The past week brought a satire and several critical articles about failing moral responsibility in Himalaya and places such as Kilimanjaro. Among the more hopeful stories; a tribute to Inaki Ochoa; and another pro-Tibet banner on Everest summit.
In other news; a huge Karakoram list of expeditions and some fun and interesting stuff going on in the polar areas and the ocean side.
Everest - more support for Tibet They sent guns and issued threats, but they could not kill the free word on Everest. French Dominique Gilbert was not alone flagging a Free Tibet t-shirt on the summit. Scott Mortensen did too, in addition to the words "Free Tibet" written all over his face mask. “I thought this was a picture of someone else,” reported Becky on the expedition website. “IT IS INDEED SCOTT MORTENSEN AND PROUD OF IT.”
Kudos must go also to Peak Freaks outfit, who were the most outspoken during the entire Everest season and would not let themselves be intimidated either by the unlawful acts of the Nepalese Maoists nor their Chinese handlers. "This is what Everest is all about," wrote ExWeb.
No summits w/o O2 on Everest this year Norbert Joos aborted his Everest summit push (the last of his 14x8000ers) already in C2 on May 23 due to pulmonary problems, but also due to the death of a fellow Swiss mountaineer. With that, nobody summited Everest without O2 this year.
Nepal politics: The Maoist ultimatum "Give it a year and Nepal will be a one-party state," an ExWeb editor betted a foreign journalist in the heat of the elections. Make it 6 months? Last weekend, Prachanda threatened with another street movement to force his gaining of power, adding "due to the foolishness of Gyanendra, republic has been established. If the NC and UML also continue demonstrating their foolishness, People's Republic will be established."
ExWeb's tribute to Inaki Ochoa: When good men die A man who did what he wanted, and said what he pleased. Inaki's courage extended beyond mountains, and his heart made him loved a bit more than others. Dignity and freedom was everything to this climber - in summits, achievements, and life itself - nothing was worth accomplishing without it. Read ExWeb's founders tribute to Inaki Ochoa.
First on Everest "Another disappointment when I put down the phone. The food industry wouldn't support my attempt on Everest as they had just signed a contract with a guy from Wyoming who had plans to carry a bottle of ketchup to the summit." Don't miss FIRST ON EVEREST - an opinionated satire by Bob A. Schelfhout Aubertijn.
Everest 2008: false summits and adventure imperialism Some mainstream media is unimpressed by Everest and the Seven Summits circuit these days showed two articles published right at the end of the Everest 2008 summit season. "Appalling sort of abdication of moral responsibility," wrote one journalist about Everest and Nangpa La. About adventure coupled with charities, another vented, "playing philanthropic games in the developing world, we behave like the worst kind of colonials from a past era."
Bae tops out Trango after 27 days on the wall; Bae & Cecilie for K2 next After 27 days on the wall, last week Norwegian Rolf Bae and his climbing mates Stein Ivar Gravdal, Bjarte Bø, and Sigurd Felde bagged the summit of Trango Tower. Now, polar celebrity couple Rolf Bae and Cecilie Skog will return to K2, for their second attempt on the Mountaineers' mountain.
First climbers reach K2 - list of expeditions ready to launch; final call for corrections and additions "It's gonna be a great season - everyone's there! (Gerlinde, Veikka, Hiro, Pavle, Kopold, the Peters, Chris Warren, Iñurrategi, .... )" wrote ExWeb's editor Angela Benavides after updating the latest list of expeditions sent from Pakistan by Karrar Haidri. Pls check the list and send us corrs and links before the list is coded and set in stone by Monday. Wilco's Norit K2 Expedition, a motley crew of international and Dutch climbers, were first to reach BC last week. Kobalenko's Countdown of the Top Ten Expedition BS "Every spring, the High Arctic sees a handful of expeditions. One or two are interesting; most are not very good; a few are hustles. Anything, for example, with the 'Geomagnetic Pole' as its goal is likely a hustle." Early this spring the funny and outspoken polar veteran set up a homepage at last and starting June 3, Jerry Kobalenko has been publishing his Top Ten Expedition BS Countdown. "The less technical something is, and the more instantly famous you can get doing it, the more it attracts amateurs with questionable motives," Jerry introduced the series.
Chris and Clark Victoria Island: when carefully laid plans go to ruins Last week Chris Bray (24) and Clark Carter (23) hit Victoria Island with their new and improved pac's, to finish what they started: a crossing of the largely unexplored Victoria Island. The carts, with giant wheels 1.5m tall have already taken a beating, so the guys are mending their way forward: "Seems things are just starting to get interesting out here," they dispatched. "I think Tim Cope one said - 'adventure only really starts when all your carefully laid plans go to ruins and your left to start with whats on your back'."
Amazon Queen update: Back in Iraq - forward operations base GABE For many years, Captain Phil's dream was to navigate with his family from Colombia to the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. But when his ship sank last year, the American Vietnam veteran did something he swore he'd never do again - he went to war. After four months on leave in Colombia, working on the ranch and the Amazon Queen, last week Phil's return trip to Iraq took him to the forward operations base know as GABE. "Upon landing I realized I was the only one getting off," Phil wrote. "Fortunately the medical officer whom I am replacing was there in that dark night happy to see me...as was I to see him! The good news for him, 'he can now go home to his family'... for me...this will be the beginning of another year... a place to 'book mark' the beginning of more tales from Iraq."
Henk De Velde update: About unconditional freedom and a world beyond the local news In Mar del Plata, winter is descending. Since we last checked in with Henk, almost two months have passed, but that's OK - for Henk is out on a Neverending Voyage. Pondering freedom and the state of the world, Henk goes about fixing his boat and watching fellow sailors. There's Unrest, crewed by two, out already for 15 years; a 60 ft heavy steel schooner crewed by a Frenchman with his 2 wives; and a 34 ft KISS (keep it simple stupid) - Henk's favorite. These days, when climbing doesn't mix with human rights, sports don't mix with politics, business don't mix with ethics - all for their own, perfect reasons - the old sailor states simply, "what happens to the world, happens to me."