The Rest of Everest Episode 137: The Agony of DeFeet

Earlier in the week I noted that the Rest of Everest video podcast had returned from its summer hiatus with a new episode for fans to enjoy. What I failed to mention was that the show's website also received a major upgrade in the interim, with a nice clean design and some new features as well. The new layout now allows us to easily sort out the distinct expeditions/seasons of the show, but we can now watch the episodes right on the website without the need to download the files or sync through iTunes. Congrats to the show's creator, Jon Miller, for the nice update!

Yesterday, episode 137 of ROE was released, continuing the Everest Trek that took place last year. In this latest episode, entitled "The Agony of DeFeet,"the team begins their descent back to Lukla after having reached Base Camp or Kala Patar. While that is the "high point" of the trek, in more ways than one, the journey back down still has a lot to offer. A large number of the trekkers from the 2009 crew join Jon this week to narrate the episode and offer insights along the way.

The episode opens in Gorak Shep, the last village before EBC, with Chris Marquardt giving us a tour of his tent and showing us all what the conditions are like in the sleeping quarters along the way. Personally, I stayed in tea houses on my recent hike through the region, which probably offered a bit more warmth and comfort overall.

As is typical with this podcast, the images are spectacular and offer a very realistic view of what traveling through the Himalaya in really like. This particular episode offers up some nice tips for staying healthy and alert while trekking through the region as well, with a particular focus on keeping your feet feeling good. Anyone who has taken a long distance trek of any kind can tell you how important that can be. I'm fortunate in that I rarely ever get a blister, and usually don't have issues with my feet. That wasn't the case for some of the trekkers in the video or on my own trek this past April.

Glad to have the Rest of Everest back and a part of my weekly routine!

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The Rest of Everest Episode 136: A Rare Opportunity

Quite a lot of things happened last week while I was out of contact and offline, including the return of my favorite video podcast, the Rest of Everest. The show has been on hiatus for the past few months while creator Jon Miller made a trek to Everest BC in the spring, and has since been transitioning to making the podcast his full time gig – a challenging endeavor to be sure!

This episode, number 136 in the series, returns us to where we were when we left off back in April, with a continuation of a trek to base camp that took place in 2009. The team has split into two groups, a few that went on to Base Camp itself, while others made the climb of Kala Patar, opting to go for the better views of the mountain as opposed to actually going to BC itself.

The video quickly reminds us why we love this podcast, starting off with some great scenery and capturing views of climbers making their way up the mountain. Those opening shots, which go on for several minutes, really help to give a sense of scale to the Himalaya, as the climbers look like tiny dots in the distance.

Other highlights to the episode include a glimpse inside the cooking tent, shots of large rocks and boulders suspended above the ground in BC by columns of ice, and the return of some old friends that long time viewers will recognize.

Having now completed this trek myself, seeing some of these images is even more fun, as I recognize many of the places that they are visiting. I look forward to the rest of this series, as the next few episodes will continue to follow the 2009 trekking team as they make their way back down the mountain to Lukla, and eventually Kathmandu.

Welcome back Jon and the rest of the ROE team!

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The Rest of Everest Episode 135: Real Surreal Reality

We're nearing the halfway point of the current "season" of the Rest of Everest, as the look at the 2009 Everest Base Camp trek starts to head toward a conclusion. Never fear though, as Jon and a host of new trekkers will be leaving for Nepal, and Tibet, for a new trek in just a few short weeks, and I'm sure that adventure will provide us with a whole new look at the mountain.

For now though, we're still in the midst of last year's trek, and in Episode 135, we rejoin Jon Miller and crew back in BC on the South Side of Everest. This latest episode, entitled Real Surreal Reality, begins where many of the recent episodes have, in the tent with Jon and John as they prepare to get their day started.

From there, it's out into Base Camp where the stunning displays of the surrounding mountains are once again stunning, and a great reminder of why we all want to make a trek just like this one. Those scenes are broken up with a few brief moments of Jon trying to explain to a Sherpa how his wife has a twin sister, aided by his trusty iPhone of course. The Sherpa didn't seem all that impressed. ;) We're treated to some great panoramic shots of BC and the wall of mountains that loom over the entire area.

