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January 16-31st,1999 Daily Reports
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For earlier reports: See the Site Index for a list of all the
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Daily News: 1/30/99-1/31/99 Report
Everest Spring 99: Enrique Guallart-Furio, will have
his good friend Ang Dorje Sherpa on his 99 Expedition. With all the
discussion lately, EverestNews.com was forwarded Ang Dorje Sherpa partial
list of climbing achievements. His official name is Chuldim although
he is popularly known as Ang Dorje. He has climbed:
1992 Spring Summit of Mt. Everest via South Col (#1)
1993 Spring Summit of Mt. Everest via South Col (#2)
1994 Spring Summit of Mt. Everest via South Col (#3)
1995 Autumn Summit of Mt. Cho Oyu (Tibet)
1996 Spring Summit of Mt. Everest with Rob Hall (#4)
1996 Autumn Summit of Mt. Cho Oyu (Tibet)
1996 Summer (August) Summit of Broad Peak (Pakistan)
1996 Autumn Summit of Mt. Ama Dablam (SW Ridge)
1997 Spring Summit of Mt. Everest via South Col (#5)
Ang Dorje Sherpa will be climbing on Everest from Nepal in April '99 with
his very good friend Enrique Guallart-Furio. We are told he will
go to Norway in the Summer to do some guiding work there. Ang Dorje Sherpa has
five Summits of Everest which would put him in the up in the elite level of
western climbers. However, as most of You know Sherpa climbers get little or no
attention outside of Nepal. EverestNews.com reports on all climbers !
New Sherpa Restaurant: Himalayan Sherpa Restaurant
Grand Opening on 4214 University Way NE Seattle, Washington 98145) person
to Contact A. C. Sherpa. Enjoy !!!
Everest Spring 99: The Year of the Englishman on Everest !
The EverestNews.com Everest 99 Expedition
links has been updated. It appear the Brits will have some company !
Risk is reporting that
three teams from the old Soviet Block will be on the North Side of Everest in 1999.
An Ukraine expedition headed by V. Simonenko and M. Gorbenko, an expedition lead by
V. Skripko and a Belorussia expedition again in 1999. Check the excellent Risk web site for more details and many mountaineering
stories...
Everest Spring 99: Mike Trueman will be back on Everest in
Spring 1999 ! Mike, is being commercially
sponsored, and will be using a slot on Henry Todd's permit. He also told EverestNews.com,
" By the way my web-site is being updated and it will be ready in early February. I
am leading a team of trekkers in with me when I walk in this year if anyone is interested.
If they "book" via EverestNews.com the price for this all inclusive trip from
arrival at Kathmandu airport (including hotel, food, and fully serviced trek) will be US$
1,500 (normal price US$ 1,800) Dates are 30 March to 17 April." Mike's new web
site is The High Adventure at http://www.prpart.com.hk/highadventure/index.html
has been updated to include details of the programme for 1999 and 2000.
He tells us "new photographs will be added very shortly, but the essential
information is already there for forward planning, if you would like to join us on any of
our ventures." Mike's web site is also listed on the EverestNews.com
99 Everest Expedition Links Page.
Again. " My Everest Base Camp trek is advertised at US$ 1,800 on the
site - but I would be prepared on a one off to offer this to those who book saying that
they saw the site on EverestNews.com, at US$ 1,500 - almost a 20% reduction. This will be a
trek guided by me as far as Base Camp, with another member of the High Adventure team
leading the return", Mike Trueman. Mike's earlier interview with Questions from
readers of EverestNews.com can be found on the Site Index.
EverestNews.com
Classified Ads !!! Coming soon EverestNews.com will have Free Classified ads pages for you to list your gear and other items for sale.
Individuals listing will be free. Commercial listing on expeditions, treks, and gear will
be charged. Submit your add to: everestnews2004@adelphia.net,
for commercial ads rates just send an e-mail with details on your listing. EverestNews.com
reserves the right to reject any add based on its sole judgment. EverestNews.com
also
reserves the right to determine what is a commercial add...
