The 737 Challenge: Seven Summits, Three Poles, Seven Months

I write about a host of ambitious expeditions and projects here on The Adventure Blog, but here's one that is on a completely different level.

Welsh adventurer Richard Parks has set quite a goal for himself. He plans to reach the top of all of the Seven Summits, as well as both the North and South Pole, in just seven months time. He's calling his expedition the 737 Challenge, which stands for 7 Summits, 3 Poles, 7 Months. Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, is sometimes called the "third pole."

The expedition is set to begin in December, with a trip to the South Pole and a climb of Mt. Vinson. From there he'll move on to Aconcagua in South America, followed by Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania. Then it's on to the North Pole before tackling Everest and Denali. He'll finish up on Elbrus in Europe sometime next summer. Parks hopes to use the expedition as a platform to raise funds for the Marie Curie Cancer Care organization, certainly a noble cause.

When I first started to read about this Richard's adventure, I thought this will be a logistical nightmare and nearly impossible to complete in just seven months time. After all, we've been following Eric Larsen on his Save The Poles journey for nearly a year now, and Eric "only" went to the North and South Pole and is in the process of attempting Everest. But it turns out that Richard will be covering the last two degrees to the South Pole and the final degree to the North Pole. Both of those journeys will take considerably less time than Eric's expedition, and change the logistics significantly.

Don't get me wrong, this is still a very ambitious project, but those shorter polar expeditions will make it possible to cover the Seven Summits too. This should be a great seven month journey for him and an amazing feat for anyone to accomplish.

Good luck Richard!

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7 Summits, 7 Flights Update: One Down!

Last week I posted a story about the Seven Summits, Seven Flights Team, who were just setting off on their quest to climb the Seven Summit and then paraglide off of each of them. They had hoped to begin with Denali in June, but were denied access because of permit issues, but were instead en route to Russia, where they would attempt Elbrus.

According to the expedition's blog, the team reached the summit of Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, on Tuesday, and did indeed fly off the summit. Reading the story however, it seems like it was much tougher than they expected, both on the climb and then the takeoff of the flight as well. During the climb the team suffered the usual issues with altitude, including headaches, nausea, etc., but despite all of that they reached the 18,510 foot summit by 11 AM local time.

The blog entry also says that it was a clear, beautiful day for a climb, but not so much for a flight. There was zero wind, which made it very difficult for them to get up to speed and lift off in their paraglider. They had to run quite quickly to achieve flight, and anyone who has ever tried to run at altitude can tell that isn't easy to do. Despite those challenges however, they did manage to get airborne and successfully fly from the summit, which means they have one summit down, and six to go.

Yesterday, the team posted another blog entry, this time sharing their thoughts and feeling on reaching their first goal. As you might expect, they seem tired, recovering from the altitude, but generally in good spirits and happy to have made the first climb.

No word on which of the Summits is next, but a hearty congratulations to the team for getting off to a good start.

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Seven Summits, Seven Flights

We've all heard about a number of climbers attempting the Seven Summits, that is to say, scaling the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. But three explorers are hoping to take that premise one step further, and not only climb those seven mountains, but then paraglide off of them once they reach the summit.

The project is the brain child of Pierre Carter, Marianne Schwankhart, and Peter Friedmann, who have dubbed their adventure the Seven Summits, Seven Flights expedition. The team will be sharing their experience via their blog, Twitter account, and Facebook page. According to their latest updates, they have left for Russia where they'll be making their first climb, and flight, on Elbrus, the 18,510 foot tall mountain that is the tallest in Europe. They had hoped to start with Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, this past June, but permit issues prevented them from getting underway there. They'll now turn there focus elsewhere for now, with Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, and Carstenzs Pyramid being the most likely next climbs on their schedule.

The team is of course hoping to be come the first to achieve the feat of paragliding the Seven Summits, but they are also hoping to raise money for the Smile Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping impoverished and facially disfigured children in South Africa, the home country for the Seven Summits, Seven Flights team.

Seems like a very cool adventure. These three are thinking ahead. They'll be able to expend all of their energy on the climb, and take it easy on the descent thanks to a nice, relaxing flight back to the bottom. Good luck to Pierre, Marianne, and Peter, enjoy Russia!

Thanks to Alan Masterson for sending this my way!

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Teen Adventurers: How Young Is Too Young?