Seeing the snow and ice, mountaineering tents, prayer flags, and big peaks helps you to understand the title of the episode. It does indeed look quite surreal. Check it out for yourself on the Rest of Everest website or through iTunes.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 134: Shhh...It Happens At Base Camp

A new week brings a new episode of The Rest of Everest, which continues to give us an unprecedented look at what it is like to hike the Khumbu Valley all the way up to Everest Base Camp. Something I'm hoping to experience myself in less than a month's time. :)

We're up to Episode 134 cleverly titled Shhh...It Happens At Base Camp, and we rejoin Jon Miller and the other trekkers at BC. The episode opens with Jon and John still in the tent, where we get a lesson in pharmacology. The amount of prescription drugs that they're using to stay healthy, and ahead of the altitude sickness, is unbelievable, and an eye opener.

Once they head outside though, the views are once again spectacular, and on that day there were climbers setting out on their summit bids, which made it even more exciting. There were teams heading through the Khumbu Icefall, and watching them as they make their way up the mountain is great to watch. Much of the time they are tiny little dots moving against the white snow, but when zoomed in, you can make out the details of the climbers going about their business. It really gives you a sense of scale of the mountain.

And once again showing us why there is no other show that gives you the complete look at Everest, we also get a FULL tour of the bathroom facilities in base camp, something you're not likely to see anywhere else. In accordance to Nepali rules governing Everest, all waste material has to be packed off the mountain, and that is explained as well. Not the prettiest of video, but effective to be sure.

The rest of this week's episode offers more video in and around base camp, with impressive views of Everest looming overhead. There is also good footage on the road to Kala Patthar, which I'm sure we'll see more of next week.

As always, find the video online at the Rest of Everest website and directly in iTunes here.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 129: The Ultimate Sacrifice

Fans of The Rest of Everest are treated to another episode of the podcast this week, with Episode 129: The Ultimate Sacrifice being released last night. This episode gets us back on the trail and heading up to Base Camp in grand style.

The episode opens exactly where we left off last week. The team is actually on a bit of rest break after hiking through the morning, and the exhaustion is evident in their body language. The trekkers are hunched over while sitting on a rock, looking like they are in desperate need of some down time. Of course, that doesn't come just yet, as their off on the trail once again soon there after.

Much of the rest of the episodes could be termed "scenes from the trail" as we get a variety of looks at the surrounding scenery as the team climbs further up the Khumbu Valley throughout the day. The skies remain a bit over cast, with low hanging clouds blocking much of the sun, but despite that, there is still plenty of shots of the Himalaya peeking through in the background.

Eventually, the trek team makes its way up to a memorial that is constructed to honor those that have perished on Everest. The monument is a small stupa covered in prayer flags, with smaller cairns around it made out of rocks stacked upon one another. The mood is a bit somber at that point of the trek, but the scenery is stunning, with high peaks looming over the area. The monument is a popular stopping point on the trek, and it clearly had an effect on the crew.

This is just a sample of what is in this episode. There is plenty of more to enjoy, so be sure to check out the video, either on the show's website or subscribe to it directly in iTunes.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 128: Immortalized In Nepal

The Rest of Everest gets back on the trail to Everest Base Camp this week with the release of Episode 128, entitled Immortalized in Nepal. You may recall that in the past few episodes, the trekking team has been stranded in Dingboche thanks to inclement weather in the region. Those back-to-back rest days could possibly throw off the schedule however, preventing the team from getting up to Base Camp.

The video gets off to a beautiful start when the trekkers step out of their tent to check the weather, and they are greeted with sunshine and clear, blue skies, much to the delight of all involved. After spending a couple of extra days in Dingboche, they all seemed eager to get a move on, and hopeful they'll still make it to their planned destination of EBC. With the skies cleared, we get amazing views of surrounding peaks, including Lhotse, Everest, and Ama Dablam.

A few episodes back one of the trekkers celebrated his birthday while on the journey, and the Sherpa's helped him celebrate it in style. This week, another member of the team gets to celebrate, as Megan turns 25 while surrounded by the Himalaya. Of course, the Sherpa guides couldn't just let the occasion pass without celebrating, and to honor Megan's big day they prepared a little surprise for her on the trail, spelling out birthday wishes in rocks along one of the slopes.

This video definitely gets back to being focused on the trek, with plenty of footage of the team hiking the route up to Base Camp. Not only does this video show the conditions that we can expect on such a trek, but it also shows the kind of camaraderie that these trekking groups experience while traveling (and suffering?) together in remote places. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you're interested in making this trek for yourself, it's definitely worth watching this season of the podcast.