Amazon UK, we have been asked
what our their best sellers from our links:
Everest Spring 99: In case you missed it ! Several readers
has passed on very positive comments on Joao Garcia's pictures that are posted on his
pages at Pascal Debrouwer & Joao Garcia
page one and the page two.
These pictures are from Joao's 1998 Everest North Side climb, we liked them because as one
reader said, "they are day-to-day life on an expedition rather than the
"fantastic scenery" shots." Pascal
Debrouwer & Joao Garcia will be leading an North Side Everest expedition again
this year !
David Keaton Q&A, the last Part ! : Everest 94 with
Rob Hall and the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version
of the Seven Summits. (Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became
the first person to have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state
highpoints. David took questions from You our readers of EverestNews.com, for
the first parts of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
Q.) I am not aggressively pursuing the "US 50
highpoints" but thought it would be fun to try to make it to the highpoints of states
that I travel to for other reasons. Of course if I end up in Alaska I will be in
trouble because I am a hiker and not a climber.
So.....I will be in California and Washington this summer and am
wondering
about Mt. Whitney and Mt. Rainier.
First: Is Mt. Whitney more of a hike or a climb?
A.) There are numerous routes on Whitney beginning with the Whitney
Portal trail, the standard route. The East Face and Buttress are the classic lines
(5th class) and the Mountaineer's route is a 3rd class scramble. Depending on winter
snowfall, Whitney could offer early spring conditions into late summer (i.e. snow).
Typically, the Portal trail is clear of snow by mid to late summer. Permits are now
required even for day use (May to October) so plan ahead (Inyo National Forest).
Q.) Secondly: I have spoken to a guide service for Mt. Rainier
and they have told me that Mt. Rainier is an "endurance" climb and not a
"technical" climb and that as long as I am in really good physical condition I
should be able to make the climb even though I don't have any climbing experience.
I would appreciate your thought and opinions on this. I just
want to have some fun and don't want to do anything stupid!
A.) Without substantial mountaineering experience signing up with a
guide service is probably the best approach for a peak like Rainier. Although it is
not a technical' climb per se it is a heavily glaciated peak with unpredictable
weather and high altitude.
Q.) How would you recommend training for an accent of Everest?
A.) The best preparation is to climb and train at altitude. Some
people have moved to the Sierras or the Rockies for several months prior to the climb.
More importantly, you want to accumulate the skills and experience necessary to attempt
even the "normal" south col/north col routes. At a minimum, a summit climb
of Aconcagua or Denali should give you a feel for your body's response to altitude.
A climb of one of the easier 8000 meter peaks is ideal - Cho Oyu, GII or
Shishapangma. Understand the difficulties you will face long before you walk into
Everest base, and be ready physically and mentally to tough it out. Thanks for the
questions. Bye.
Everest Spring 99: If appears we might have a
Brit
race instead of a Sherpa race !!! As reported earlier, Babu Chhiri Sherpa is expected to attempt to break the record ascent
time for a
Everest climb from the South side. Most Everest climbers we talk to, seems to feel
Babu can easily break this record. Other Sherpa climbers would also like to take
a shot at it, but the probability is that no other Sherpa climber will have the time and
money to attempt the record this spring.
But we also have an interesting story developing on the
British Climbers. Graham Ratcliffe will be attempting Everest
from the South Side as part of Henry Todd's Expedition, and Graham
Hoyland (see his interesting post awhile ago on the Discussion Forum) will be attempting the Summit from
the North Side as part of the Eric Simonson's multiple purpose 99 Everest
Expedition. If either climber reaches the summit they would be the only British
climber to climb both the North and South Side of Everest. Yes, no Brit has
reached the Summit of Everest form both sides of Everest to date ! Then we also
have Jon Tinker (OTT Expeditions), on the South Side. Jon, is known to
act first as an Expedition leader, and second as a climber. The probability is one of
these three men will be the first Brit to summit Everest from the North and the South
sides. It should be stated that EverestNews.com knows of no official competition
between these climbers.... Both Graham Ratcliffe and Graham Hoyland will be on high profile expeditions filming movies... ! Jon will be leading,
what is expected to be the largest expedition of climbers on Everest on the South Side in
1999. More on these climbers and expeditions soon !!!
The expedition of New Zealander Peter Hillary, son of Everest
conqueror Sir Edmund, and Australians Eric Phillips and Jon Muir has reached the south
Pole. They sat out across Antarctica on a journey attempted to recreate the ill-fated
expedition of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott in 1911. They found the trek rough with
many challenges. Please check their web site for all the details: http://www.iridium-icetrek.org/index.htm.