Yesterday we had an interesting article, courtesy of Alan Arnette, on the right age to be climbing Everest. In that story, Alan talks about the youngest and oldest to make that climb, and mentioned two people going for the opposite ends of that spectrum this Spring.

One of those climbers, Jordan Romero, is the subject of an article from Outside Magazine entitled "Into Teen Air", that not only looks at the exploits of the 13-year old mountaineer, but also asks some tough questions, such as at what age is it too young for these kids to be making these these high altitude climbs?

The story mainly focuses on Jordan and his plans to summit Everest this spring, following his successful climb of six of the other Seven Summits. But it also takes a look at Johnny Strange and Johnny Collinson. Strange is the current record holder for the Seven Summits, at the age of 17, but Collinson also made those climbs at the same age, and was bested by just a few months. Both of them faced similar criticisms as Jordan while they were planning their expeditions. Still, Strange says that he wanted to climb Everest at 13, and now admits that it wouldn't have been a good idea.

All in all, the article reads more like a profile of Jordan, but does try to tell both sides of the story. It's hard not to be impressed by the kid, and it seems his father is taking great strides to make sure everything remains safe. Jordan is a cool customer, with lots of experience at altitude now, and he seems to be humble and well grounded. Still, I can't help but feel that 13 is just too young to be on Everest, or any other 8000 meter peak. I also think it is a bit ridiculous to be chasing records for the "youngest" to accomplish something. Those kinds of records are dubious and dangerous in my opinion, and if it isn't about those records, whey can't he wait until he's older to fulfill his quest? It should be noted that I fell very similarly about other kids going for circumnavigation records and similar adventurous pursuits.

I do wish Jordan luck of course. I hope that the climb goes well and that he not only reaches the summit, but makes it back down in one piece. I just happen to fear the ten year old who will follow him.

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Adventure World Interviews Lei Wang

Adventure World Magazine has posted a great interview with mountaineer Lei Wang, who was also recently the subject of an interview by Alan Arnette. Lei is the Chinese born climber who is preparing to leave for the Himalaya, where she'll be making an attempt on Everest, the last obstacle in the way of her completion of the Seven Summits.

In the interview, Lei tells us about what led her to begin climbing and pursuing a life of adventure. She mentions seeing Touching the Void and Women of K2, both of which served as inspirations to her. She also talks about the adventurer she most admires (Shackleton!) and the most dangerous moments on her expeditions thus far, which includes complete whiteout conditions on Elbrus and being sick on summit day on Vinson. But that's just the beginning. Lei also shares what her typical day is like as she prepares for her expeditions, gives us some insights into her training, and offers advice to other would-be adventurers.

Lei will leave for Kathmandu on the 20th of the Month, and begin the trek to Everest Base Camp soon there after. She'll be climbing on the South Side of the mountain, and expresses concerns with negotiating the dangerous Khumbu Icefall. She tells Adventure World that she hopes to be on the summit approximately two months after her arrival in Nepal, on May 20th, but of course, that date is very fluid at this point.

Good luck to Lei on her Everest adventure. We'll be following along.

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Seven Ribbons Foundation Sets Sights on Seven Summits!

I frequently mention the Seven Summits around here. It's one of the top achievements in the adventure world, and a lofty goal for anyone. The concept is fairly simple. Reach the summit of the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, although there is some debate over Australia vs. Oceania, which usually leads to climbers going up eight mountains rather than seven.

I recently came across an organization called the Seven Ribbons Foundation, which is an International charity that has made it their goal to to place a pink ribbon, representing the fight against breast cancer, on each of the Seven Summits. The goals of the Seven Ribbons Foundation are simple. Inspire those with breast cancer to beat the disease, work to prevent the disease from spreading by promoting early detection and generate awareness of breast cancer through the Seven Summits climbs

Checking out the organization's blog, it appears that they have only recently begun their campaign. In fact, I don't believe they've even climbed their first peak yet, which means we can follow along as they go through the process of preparing and tackling each of the mountains. They are currently hoping to begin this June, when they travel to Africa to climb Kilimanjaro.

Another great series of climbs for another great cause. Good luck to the entire team as they get started on this amazing adventure.

