Forums!

The Adventurist has taken another step in evolution.  No, I’m not going bald! 

What I have done is created a place for all of us Adventure Lovers to come together and discuss what matters most.

You like kayaking?  Mountain Biking? Climbing? Going on a great Adventure of your own?  Now we have that community.  I am very proud to introduce The Adventurist Forums!

I have wanted to do something like this for close to a year now.  I became interested in what the Forums can do, and what can take place and be discussed through my good friend Alan Arnette’s great site.

His forums have essentially let him get in touch with his readers and offer them a more personal glimpse into mountain climbing.

I am now offering up the same–but we will be exploring the whole world of Adventure–From Sports (climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, adventure racing) to Training to Mt.’s Hood and Everest and beyond.

I have also placed in topics of interest for all of us..The world of Sports?  General News?  I’ve got it all..We all know that Adventure Lovers are very much multi-faceted, and it is claimed..smarter than most.  (Ok, I made that one up!)

Anyways, I am hoping that this will become a great new feature here at The Adventurist in the days, weeks, and years ahead.

Stop by, Check it out, and post your thoughts on what’s on your mind.  It is that easy.  Hopefully we’ll be having some great discussions..and perhaps even the possibility of “Poles” in the future. (Not the North or South silly, but voting polls!)

So swing on over to The Adventurist Forums and check it out.  I am just wondering who the first post will be from–could be a historic landmark in the world of The Adventurist.

Also, if you don’t see a topic on there that you would like to see, I am very open to suggestions.  This will be our community–built by all of us.  Contact me through the Submit & Contact page found at the top of your screen.

I will be adding a permanent link to the site in a bit.  That way you can just “click it” from The Adventurist.

And..as if this weren’t exciting enough…I may just have another BIG announcement tomorrow..so stop back by and check in tomorrow as well.  Now get over to The Adventurist Forums and have some fun.

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.

Film Follows Climber Chris Sharma’s Search for Difficult, Picturesque ‘King Lines’

By Julie Jagg

SANTA CRUZ — When it comes to sports superstars, few fly farther under the radar than world-class rock climber Chris Sharma. His talents in climbing are considered on par with Michael Jordan’s in basketball. His ego, however, would seem more closely matched to modest tennis great Pete Sampras.

But all that’s about to change. The man who has been called humble, spiritual, even reticent in innumerous articles and interviews said he thinks, in truth, he’s a bit uppity.

“A lot of people focus on climbing. I focus on climbing hard routes, but I’m kind of a snob, I guess,” he said Tuesday while taking a break from his world travels to do some skateboarding here in his hometown.

“I want to climb hard routes, but I want something that inspires me”

Sharma, 26, has the ability to climb just about anything anywhere. But he said he turns up his nose at any problem — no matter how challenging — that’s not also picturesque.

“The esthetics for me, that’s the thing,” he said. “To find these amazing pieces of rock that also have another element. That’s kind of the definition of king lines: They’re big and hard and amazing, but they also have that esthetic”

Sharma began searching the world for rocks to climb at age 17. In the nine years since, he has found and conquered many of the gnarliest rocks in the most beautiful corners of the planet. Now his search for these “king lines,” as he calls them, is the subject of a documentary by the same name that will be shown Sept. 7 at the Rio Theatre as the headliner for the Reel Rock Film Tour.

Directors and college buddies Josh Lowell of Big Up Productions and Peter Mortimer of Sender Films teamed up to make “King Lines,” which has the highest budget of an climbing film in history and won an Emmy for a high-definition segment that appeared on NBC earlier this year. Mortimer said the project came together organically once Sharma told them the location and difficulty of his most recent project. It was Es Pontas, a line up a towering limestone arch encircled by sapphire blue waters off the coast of Mallorca, Spain.

“The arch is something where if you imagined a fantasy climb, that’s what you would imagine,” Lowell said. “It’s this perfect arch rising out of the Mediterranean Sea, and the movement that’s required to climb it is pretty amazing, too. If there was a video game of climbing, that arch would be in it.

“We thought, ‘Wow,’” Lowell added. “If Chris can do this thing, it will be the coolest thing he’s done and the coolest thing we’ve filmed.’ ”

Conquering Es Pontas entailed deep-water soloing, a climbing style fairly new to Sharma in which he would use no rope and rely on the water below to break his falls. Near the top of the climb was a 7-foot blank stretch, which he would have to jump, or dyno in climbing lingo, to complete the climb. Sharma estimates he made at least 100 failed attempts to get across that section, each time plummeting 35 feet into the jelly fish-filled water below.

A fall meant starting over completely. Sharma would have swim to the support boat, dry off, change his clothes and shoes and get a new chalk bag to help his muscular fingers grip the small divots and crevices in the slippery stone. Then he would begin again at the bottom of the arch, making at least 25 moves before he arrived back at the daunting blank section.

It took Sharma nearly four months’ time, spaced out over a year, before he finally landed his 7-foot leap of faith and picked his way to the top of the arch. Once there, though, his celebration was subdued, with the joy from completing a difficult task mixing with the melancholy of knowing his time with Es Pontas had ended.