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The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway: Week 2

We're ready for the second week of our Rest of Everest DVD give away in which you can win a copy of Everest {the other side} the DVD that launched the program.

Once again, the rules are simple. Watch this week's episode of the Rest of Everest, and find the answer to the trivia question below. Then send your answer to kungfujedi@gmail.com. I'll collect all the correct answers, and then pick a winner out of a hat to win this week's DVD.

This week's question is:

What movie did Jon see a poster for in the teahouse in Dingboche?

Good luck everyone!

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The Rest of Everest Episode 127: You CAN Hear Me Now

Midweek, as usual, brings us a new episode of The Rest of Everest, which continues the trek through the Khumbu Valley up to Everest Base Camp. When we left off last week, the team was still stranded in Dingboche, and that's where we start this week.

Episode 127, entitled You CAN Here Me Now begins with everyone still hanging out in the local teahouse while they wait for the weather to clear. Early on, we get a nice contrast of cultures, as we see the team carrying all kinds of high tech gear, including some great camera gear and Jon's iPhone, only to also see a local woman changing out the fuel in the stove used as a furnace. The "fuel" in this case was yak dung.

Over the course of the trek thus far, we've heard that there have been issues with the satellite phone not working properly. But on this day, it is finally up and running, allowing the trekkers to make phone calls home to say hello and check in with their friends and family.

Not much in the way of scenery this week, as the region is still covered with low clouds and snow. But Lhotse does make a cameo appearance at one point, and next week's episode looks like it'll put us back on the trail to base camp. Tune in then to see how the trek unfolds.

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The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway Week 1 Winner!

Congratulations to Val Nordquist of Philadelphia, PA for winning the Rest of Everest DVD contest this week and claiming a copy of Everest {the other side}. I'll get that DVD shipped out to you ASAP Val, and I hope you enjoy it! :)

A new episode of The Rest of Everest should be available later today, which means we'll have another opportunity to win in the next day or two. If you're a fan of Everest, and mountaineering in general, you'll want a copy of this DVD. It's an excellent, well made film about the mountain, and it was the catalyst that brought us the Rest of Everest podcast.

Thanks to everyone who entered this week. If you didn't win, give it a shot this week. We have a number of DVD's to give away, and it's easy to win!

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Announcing The Rest of Everest DVD Giveaway!

As promised last week, I'm launching the first contest ever here on The Adventure Blog and it involves my favorite podcast The Rest of Everest. As many of you already know, the Rest of Everest launched as the most in depth look at climbing the tallest mountain on the planet, following every aspect of an expedition that took place back in 2004, starting with the team buying supplies at the local Wal-mart and continuing on to the summit and beyond. The show has since gone on to show us climbs on other Himalayan peaks, as well as taking us back to Everest on both the North and South Sides. For true fans of Everest, it really is the best show around.

What a lot of people don't know is that the Rest of Everest evolved out of a documentary film created by Jon Miller. After Jon went to Tibet and filmed the expedition, he returned home, edited the video, and produced a film called Everest {the other side} which is now available on DVD for the first time. The podcast was spawned by all the extra hours of footage that never made it into that film, and the rest is, as they say, history.

Jon has recently sent me several copies of Everest {the other side} to give away as a promotion, and I thought long and hard on how I could use them, and here is what I've come up with. Starting this week, I'll be asking a trivia question from the latest episode of The Rest of Everest, which is traditionally released on Wednesday. I'll ask everyone to e-mail me the answer to the question, and of all the right answers, I'll pick randomly from a hat to see who gets the DVD. For anyone who is already a fan of the show, this gives you a chance to win a copy of the film that started it all. And for those who aren't watching it yet, shame on you! This will give you an excuse to jump in and not only enjoy a great weekly podcast, but you'll get the same opportunity to win.

Look for the first question to be posted in the next day or two, following the release of this week's episode. I'll keep the contest open for several days, and then draw a winner and ship them a copy of the film. And don't worry, I have several DVD's, so there will be several chances to win in the weeks ahead.

Good luck and have fun! :)

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The Rest of Everest Episode 123: Tengboche

Wednesday is "Trek Everest Day" it seems, as we have another episode of The Rest of Everest to enjoy as well. This fourth season of the show is focused on an Everest Base Camp trek that took place this past spring, and continues to offer us some great insights into what it is like to make this journey.