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Alan Arnette Interview: Lei Wang Goes For Adventure Grand Slam

Speaking of the Seven Summits, our friend Alan Arnette has another good interview posted this week. This time Alan speaks with Chinese climber Lei Wang, who is closing in on the Adventure Grand Slam, which consists of reaching the top of the Seven Summits and skiing to both the North and South Pole. In Lei's case, she has just Everest left to conquer, which she hopes to do this spring.

Like many who have completed the Seven Summits, Lei's love of mountaineering began when she reached the summit of Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa at 19,340 feet. That climb opened a sense of adventure in the young woman, and her desire to climb the remaining Summits was fueled further when she learned that no Chinese woman had accomplished the feat. Since then, she has stood atop Elbrus, Denali, Aconcagua, Carstensz Pyramid, and Vinson. Along the way, she also managed to go to the top and bottom of the world, on skis to both Poles.

In the interview, Lei talks briefly about her childhood in China, how things changed when she came to the U.S. to pursue an MBA, her first trip to the mountains, and a whole lot more. She touches on her training methods (puling those darn tires!), her mental preparation, and what it's going to be like to tell her parents she's going to Everest. As of the interview, she still hasn't broken it to them. *gulp*

If she is successful in reaching the summit of Everest, Lei will become just the tenth person to complete the Adventure Grand Slam, putting her in very elite company with the likes of Max Chaya, Cecilie Skog, and Park Young Seok, who has also climbed each of the 8000 meter peaks as well. Pretty impressive accomplishment, and it should be fun to see if she is successful this spring.

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The Gear Junkie Profiles Seven Summiteer

The Gear Junkie has posted a story today about Troy Aupperle, an American climber who has successfully climbed each of the Seven Summits. He shares a few stories from his adventures, including hiding in the back of a 4x4 to get a crack at Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, while taking the opportunity to plug his nutritional philosophy that he claims helped to get him to the top of all of those mountains.

When he began his quest to scale the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, Aupperle hoped to set a new record for shortest time to complete those climbs. That didn't happen, but he still managed to knock off each of the mountains in just two years time, which is plenty fast and ambitious in my mind. In the process, he spent roughly $150,000 realizing his goal.

But for the 44-year old business man this was just another opportunity to promote his products, which in this case, are a series of enzyme nutritional supplements that he swears helped him increase his energy and conditioning. Aupperle thinks that other mountaineers and athletes can see performance gains from his example as well. He also credits a number of other supplements for helping him be successful in the mountains, such as antioxidant products, probiotic bacteria, and medicinal silver.

As someone who works out regularly and tries to stay fit, reading about the nutritional habits can be interesting and useful at times. But in this case, I would have preferred more of the story focus on the Seven Summits and Aupperle's experiences there. The story of being smuggled into Carstensz Pyramid is the stuff of high adventure, and I would like to hear more about that, rather than the pills he was popping on summit day. Still, I thought some might find his story interesting and possibly helpful. Anyone else use enzymes and other supplements to improve their performance at altitude?

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Sherpa Going For Speed Record of Seven Summits

Climber Ang Chhiring Sherpa is hoping to set a new speed record for the Seven Summits. He began his quest last June, when he reached the top of Denali on the 17th of that month. He has since gone on to knock off five more of those iconic peaks, and now just Everest remains to be conquered. He'll give that mountain a go this spring.

A.C., as he is known, isn't just climbing for glory however, he is also hoping to raise funds for a cause as well. He was born in Nepal, and moved to the U.S. to join his brother at a young age. He would later graduate from Mercer Island High School, and return to his native land, where he hoped to give something back to that country. With that in mind, he is taking on the seven highest mountains on each continent to raise money for the Himalayan Women and Children Foundation. He also hopes to raise money for a number of other projects, including a new landing strip, a clinic, school, and hydroelectric project all in the Salleri region of Solu Khumbu, Nepal.

You can read more about A.C.'s quest to climb the Seven Summits in this article, but be warned, it is more than a year old, and has some dubious information in it regardless. (Not sure when Carstensz Pyramid moved to Australia!) Be sure to check out the video below for more up-to-date information.

Thanks to Alan Arnette for the tip off on A.C.'s Seven Summits bid, and good luck to the climber himself as he prepares to head to Everest in a few weeks time.

