Harassment on the High Peak: When an Everest Guide Does You Wrong

For many of us, coming up with the $40-50,000 to take a once in a lifetime gamble on Mt. Everest seems like a lifetime away.  What if you spent that kind of cash only to be told that you weren’t climbing?  What if you spent that kind of cash, the guide tells you “No Go”, then deliberately grabs your belongings and scatters them throughout camp?  While he is at it, he might as well do it in front of not only your team, but a film crew to boot and show the whole world how worthless you really are..

This is the news coming from Betsy Huelskamp.  Many of you may remember Betsy as the tough and rugged mountain climbing biker chic that began an Expedition this year with Russell Brice’s Himex Team.  If any of you followed the Expedition’s climbing blogs on Everest this season, then you would have probably thought of Betsy as Himex did:  slow, didn’t know anything about mountaineering–including how to put her crampons on…as well as a bit self-involved.

Well, Betsy has decided to fight back.  The picture she paints is quite different than what Himex would have you believe.  She breaks down everything from the beginning stages where she first contacted Russell Brice about joining the expedition, and Russell seemingly accepts at a reduced rate of nearly 50%–to the final decision to not let her go for the summit push, and the subsequent temper tantram that ensued and left Betsy’s belongings scattered throughout the camp.

If this sounds like odd behavior coming from a guide on Mt. Everest, then perhaps you should reevaluate who you align yourself up with for that big Everest Adventure. Read more

“Survivorman” Les Stroud on Bear Grylls: The Interview

Ok, so everyone is familiar with this ongoing debate by now.  It has been noted that aspects of Bear Grylls’ Man vs. Wild show on Discovery Channel has been staged.

Many people have been piping in with their thoughts on this issue.  It has erupted a debate among many viewers of Bear’s show, as well as “Survivorman” Les Stroud’s very successful Discovery Channel series as well.  Who is better?  Who is the real deal?

Well thankfully, Les Stroud has come to answer a few of these questions himself.  Today, being featured on the AOL news, Les Stroud has been interviewed not only about this ongoing controversy surrouding Bear’s show, but also a few questions about Les hosting the 20th Anniversary Edition of Shark Week being featured on Discovrey Channel.

This is definately an interesting read, and just may answer a few questions that fellow viewers might have been asking themselves.  Here is the link to the Les Stroud interview.  What do you think?

The Fall of Bear Grylls

ExplorersWeb is at it, yet again.  When I first started following this story, I questioned ExplorersWeb’s intentions.  Well it looks like they just may have been on to something.  Information is coming out of the woodworks on Bear, not only about his supposed flight over the top of Mt. Everest..but now it seems it may just be about his whole career…

I recieved a tip today about Mr. Grylls, in regards to his previous military service–after stopping by ExplorersWeb, it seems that they have recieved the same tip, as they have included this in their lead story…seems like the viewers are starting to get disgruntled at Mr. Grylls and are passing on the tips to sites like this one, The Adventure Blog and ExplorersWeb.  Here is the lowdown:

Mr. Grylls was indeed in the SAS or the British Special Forces, as he claims.  What he doesn’t mention to the public is that he was in the SAS (21)–an easier and less dangerous branch filled with prospects looking to get into the SAS (22)–the hardcore, real deal.

Bear also mentions on his site that he got out because he was in a “horendous” helicopter accident in Africa that left his back broken in three places…  We are still looking to verify this information as well–

So much has been coming out about Bear making up stories, changing words as he pleases–and in a sense trying to create a persona in the media that is a little far from the truth, that nobody is real sure about what to believe…

Even his shows Man vs. Wild and Born Survivor: Bear Grylls try to create him as this mythic superhuman that can and does get out of any situation–Alive.  Over the past couple of weeks, reports of what is really going on during these “Adventure Excursions” is starting to become more clear–they have been meticulously set-up to trick the viewer that Bear was actually doing everything he says, yet in reality, it was prearranged.