Today we have Episode 123: Tengboche, which begins with video of the support team breaking camp for the trekkers, who were preparing to hit the trail, but not before visiting the vibrant and colorful local monastery first. Fortunately for us, we get to tag along for the ride, as the group paid a "special fee" to allow them to shoot photos and video inside the building.

While inside the monastery, the group gets an explanation of the Tibetan Wheel of Life, with one of the guides explaining its concepts in front of a beautifully painted representation of that important aspect to Buddhist beliefs. In short, the Wheel is a representation of the stages of life (birth, life, death) that we all pass through, while incorporating karmic influences in our actions and their impact on ourselves.

Leaving the monastery behind, the crew hits the trail once again, and for the later portions of this episode, we get to see more of the Himalayan countryside. As has been typical in recent episodes, show producer Jon Miller is joined by several members of the trek, and they each weigh in through out the show with their thoughts on the trek, and its impact on them as the went.

Keep an eye out for a great shot of the 22,349 foot peak Ama Dablam, which makes an appearance near the end of this episode as well.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 122: Nice Lens, Baby

Speaking of Everest Base Camp Treks, lets not forget about The Rest of Everest, which returns with another great episode this week, giving us a full motion view of what the Khumbu Valley trek is really like. Just as Rick from Best Hike moves into Namche, the Rest of Everest crew is getting ready to head out.

Episode 122 is entitled "Nice Lens, Baby", reminding us that this isn't just a long hike up to EBC, but is also a photography and vidoegraphy workshop as well. Co-host of the Trek Chris Marquardt broke out an intriguing looking Lens Baby, which it appears that the members of the team were having a blast with. I'd never seen a lens like that before, and I'm definitely interested in learning more. The results from the photographs and video were very cool.

From a trekking standpoint, the group leaves Namche, following their acclimatization day there, and begins the hike to Tengboche. Everyone took advantage of their rest day, and were really strong on the trail that day, as they moved through more mountain villages and interacted with the locals, including some very cute kids.

As has become a recurring theme with this season of ROE, we get tons of video from the trail that include some great shots of the mountains that loom over the trekkers as they make their way through the Khumbu. As I've said in the past, this is invaluable footage for anyone thinking of making the trek themselves, as it gives you a great idea of what that adventure is like. The commentary that is included with each episode, in which show producer Jon Miller is joined by a number of the trekkers, is also very interesting, with those that made the trip with Jon and Chris, have some great insights to share as well.

Good stuff as always.

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The Rest of Everest Episodes 119 and 120: Into Namche Bazaar

Thanks to the holiday here in the States last week, I find myself once again a couple of episodes behind on my viewing of The Rest of Everest. Thankfully, I've managed to get caught back up, just as a new episode was released today!

The title of Episode 119, which is Stairmasters, says a lot about the content of the video. The group continues its trek into the Himalaya, with the ultimate goal of reaching Everest Base Camp, starting at the entrance to Sagamatha National Park. On this leg of the trip, we get some great views of the iconic rope bridges that are often photographed throughout the region. The trekkers are forced to negotiate those bridges on more than one occasion, as they make their way up the Khumbu Valley, visiting villages and tea houses along the way. Some of those glimpses of life along the trail are the most compelling moments of the video. As the trek continues, the group has to deal with more altitude, and incredibly steep trails, which begins to take it's toll as they approach the famous milestone village of Namche Bazaar.

Episode 120 is set in and around the Himalayan village, which is generally used as an acclimatization spot, where teams of trekkers and mountaineers stop for a day or two to rest, recoup, and regain some strength before proceeding up higher. In this episode, we get a Rest of Everest first, a view of the mountain from the South Side! After 121 episodes, podcast creator Jon Miller finally shows us the Nepali side of the mountain. A good chunk of this episode involves a number of the members of the team discussing their journey so far, and the challenges they've dealt with in reaching this point of the trek. Clearly they are all happy to have rest day in Namche. A short morning hike does keep them moving however, and gives them their first look at their ultimate goal, the Big Hill itself.

Once again, I'm really enjoying these episodes, as it's giving me a glimpse of what to expect when I make this same trip sometime in the future. Hopefully sooner than later. This is a great day-by-day guide that is excellent preparation for anyone thinking of doing the EBC trek.

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The Rest of Everest Episodes 118: Photos Just Don't Do It..