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Climbing Everest, and the other Seven Summits, with MS

Looking for a little inspiration on a Monday? Then look no further than the latest interview from Alan Arnette, who caught up with climber Lori Schneider to discuss her experiences in conquering the Seven Summits, and in the process, becoming the first person to do so with Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease that attacks the central nervous system.

In the interview, Alan asks Lori about how Everest impacted her life, the physical and mental demands of climbing the highest mountain on Earth, and her experiences with Alpine Ascents, who were her guides on the climb. Lori also offers insights into her training methods, the importance of a good Sherpa team, and her future plans as well.

As is usual with Alan's interviews, this is a very good one, but as I mentioned early on, it's also quite inspirational to. Lori not only became the first person with MS to reach the top of the Seven Summits, but also the first to summit Everest as well. That's no small feat for anyone in perfect health, let alone someone suffering from that illness. Such an amazing story!

And speaking of Alan's great Everest coverage, iPhone owners can now follow all the action through his new Everest App. It'll have updates on where teams are as well as news from the mountain throughout the spring season, and should prove quite useful for us Everest junkies. You can grab it here. [iTunes Link]

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The Costs of Climbing The Seven Summits

The Outpost, the official blog of Outdoorzy.com, has an interesting post up today that examines the costs of climbing the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on all seven continents.

The article looks at several broad categories and gives a good estimate of what each of them costs. For instance, they say that it'll set you back roughly $1170 for training to ensure you know what you're doing on those mountains, and another $9200 in airfare just to fly to the various countries that is home to one of these mountains. Throw in another $1500 for "incidentals", which covers such things as visas and passports, and things start to add up quickly.

Of course, the largest category is for the guide services necessary to climb the 7 (+1) mountains. The Outpost says that you can expect to pay between $105,850 - $169,900 on guides depending on who you choose to go with. They do note that this is an area that can be highly customized, and that's why there is such a large variance in the cost. Guide services are not all created equal, and sometimes you get what you pay for. Besides, do you really want to go cut-rate on this kind of trip?

The one category that I might disagree with their estimate on is gear, which they say will cost you $2000. In my opinion that is on the very low side, as I've seen down suits and thermal boots for Everest that will cost you that much alone. But I suppose, that this is, once again, an area that can really vary greatly, and you do indeed get what you pay for here as well.

So what's the bottom line? Outdoorzy says that the grand total of making a Seven Summits bid is about $119,720 - $183,870. That doesn't include the time you'll need to get off work, as most of us aren't sponsored climbers either.

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17-Year Old Sets Record For Seven Summits

Backpacker Magazine is reporting in their Daily Dirt Blog that 17-year old Johnny Collinson of Utah has become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits after reaching the top Mt. Vinson yesterday.

Collinson has yet to post anything to his own website, but he was climbing with a Mountain Madness team, and they have reported the teen's success. Johnny was part of a four person team that was guided up by North Face athlete Willie Benegas, who will be on his way to Aconcagua shortly.

A quick glance at Johnny's website tells us that he has climbed the Carstenz Pyramid version of the Seven Summits, which is of course the most challenging and technically demanding. There is no word on whether or not he'll head to Australia to nab Kosciusko, the tallest mountain on that continent. But considering that it is a simple walk up, it would only be a bump in the road for him after claiming these other peaks.

Congrats to Johnny on a job well done. Will he hold the record long though? Jordan Romero plans to head to Everest this spring and Vinson in the fall.

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Updates From Mt. Vinson

While the Antarctic trekking/skiing teams have, for the most part, completed their journeys, there is still some climbers at Mt. Vinson, taking on the highest peak on the continent and trying to claim the most remote of the Seven Summits.

First up, we have this report from Dave Hahn yesterday. He is currently in Vinson Base Camp, where over the next few weeks he'll be guiding a team for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. Dave says that it has been a busy couple of days, culminating with ALE delivering him and his team, along with all of their gear and supplies, to Patriot Hills. After a brief rest, they hopped into a smaller Twin Otter aircraft and were flown to BC, where they went to work building camp, including setting up kitchen tent, sorting gear, and generally getting everyone settled in. From the sounds of thing, BC is still a pretty active place, and Dave says that the weather is great right now as well. (Thank for the tip on this one Alan!)