If you missed it, several
Stories has been added
to our Site Index. The feedback on this new Index has been very
positive...so that is the plan ! The hyperlink to the Site Index
has also been added to the left border... Thanks, for all your comments ! Keep them coming
everestnews2004@adelphia.net .
David Keaton Q&A, Part 6: (Everest 94 with Rob
Hall) and the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version of
the Seven Summits. (Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became the
first person to have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state
highpoints. David took questions from You our readers of EverestNews.com, for
the first parts of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
Q.) On an experience I had on a roped climb on a glacier (my 1st
time with crampons and on a roped team) How close should the person directly behind the
lead climber be? The lead climber in this instance was the guide-Should there be a lot of
slack (distance) between you and the lead climber or should you try to keep pace with
him/her?
A.) Generally people are roped up in this manner over
glaciated terrain to help arrest a crevasse fall. Rope teams often put 50 feet of
rope between climbers. It defeats the purpose generally if there's a rope but no
distance between climbers.
Q.) How much did you hydrate during your climbs? Did you drink more
fluids the higher you climbed?
A.) Hydration is critical, and the risk of frostbite can be
compounded not only by low temperatures but also improper hydration and poor vascular
circulation due to altitude.
Q.) Did you have or have you ever had any experiences with HA
sickness on your 7 summit attempts or 50 state climbs?
A.) I've had a couple bouts of mild altitude sickness but
fortunately no cerebral or pulmonary edema. Even AMS (which can be a precursor to
the edemas) can be debilitating. There are documented cases of people dying from
altitude sickness as low as 8000 feet in the U.S.
Q.) Are you more secure climbing with people you know and trust or
do you on occasion like to climb with people just learning the ropes so to speak?? Thanks
again for your time!!
A.) It's always more comfortable to climb with people you know but
it can be fun with new people as well. This summer I took part in a commercial
expedition to the Eastern Pamir and it worked very well.
Q.) Ok I have to know the Larry story !
A.) After climbing in great weather in the Beartooth mountains of
Montana the van we were riding in broke down several hours outside of Bozeman. We
hitchhiked from a gas station into Bozeman. Larry was a hound dog in the back of the
truck with us. He was better behaved than we were.
The Discussion Forum,
appears to be much more active since a reader's suggestion we list some of the titles on
the Site Index. EverestNews.com encourages your suggestions as we try to improve the site
between now and May 1999. Suggestions can be submitted at any time to everestnews2004@adelphia.net. For anyone
looking for Jochen he is currently on his Aconcagua
Expedition. He has promised a report on his return, assuming time allows...
David Keaton Q&A, Part 5: (Everest 94 with Rob
Hall) and the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version of
the Seven Summits. (Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became the
first person to have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state
highpoints. David took questions from You our readers of EverestNews.com, for
the first parts of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
Q.) On Everest, What was Hall turn around time in 1994? Did everyone
know what it was?
A.) We had a general sense of safety but we were not under any
specific turnaround time. With that said we left at 12:30 am with the understanding
that we wanted to get off the summit as early as possible.
Q.) Why do you think Hall did not turn around in 1996?
A.) It's not totally clear, but I've heard a report from a Sherpa
that Rob was relegated to two lousy options late in the day. But this is unconfirmed.
Q.) David, I just don't get it. how can people blame a guide form
another team (A. Boukreev) for the deaths of two clients and two guides from another
expedition. I just don't get it. Am I stupid or what ???
A.) I'm not sure that Boukreev was blamed for any deaths, but you're
right some criticisms appear to be misplaced.
Q.) How strong and good was Lopsang Sherpa ?