“Obviously really I was ecstatic, really psyched. But climbing is this thing that happens in the process. Once you do it, you’re psyched, but that’s the end of the process,” Sharma said. “When you complete it, that’s great. But then it’s like, ‘What’s next?’ ”

He wasted little time finding out.

Sharma’s sponsors pay him to find exotic climbs, so as soon as his time with Es Pontas ended, the hunt for another challenge began. By the end of the shooting for “King Lines,” the film crew had followed him around Venezuela, France, Greece, Utah and Southern California.

Most recently, they filmed him working on his current obsession. It’s a sport climb across the ceiling of a 300-foot cave off Interstate 15 in the Mojave Desert that has so few changes in pitch it requires an extra-long rope. He’ll return there in October in the hopes of completing it, which Mortimer said would probably make it the most difficult climb ever made.

Once that experience ends, Sharma said he will continue to seek out other new and unique challenges. Undoubtedly, they’ll all be set in some of the most beautiful places in the world.

But Lowell and Mortimer said they can’t blame Sharma for picking climbs in the prettiest places. They noted that it makes it much easier for him to draw the attention photographers and filmmakers like themselves [location, location, location]. And, it makes for a much nicer work environment.

Plus, after spending months following Sharma and working with him through some fairly unglamorous situations, they’re convinced his penchant for the picturesque climbs doesn’t really come from snobbery.

“That’s like saying someone who has a palette for really good food is a snob,” Mortimer said. “That’s so not true”

(Editor’s Note:  Julie Jagg, the author of the above article on Chris Sharma, is a Staff Writer and Assistant Sports Editor for the  Santa Cruz Sentinal.  Julie has given The Adventurist special permission to reprint this article.  Julie is also the author of her own Blog, “Out and About” dealing with Outdoor Adventure.  Very Nice.  Julie may be contacted at jjag@santacruzsentinel.com )

If You Go

Reel Rock Film Tour

WHAT: Collection of climbing films headlined by the ‘King Lines’ documentary on Chris Sharma of Santa Cruz. Sharma, fellow climbers Miguel Riera and Daila Ojeda and director Josh Lowell will be present.

WHEN: Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA.

Tickets: $10 at Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, 104 Bronson St, Santa Cruz.

On the Net: www.reelrocktour.com; www.senderfilms.com; www.bigupproductions.com

A Black Diamond in Red China? Equipment Maker Moves Production Overseas

For years, Black Diamond has been a leader in the manufacturing of climbing equipment, and good equipment at that.  Black Diamond has recently announced that some of it’s product line will now be made in China. 

Among American climbers, this has started an uproar.  First, there is the quality issue of the equipment–being made in China, will quality issues be forthcoming?  Secondly, this has opened up a whole can of worms for the US vs. China made products.  China has been in the headlines recently for a few “noteworthy” quality issues..ie..lead paint on toys..  Thirdly, is it right for a company that has prided itself on it’s environmental focus to pick the most unenvironmental friendly atmosphere in the world to produce it’s products, and last but not least, who is exactly producing these items–slave labor..ect..

As you can see, this is a very touchy subject.  Many people that have been fans of Black Diamond for years are spouting their dissapproval for this move.  I actually ran across this conversation taking place at the forums on MountainProject.

The very cool thing about this discussion is that Black Diamond and a couple of other personnel that work for various other equipment makers have chimed into the discussion.  People want answers to these questions, and Black Diamond has taken a note to do something about it.  I think this is great!  Finally someone that will listen and at least address these very concerning issues.

I have never seen a company step forward and publicly address these kinds of questions, on such an open medium.  Even if I don’t believe in the practice of shipping our jobs overseas, at least they are answering..Got to give Kudos to Black Diamond for these efforts. 

I am going to be keeping an eye on this one for awhile and see how it comes out…The Good:  Black Diamond is talking about the issues. The Bad:  Part of production has moved overseas.  The Ugly?  China has the worst Environmental laws in the world.  Will be interesting to watch.

What are your thoughts?  How do companies moving overseas effect your views of the product?  Do you actually look into the issues when thinking about new gear..ie..where it is made, who is making it, and the future effects of where it is made on the environment..Chime in and tell me your views by posting a comment…

Alan Arnette: Shisha Pangma A Go!

My good friend Alan Arnette has either already left or is preparing to leave for his next goal:  Shisha Pangma.

Many of you that read this blog quite regularly are already familiar with Alan.  I have made quite a few posts concerning him here on The Adventurist and will be making quite a few more in the future.

Earlier this year–actually during the 2007 Mt. Everest climbing season–Alan Arnette announced that he was going to try to back to to Mt. Everest for a third time in the Spring of 2008.  Two previous attempts at the World’s Highest Summit had to be aborted when Alan became ill.  He has yet to reach his summit…

Alan’s journey back to Mt. Everest began shortly after his announcement.  His first big step would be Denali–North America’s highest peak.  Alan climbed strong and hard clear up to the end–the end not being the summit, but a rather mysterious stomach ailment that forced him to abort his attempt, as well as get his first hand view of a high-altitude rescue on Denali. Read more

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