Alpine Ascents has stayed busy on Vinson this season, having three different teams tackle the mountain. According to their climb updates page, Team III arrived in BC yesterday along with the one from RMI. They also set up camp and began preparing for their climb, and note that there is a lot of snow on Vinson at the moment, and that it looks "intimidating". Team II was still in BC up until a few days ago, but having successfully completed their climb, they're now on their way home.

Also on their way home is the IMG Vinson Team, who reached the summit back on January 6th, and finally caught a ride out of Patriot Hills yesterday. They are all safely back in Punta Arenas and will soon be returning to their home countries, with a 100% success rate on the mountain. All ten climbers reached the top, and in an even more impressive stat, IMG remains 100% successful on all of their Vinson climbs dating back to 1988. Wow!

For those that aren't aware, Mt Vinson is the tallest peak in Antarctica, standing 16,050 feet in height. Because it is one of the Seven Summits, it continually sees the most traffic each climbing season. There are, of course, plenty of other peaks in the region, some of which remain unclimbed, but due to the remote nature of the continent, not many make the journey to challenge those mountains.

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(Mis)Adventures on Aconcagua

Standing 22,841 feet in height, Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in South America, earning it the distinction of being one of the Seven Summits. Each year, hundreds of climbers make their way to the mountain, looking to reach the summit, and add a big peak to their resume. We're told that this is a non-technical mountain, that requires no special mountaineering skills, but that it is indeed a very long, and challenging hike to the top. And of course, we're regaled each climbing season with stories of the view from the top, often accompanied by photos of smiling climbers who look amazingly happy, while the Argentina countryside splays out for miles below them.

But what if you don't reach the summit, despite making a public display of your intentions, blogging your progress, and sending audio dispatches back to a captive audience back home? That's exactly what happened to writer David Ferris back in 2007, when he joined an expedition to Aconcagua, with the intention of climbing the mountain, and sharing his journey on the web. But a funny thing happened on the way to the summit. David found the climb to be more challenging than he thought, and as a result, he was unable to complete the climb, much to his own chagrin. Afterwards, he then had to face his friends and family, while dealing with what he considered was a failure on the tallest mountain outside of the Himalaya.

David wrote a two part article on his Aconcagua experience for Smith Magazine, which is both a celebration of adventure and an insightful look at how it feels to have to turn back from your goals, and the feelings that come along with that choice. Part I of the story, entitled "Tough Call", is found by clicking here, while Part II is found here. Better yet, you can check out David's blog page on his climb, which can be found here. On that page, you can find an audio stream of the author reading his own article, as well as a link to a video file that mixes great photographs from the climb with the same audio.

Listening to David's tale, it was easy to relate to my own experiences on Kilimanjaro, another mountain that is said to be a "walk-up", and require no technical skills to summit. But altitude can do funny things to you, and while both of these mountains are tall enough that no matter the skill level, you can't just discount their height. Of course, you always need to use good judgement on any mountain, but that doesn't always take the sting out of not reaching the top, especially when it's something that you've really been wanting.

This is a great story about what it's like when you don't get to stand on top, and the feelings that climbers and adventurers deal with when they come back down. Good stuff, and definitely worth a read or a listen.

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Alan Arnette Blogs For Outside!

Alan Arnette, whose Everest coverage I mentioned yesterday, has big plans for 2010. The mountaineer has turned his sights on the Seven Summits, and perhaps an even bigger goal, in raising $1 million for the Alzheimer's Association, a cause that is very near and dear to Alan's heart.

As he prepares for the first of his Seven Summit climbs, Alan has also started blogging for Outside Online, offering up his first entry yesterday. In this initial post, Alan introduces himself to a new audience over at Outside, while outlining his plans for what he'll be writing about, which will include his own climbs, analysis of the Everest climbing season, and mountaineering news in general. Personally, I can't think of a better person to make these contributions to the Outside Blog, and Alan's writing will make an already great source of news and information even better.

Alan's Seven Summit bid will begin next July, when he'll start with Kilimanjaro and then move on to Elbrus the following month. From there, he'll climb Vinson in the fall of 2010 and Aconcagua, which he's already summitted, in early 2011. He'll tackle Everest in the spring of that year, before returning to Denali that summer. He'll finish up on the technical Carstensz Pyramid sometime in 2011 as well, and while in the neighborhood, he'll head to Australia and stroll up Kosciuszko too. The best part of this adventure is that we can all be a part of it. You can help Alan reach that $1 million goal by clicking here, and you can join him on one of the climbs by clicking here.