Not only is there a new episode of the Rest of Everest this week, as there typically is, I actually remembered to download it and watch it for my usual Thursday write-up!

We're up to Episode 118 of the series, and it continues to just get better each week. Most fans of the show probably already know that the most recent episodes revolve around a trek that was conducted last spring to Everest Base Camp, with ROE creator Jon Miller joining forces with photographer Chris Marquardt to conduct photography and videography workshops along the way.

In last week's episode, the trek really got underway, with the group flying to Lukla and hitting the trail for the first time. This week, we rejoin the group as they continue the hike, giving us a great look at life on this type of trek, not to mention some stunning views of the Himalaya. Highlights of the episode for me include the shots from the trail, especially when the team came across a group of children on their way to school that morning, and the glimpses of the mountain villages that regularly dot the route. The entrance to Sagamatha National Park is also shown, which is an area of Nepal that includes a good chunk of the Himalaya and the South Side of Everest, which is a protected space.

As always, you can grab the episode from the Rest of Everest website, or subscribe to it directly in iTunes. If you haven't been watching the series, I can't recommend it highly enough, and suggest that you start with the first episode and work your way forward from there.

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The Rest of Everest Episodes 114 & 115: My favorite Podcast is Back!

I'm still catching up on all the things that happened while I was out of town last week, and that includes the return of The Rest of Everest video podcast, which has taken a bit of a break in recent weeks while show creator Jon Miller prepared to take us on yet another Himalayan adventure. That adventure began last week with a new episode, with this week's really kicking things into gear.

As many of you probably know, this past Spring, Jon and Chris Marquardt of Tips From The Top Floor fame, hosted a photography/videography workshop that took place while trekking to Everest Base Camp on the south side of the mountain. Episode 114, entitled The Highest Photography Workshop In The World, serves as an introduction to that trek, giving us an overview of what we can expect in future episodes of this new "season". The episode also serves as a bit of review of the past seasons as well, setting the stage for what has come before, and what is ahead, as we make the trek to EBC along with the lucky few that got to go on this trip back in April. If you've ever considered making that trek for yourself, as I have, you'll really want to jump into this show, as it'll no doubt really give us some insights on what to expect on that journey.

This week's new episode, number 115 of the series, is called "Kathmandu: Exactly The Same...But Different", and really kicks off the new trekking adventure in style. Regular viewers of the show know that Jon doesn't like to just chat by himself while he explains what's going on, and in this case, he's joined by several of the trekkers that were part of the team last spring. The episode opens gets rolling with the participants arriving in Kathmandu and preparing for their adventure. Throughout the show we see the arrival of the trekkers, with everyone eventually heading out to do some sightseeing in various parts of KTM. The video shows us all kinds of interesting elements to that city and Nepali culture, even for those of us who have made this trip two previous times before with the show.

These two episodes kick off the trekking adventure in fine fashion, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here. I'm actually strongly considering the trek to Everest Base Camp for next spring, so this should make for a great primer for what I can expect on that journey. As usual, the video is high quality and the subject matter is great. Jon serves as an excellent host, and the guests offer great insights. Can't wait for more!

Grab the videos directly from the Rest of Everest website or make life easier on yourself and just subscribe to the show via iTunes.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 113: Annapurna IV Bonus Interviews

Following a few weeks off, the Rest of Everest returns this week with a new episode that gives us more of a glimpse of the Annapurna Circuit, as climbers Ben Clark, Josh Butson, and Tim Clarke leave Annapurna IV behind, and continue the trek back to civilization.

The episode begins with an update on the Everest Trek 2010, which will be photography and videography workshop combined with a high altitude trek through the Himalaya next spring. Registration opened last weekend, and more than half of the available slots filled up immediately. There are, however, a couple of available spots on the trek still open, so if you're interested in joining the fun next year, head on over and sign up. It's going to be an amazing trip to a seldom seen side of Everest.

From there, we leap into the bonus episode, which has climber Ben Clark chatting up a few female trekkers who were hiking the Annapurna Circuit and enjoying the Himalaya. For anyone thinking of going to Nepal to make a similar trek, it's quite an interesting episode, as you'll get to see other travelers talk about a variety of subjects including food, the scenery, the culture and much more. Several of them talk about the challenges of hiking at altitude and others comment on how amazingly friendly and hospitable the people of Nepal are to visitors. Definitely worth watching if you're planning a trip to the Himalaya in the future.