ExplorersWebs intentions, I am sure, was not to discredit Mr. Grylls in the beginning, but as the story has come around full circle now and every detail of Bear’s career is being analyzed, I think it is safe that we can all assume that nothing is as it seems.

For the complete breakdown of the truth vs. lies of Bear Grylls, I request that you head on over to the ExplorersWeb site and check out their lead story…

I guess to me, personally, I am now even questioning whether or not their is a Bear Grylls, or if this is all just a made up media blitz as well.  I guess we will all have to wait and see..

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

Bald Eagle Delistment and Subsequent Controversy: A Look at the Facts

The American Bald Eagle–the majestic and stately symbol of our nation–has been delisted from the Endangered Species List. 

This is being looked at as both a triumph for some in conservation circles, as well as being questioned by many others that feel that the Bald Eagle along with the Golden Eagle still deserve to be protected. 

Have the Eagle numbers really rebounded or is this just some governmental short talk to save a few bucks on conservation efferts in order to put the money in other places?

First off, I will take a look at a couple of statistics. 

Beginning in 1963, most of the lower 48 states began running independent Bald Eagle population reports each year.  These reports are widely available on the internet. 

In 1963, it was reported that there were 487 existing breeding pairs in the lower 48 states.  Jump ahead to 2000, the last year that these numbers were reported, and you will find that there were 9,789 pairs.  That is a pretty good increase and shows that there is definately a growing population that can sustain itself in the wild–while being protected.

Taking a step back now, when the Bald Eagle was originally placed on the Endangered Species list, many people believed that pesticides, particularly DDT, were playing a significant factor in the decline of the Eagle populations.  The chemicals were contributing to the Bald Eagle’s egg shells becoming to brittle to sustain life.  Since that time, DDT as well as many other pesticides, are now strictly outlawed or controlled.

On July 2, 1999 The American Eagle Foundation along with their Bald Eagle mascot “Challenger” met with then President Bill Clinton and it was at this time that the proposal to delist the Bald Eagle was announced and the wheels began turning to make this a reality. 

This first proposal was seemingly held up by government officials until a clear way to protect Eagle habitat which would no longer be under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

Without knowing the entire story regarding the Bald and Golden Eagles, many people are jumping to conclusions thinking that these magnificent creatures will no longer be protected in the wild, and this is just simply not the case.

In fact, the controls placed on protecting the Bald Eagle and it’s habitat are still in place.  The delisting of the Eagles from the Endangered Species list has seemingly been transferred to a new act:  The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA).  This act prohibits “disturbance” of Bald and Golden Eagles in the wild.  What was not mentioned though was what “Disturb” actually meant.  There were no clear cut guidelines.  This is now in motion to get a definate definition that will be more understood to both government and the public.  The Fish and Wildlife Department is pushing for the following classification:

Disturb means to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to the degree that causes (i) injury or death to an eagle (including chicks and eggs) due to interference with breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or (ii) nest abandonment.” Injury would be defined as, “a wound or other physical harm, including loss of biological fitness significant enough to pose a discernible risk to an eagle’s survival or productivity.”

This description will pretty much make the Eagles as protected as ever in the wild.

The Delisting of the Bald and Golden Eagles should not hamper current efforts in Eagle Conservation, and perhaps more-so will garner more attention across the nation to this very issue.

I mentioned a couple of days ago that I had been camping in Tennessee for the week and one of the true highlights of this experience was my first Golden Eagle sighting.  When I began to see reports of the Eagle delisting, it just got me curious as to what was really going on.

If you would like to read alittle bit more about this issue, my good friends Mon@arch and Ralph Maugham of Ralph Maugham’s Wildlife News have both been covering these issues for their respective states of New York and Idaho.  Both of these sites are well worth Bookmarking if you stop by.  Take the time to check out some of their past posts, and I think you will agree.

Well I hope I have been able to clear this issue up a bit for those of you that were like me, and just wanted to know ..why?

By the way, one more thing, here is an interesting fact:  Did you know that the Eagles are actually a member of the Hawk Family?  You might need that bit of info in your next game of Trivial Pursuit..

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