Congratulations on the new gig at Outside Alan, it is much deserved, and good luck on the Seven Summits. You know I'm behind you on that endeavor as well.

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Should Jordan Romero Climb Everest?

Backpacker Magazine has an interesting story and editorial asking the question Should 13-year-old Jordan Romero Climb Everest? This seems a fitting question, considering the young man is planning on making an attempt on the world's highest mountain next spring, which would cap his quest to become the youngest person to climb all the Seven Summits, assuming he knocks off Vinson on schedule later this year.

I've been following Jordan's climbs fairly closely these past couple of years, updating his progress every time he managed to summit another one of the seven, which consists of the tallest mountains on each of the continents. This story from Backpacker is great for introducing Jordan to anyone who hasn't been following him thus far however, and it talks about how he became captivated with the idea after seeing a mural of the Seven Summits at school. The article also emphasizes the parental support he has gotten from his dad, as well as other adults in his life too.

Backpacker also goes into the criticism that Jordan and his father, Paul, have had to endure. There are plenty of people who think it's just plain wrong for a child to be climbing these mountains, and that the teenager is at risk every time he goes up. They also accuse Paul of being the kind of dad that pushes his son into doing things that he doesn't necessarily want to do. Reading the story you can tell that the criticism has stung on more than one occasion.

The family has plenty of supporters as well however, and chief amongst them are mountaineers who have climbed with Jordan or spent time with him in camps on the five mountains he's already completed. Others say that if nothing else, the teenager has goals and aspirations, and he's not sitting on the couch playing video games like so many other kids.

All in all, this is a good story about a good kid, who happens to have very big dreams. Everything I've read or seen on Jordan seems to indicate that he is a level headed climber, wise beyond his years, with a great support system around him. You have to admire his determination and toughness, that much is certain.

And what do I think about a 13-year old climbing Everest? Personally, I don't think its a very good idea. The mountain is challenging enough at any age, and sending someone so young up there just seems like it's asking for trouble. The mountain is fraught with dangers, and a death on Everest is always tragic. It just seems like it would be even more so for a climber of this age.

That said, I feel like if anyone can do it at 13, it is probably Jordan. I also know that his family won't put him into a position where he'll be going up higher than he should. But, as I said when 13-year old Laura Dekker was planning on circumnavigating the globe solo, I'm against these kids doing these things to earn a "record" for being the youngest to accomplish something. And if it isn't about a record ,then why not wait a few years? The mountain will still be there when Jordan is 16 for instance, and that three years can make a big difference in his physical maturity.

Either way, I wish him the best of luck. To find out more about Jordan, check out his website at JordanRomero.com

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Book Review: Die Trying

In the world of mountaineering and adventure, the Seven Summits is one of the most sought after goals. In order to complete the challenge, a climber must successfully climb the tallest mountains on all seven continents. The list includes Kilimanjaro in Africa (19,340 feet), Aconcagua in South America (22,841 feet), Denali in North America (20,320 feet), Mt. Vinson in Antarctica (16,050 feet), Mt. Elbrus in Europe (18,442 feet), Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia (16,024), Mount Kosciuszko in Australia (7,310 feet), and of course Mt. Everest in Asia, the tallest mountain on the planet at 29,029 feet. Sharp eyed readers will have already noted that that was eight mountains and not seven. When the original list was put together by Dick Bass, the first man to climb all of the Seven Summits, he included just the continental mountains, and thus Kosciuszko in Australia was on the list. Later, the list was amended by Reinhold Messner to to included all of "Oceania" which then added Carstensz Pyramid to the list. Most climbers do both just to cover their bases.

The Seven Summits are the the central theme for the book Die Trying by Bo Parfet and Richard Buskin, which was released earlier this year. The book follows Parfet's quest to climb each of those mountains, as he goes on a journey of self discovery along the way.

Parfet does a competent job of telling his own story, starting as a young man who struggled with a learning disability, but over came that to go on graduate college and get a lucrative job on Wall Street. But in the midst of working many long hours, while constantly eating takeout, and slowly getting out of shape, Parfet decided he needed to put a little excitement into his life. So, he planned a trip to Tanzania to make the trek up Kilimanjaro. While in college he had done some climbing, and caught the bug, but he had never been up as high as he was on Kili, and when he reached the summit, it gave him a sense of accomplishment that ended up changing his life.