A.) Lopsang summited with Scott Fischer's' team the same day as us
in 1994. He was wearing traditional Sherpa clothing on the ascent. He was a very
powerful climber. He was also a member of Rob Hall's 1995 Everest expedition.
Rob Hall's climbing sirdar, Ang Dorje does not seek much publicity but he is
an outstanding altitude climber with ascents of Makalu, Cho Oyu, Broad Peak and numerous
Everest climbs. He's a member of a small group of people who have smoked cigarettes
on the summit of Everest.
Q.) How do you pay the bills? Do you have a Job ? How do you get all
the money for these climbs?
A.) At the time I went to Everest I was single and was coming off a
very good salary with a telecommunications company. More recently, I've been doing
some telecom consulting and also work for a NY agency as a professional photographer.
I consider myself a "seriously amateur" climber. The high mountains
are a strong pull but more often I have been choosing moderate routes with good company.
A few more answers to your questions will be posted in the next few
days.
David Keaton Q&A, Part 4: (Everest 94 with Rob
Hall) and the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version of
the Seven Summits. (Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became the
first person to have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state
highpoints. David will be taking questions from You, our readers of EverestNews.com, please submit your questions to everestnews2004@adelphia.net
for the first part of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
Q.) Do the climbers at Everest or other high altitude mountains ever
use drugs to keep them going (ala Methadrine), or any other stimulants? Its seems it would
be dangerous.
A.) Some climbers do you use medical supplements to help counteract
the effects of altitude. Diamox is commonly prescribed and used, but it's no
guarantee. There are much more powerful drugs which should be used with extreme
discretion.
Q.) Can one were contact lenses were H.A. climbing ?
A.) Some people do use contacts but I'm not aware of the
specific limitations. After Everest 96 there have been some questions about the Radial
Keratotomy procedure and altitude. Ned Gillette reportedly had the procedure and
related no problems during his climb. Case by case.
Q.) The 64,000 dollar question: Do you feel ITA is accurate ?
A.) Honestly, I think the work would have benefited from a more
lengthy research period. ITA is a dramatic read but there are problems.
As an example of an author approaching a tragedy in a different manner I'd point to
Sebastian Junger's best-selling work The Perfect Storm'. Great research and
integrity without losing the drama.
Q.) What do you make of many guides and writers these days speaking
out against ITA?
A.) I think ITA certainly helped create more controversy, and it
will continue to generate a healthy debate.
Q.) On the other hand David Breashears and Ed Viesturs, we are told
over and over says they think ITA is accurate. However, they weren't really there, meaning
even above Camp 2 that day. How do you think. I also have not seen anything in print from
Ed.
A.) There are a lot of opinions floating around. I get
suspicious when anyone dresses up opinions as the mighty truth. There is more grey
than black and white which goes back to what Ed Douglas was talking about.
Ed Viesturs did make some interesting comments that were buried in
the online reports appearing soon after the tragedy. Specifically, he pointed to key
issues of personnel and decision-making.
I wasn't there, but one approach, if you really care, is to read all
the published material and make your own conclusions. I thought Peter Wilkinson's
account in Men's Journal was remarkable. The best written magazine piece in my
opinion. He wasn't there either, and perhaps that's an advantage.
Q.) Do you think Breashears and ITA was co-promoted together?
If you missed it, several
Stories (many Old) has
been added to our New Site Index. The feedback on this new Index
has been very positive...so that is the plan !
David Keaton Q&A, Part 3: (Everest 94 with Rob
Hall) and the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version of
the Seven Summits. (Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became the
first person to have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state
highpoints. David will be taking questions from You, our readers of EverestNews.com, please submit your questions to everestnews2004@adelphia.net
for the first part of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
Q.) From the book ITA, Woodall was made out to be opposed to
helping Halls Team and Fischer's Team by refusing the use of a radio in crisis situation ,
and was antagonistic all the way up-- he was from The South African Team right? Or was
Krakauer over reacting to this?
A.) I read the various accounts of the South African team but I
don't have any further information. Their actions appear indefensible.
Q.) I would like to know what it was like upon the summit?