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The North Face Launches Planet Explore

In what appears to be an increasing trend, the North Face has launched a social networking site called Planet Explore. The online community is designed to connect people with outdoor activities, which of course they'd prefer we do while wearing their clothes and using their gear.

Planet Explore has all of the usual things you'd expect from a social networking site, including blogs, podcasts, and videos. It also offers a nice online calendar of events for your favorite activities, such as hiking, camping, climbing, and more. You can even narrow your search to a few select locations as well, and connect with other people who are interested in the same activities.

The site has an impressive list of partners, such as the American Hiking Society, the Sierra Club, Outward Bound, and more. It's nice to see these outdoor and conservation focused groups join the community at such an early stage, and perhaps that bodes well for the future.

While the site is operated by The North Face, they are thankfully not over the top with the marketing of their equipment. The question is however, do we need another "online community" or "social networking" site? There seems to be plenty out there already, and I know I personally don't need to join another.

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The Rest of Everest Episodes 111 & 112: Closing The Annapurna IV Expedition

Still catching up on all kinds of things after being away for two weeks, and one of the things that I'm working on is getting caught up on two episodes of The Rest of Everest that were released while I was away. When I last left off, Ben and Josh were high on Annapurna IV, the 24,688 foot mountain that they've been attempting to climb and then ski back down for the past number of episodes.

Episode 111 is entitled Onward and Downward, and it mainly focuses on the team returning to base camp and packing up their gear in preparation to leave. At the end of the expedition, there is a bit of a subdued feeling, as it is now time to go home, but without a successful summit under their belt. With the gear packed up and ready to go, Ben, Josh, and Tim return to the Annapurna Circuit for the long hike out.

Episode 112 is the last of the Annapurna IV episodes, aptly titled The End of the Annapurna IV Expedition, shows the guys returning to Pokara, where they decide to have some fun before they have to head home. So, they rent some motorcycles and scooters and hit the road.

Both of these episodes show the second half of the Annapurna circuit and have lots of great footage from that beautiful area. The High Himalaya are on full display and the scenery is, as you'd expected from the Rest of Everest, spectacular. Both of these episodes are fitting ends to the Annapurna IV series, with so much great stuff packed in each. And up next, we can expect episodes focusing on the Ski The Himalayas Expedition, which was just completed this past spring. Coming soon!

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The Rest of Everest Episode 110: The Slog

Mid-week always brings us a new episode of The Rest of Everest, which continues this week with an in depth look at the Annapurna IV climb and ski descent. Podcast creator Jon Miller is once again joined by mountaineers Ben Clark and Josh Butson.

Episode 110 is called "The Slog", and it deals with Ben and Josh going down the mountain, back to Base Camp, after giving up on their summit bid last week, when they were trapped inside the tent, waiting for the weather to change. While down climbing the mountain, they talk a bit about their disappointment in having to retreat, while still knowing that it wast he safe move none the less. The episode also gives us more insight into a part of climbing that we seldom see in the form of the descent. Most films are dedicated to getting to the top, but as usual, the Rest of Everest shows every aspect of a climb.

This episode also does a great job of really showing the conditions that climbers deal with on these big mountain. I often write about climbers dealing with deep snow at altitude, but this episode of the podcast really puts that in perspective, with plenty of the white stuff on display, both higher on the mountain, and on the descent, which made for a major challenge for Ben and Josh. You'll also have a better understanding of the title of this episode as well!

As usual, grab the episode directly from the ROE website or from iTunes.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 109: 2 Steps Up, 5000 Steps Down!

The Rest of Everest is back on track with regular episodes coming our way. Last week we jumped back into the Annapurna IV climb, where Ben Clark and Josh Butson are continuing their attempt to summit the mountain, and then make the first ski descent on their return to Base Camp.

This week, we're up to Episode 109: 2 Steps Up, 5000 Steps Back Down, where we get to spend a fair amount of time in the tent with the climbers, as they discuss their approach to going up Annapurna IV and share their experiences getting to high camp, and within striking distance of the summit. The plan at this point was to rest up in the tent and go for Camp 3 the following day, but weather extended the stay in the tent at C2.

The episode shows an aspect of mountaineering that you don't often see. The days of waiting for a weather window, and preparing to take advantage of any opportunity you can get. Fortunately, the next day dawns clear and bright, and it looks like next episode will have the boys on the move again.

Get the latest episode from the website here, or from iTunes here.

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