From there, Bo decided that he would move on Aconcagua, which other climbers told him was a nice test to see if he could handle even higher altitudes. At that time, he wasn't even considering the Seven Summits, just going on a mountain adventure that would get him out away from his desk and out of his office. Parfet became creative with his approach, even using his corporate ties to do fund raising for a variety of charities that would help get him to the places he wanted to go climbing in. Not only was he getting to climb mountains, he was doing some good along the way too.

Eventually mountaineering began to become a more important part of his life, and by the time he left for Denali, his third peak in the Seven Summits, he was in better shape, carrying more appropriate equipment, and had experience level had risen dramatically. After topping out successfully on that mountain, which is often seen as a warm-up for Everest, he began to think about completing the Seven Summits in earnest.

Overall, I enjoyed Die Trying, as it is a good read to familiarize yourself with the mountains that make up the Seven Summits, and learn the basics of mountaineering. Parfet does a good job of describing the conditions that are faced on each of the Summits, and explains the various approaches to climbing each of them as well. He also mixes in plenty of his own personality, giving the story a more accessible, personal approach. He comes across as a likable guy that you wouldn't mind sharing a camp fire with, swapping stories into the night.

But make no mistake, this book isn't amongst the all time great mountaineering books. It is a fun, light read, and if you're looking for something new for your bookshelf, then by all means, give this one a go, just don't expect Into Thin Air or even Dick Bass' own Seven Summits, which I preferred to this book, although it is a bit dated now. For a fun adventure story though, you could do a lot worse.

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Jordan Romero Summits Carstensz Pyramid

I've written about Jordan Romero in the past. He's the 13-year old who is attempting to become the youngest person to complete the Seven Summits, and the latest entry on his blog indicates that he is now one step closer to that goal.

Jordan is currently in Indonesia where the word is that he has successfully reached the summit of Carstensz Pyramid, the tallest peak in Oceania. In the process, the teenager also managed to set a new record as the youngest person to complete that technical climb and reach the top of the 16,023 foot mountain. He now has just Mt. Vinson in Antarctica and Everest in Asia to complete the Seven Summits.

The current record for the youngest person to complete the Seven Summits is held by Johnny Strange, who finished his quest this past spring by topping out on Everest. Johnny is 17 years old, so obviously Jordan has a few years working in his favor to catch him. Despite that, his website says that he hopes to finish off the two remaining peaks within the next year, presumably going for Vinson in the December/January timeframe and then turning towards Everest in the spring.

The Seven Summits represent the highest mountains on the seven continents, and over the past 25 years or so have become one of the landmark achievements for outdoor adventure. The list has actually grown to include 8 mountains, as Mount Kosciuszko, the tallest point in Australia, has been supplanted with the much more challenging, and taller, Carstensz, but most of the Seven Summiteers do both, just to cover their bases. Besides those two, Vinson and Everest, the list includes the following: Mt. Elbrus (Europe), Denali (North America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), and Aconcagua (South America).

I know we recently had some discussion around here regarding Laura Dekker and her plans to sail solo around the world at the age of 13, and now we have another 13-year old who is planning on tackling Everest next year. The difference between these two is vast however, as Jordan won't be making his Everest attempt alone, and his father, who goes with him on every climb, happens to be a high altitude medical specialist. That said, I'll still say that Everest isn't the best place for a 13-year old kid. I know they'll use sound judgement in their approach, but much like Laura, I think it would be okay for them to wait a few years before making the attempt. After all, what is the hurry?

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Alan Arnette Announces Memories Are Everything: The 7 Summits!

While I was away playing in the jungle, Alan Arnette made a major announcement that I was disappointed to have missed and posted about at the time. But I am happy to make up for that now, in passing the word along on Alan's Memories Are Everything: The 7 Summits project.

Essentially, beginning in 2010, Alan will begin climbing the Seven Summits in an effort to continue to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer's Association, who he partnered with for his Road Back To Everest project last year. That endeavor raised more than $25,000 to for research in the search for a cure for Alzheimer's, but this time around Alan has his sights set even higher, hoping to raise $1 million dollars as he attempts to climb the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents.

This is a deeply personal project for Alan, whose mother suffers with the disease. He offers an update on her recent progress, and like all long term sufferers of Alzheimer's she continues to decline, and recognizes her family less and less all the time. My own grandfather had the same condition in his later years, and it was painful at times to see him struggle with his memories.

Even though Alan doesn't plan to step foot on the first mountain until 2010, you can begin donating to the cause today. The page is already set up and can be accessed by clicking here.

You can also learn more about the Seven Summits on Alan's summary page found here. it seems like he's going to be covering all of his bases, by climbing Carstensz Pyramid and walking up Kosciuszko in Australia as well.

I can't wait to follow along with Alan's latest project. Not only is it a cause that I fully support and have personal insight into, but I always love reading Alan's dispatches from the field and following along on his climbs. Now if you'll excuse me, I have ot head over to his Everest 2009 page to catch up everything I missed over the past week and a half.

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Himalaya Spring 2009 Update:

We're just days away from climbers descending on Kathmandu, and in this eleventh hour they are no doubt hurriedly packing and picking up last minute supplies. Meanwhile, in the Nepal, another ritual of spring seems to be taking place, as the Maoist once again are disrupting travel in the country.

According to ExWeb, who posted their own Himalaya wrap-up today, unrest and general strikes in certain areas of Nepal, from Maoist rebels no less, are already having an impact on the region. It seems Nives Meroi and her husband Romano Benet have been forced to change their plans thanks to the protests. The duo had been planning on heading to Kangchenjunga, one of the three remaining 8000m peaks left for them to conquer, but apparently, Nives and Romano sent their BC team on ahead to begin preparing their campsite, and they were detained by the rebels and turned back. Looking to avoid conflict, the Italian climbers elected to switch mountains and head to Annapurna instead. Nives still needs a summit on Annapurna in her quest to become the first woman to summit all 14 8000m peaks. At the moment they are in Kathmandu, where they report a severe shortage of water and power, but they'll head to the Annapurna region by the end of the week, where they'll await their team and gear.

Also heading to Annapurna is Valeri Bavanov and climbing partner Victor Afanasief. They are also in KTM at the moment, and while they're all set to leave, and expected to be gone by now, they're having problems finding any porters to hire. Apparently a number of porters were expected in the city by now, coming from villages in the countryside, but they've also been delayed by the Maoist strikes. Valeri and Victor feel confident however that they will find the porters they need soon, and will head for the mountain, where they intend to climb the West Face this spring.

It looks like not everyone has given up on the North Side, as ExWeb is also reporting that a combined team of Indian and Tibetan climbers have been issued a permit to scale the mountain from that side. With the borders still closed, it remains to be seen if the Indian climbers will receive access, but perhaps they will get special dispensation due to the nature of their climb. Eight members of the team also intend to ski down from the summit following their successful climb. Considering how quiet the North will be this year, it is going to take a lot of work to fix the lines.

Billi Bierling, who will be climbing Everest with Himex this year, lives and works in Kathmandu, where she reports that there was finally some rain over the weekend, helping to bring down the amount of smog and dust in the air. That should help make it a bit easier for all the travelers who will be headed to the city soon, although if the water shortages are as bad as they seem, anyone heading there soon should be prepared for the worst.

Last week I briefly mentioned Lori Schneider, the woman who suffers with MS, but still has her sights set on an Everest summit this year. If successful, she'll also have bagged all of the Seven Summits as well. Today, Alan Arnette has posted a great interview with this very inspirational climber to his Everest 2009 page. Scroll down further and you'll find a letter to Alan from Ang Tshering Sherpa, founder of Asian Trekking, who has some interesting things to say about what's happening on Everest this spring, including the Eco Everest expedition that will be working hard to clean up the mountain.

Continue scrolling even further on Alan's page, and you'll find that we already know when Summit Day will be this year. According to Scott Parazynski, whose gone into orbit five times on the space shuttle, we can expect to see the first teams on top of Everest on May 14th. Of course, that's just his best guesstimate, and one that he's using on his schedule, but it's the best we've got right now. The fact that it's more than a month and a half away, and there are dozens of factors that will play into which date is actually picked, shouldn't matter at all. ;)

To everyone headed to the Himalaya this week. Have fun, travel safe, and drop by the Rum Doodle for me. :)

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