A.) It's a bit surreal because of the altitude. Great views of
course, but it's a struggle to process the information. The weather was favorable
and the hour was early so people were celebrating and not too stressed. There
was only one other expedition on the route, a NOLS group, which included Scott Fischer,
Lobsang Jangbu, Rob Hess and Brent Bishop. We were psyched. You're
always thinking about getting down though.
Q.) Was there any complications if so what were they?
A.) The terrain of the southeast ridge can be a problem when more
than a few climbers are on the route. The Hillary Step can really jam up. I
waited for nearly an hour above the Step after one climber mistakenly rappelled off the
ridge onto the Kangshung Face. Belaying individual climbers up or down the Step can really
extend the day. A fixed line is more efficient. Most climbers should
carry a jumar and figure-eight.
Q.) What was the scariest part of your journey up the mountain and
did you ever feel like going back down and giving up?
A.) There were several times when doubts surfaced and I wondered if
I would be able to finish the climb. I caught some nasty bugs which most people do,
but the climb itself went fairly smooth. Had a couple of extra events - lost a
crampon on the steep rock of the Yellow Band (below the south col), and went hip deep in a
crevasse a few meters below the South Summit. That caught my attention.
Q.) Will there be a second attempt for you? If so, when will
this come?
A.) I would like to go back some day, but there are many other
interesting things to climb and see and it may not happen. Additionally, the
economics of Everest remain a big obstacle.
Q.) What were conditions like on the mountain? Thank you and
congratulations.
A.) Rob Hall mentioned that the south col route in the spring of 94
offered the least amount of snow cover he had seen. Most of the Lhotse face (the
route form CII to C4) was hard ice which is a bit more work compared to the snow steps
which are typical in the post-monsoon season. On the other hand, major avalanches on
the face were less of a threat. Several camps were swept away in the fall of 1993.
At the top of the Khumbu Icefall a large crevasse had opened and
nine ladders had to be tied together to climb up and over it. We called it the
Eiffel Ladder'. Crampons and ladders are not a heavenly match.
We also had very high winds up on the south col after we summited.
Most of us were in NF Himalayan Hotels which are fairly large and the wind was
driving the ceilings into our faces as we lay in our bags. Ed Viesturs later mentioned
that he the wind was among the most intense he had experienced. Please submit your
questions to everestnews2004@adelphia.net for
the first parts of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
Everest Spring 99: Bernard Voyer Expedition Everest,
Bernard and his wife summited Kilimanjaro on December 21st. While standing on the
summit, we used the new Iridium satellite phone to make some calls to family, friends, and
media. Bernard tells us," We were able to watch the sun rise over the African
plains. Marvelous! " Bernard Voyer Expedition Everest web site can be found on
our Everest 99 Expedition Links Page.
Everest Spring 99: EverestNews.com has learned that
Goran
Kropp, who reached the summit of Everest in 1996 and K2 earlier, will be back on Everest in Spring 1999. We understand however, that Goran
will not be attempting the Summit. That he will be at base camp to help clean up the
mountain and do more filming. However, we understand that his girlfriend, who will
be with him, might make an attempt at the Summit ! Goran's web site is
http://www.kroppaventyr.se/english/index.html, which is also on our web site of the week table.
David Keaton Q&A, Part 2: (Everest 94 with Rob
Hall) and the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version of
the Seven Summits. (Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became the
first person to have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state
highpoints. David will be taking questions from You, our readers of EverestNews.com, please submit your questions to everestnews2004@adelphia.net
for the first part of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
Daily News: 1/19/99 Report
David Keaton Q&A, Part 2: (Everest 94 with Rob
Hall) and the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version of
the Seven Summits. (Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became the
first person to have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state
highpoints. On 1/11/99 News is his article " Everest Misguided ?
", David will be taking questions from You, our readers of EverestNews.com, please
submit your questions to everestnews2004@adelphia.net
for the first part of his Q&A all the other information see the David
Keaton Page.
David Keaton Q&A, Part 2: Questions from readers of
EverestNews.com:
Q.) On Everest, from your experience in '94 and what you've
read about '96, do you feel that some clients were over-dependent on Hall? Or, to put the
question another way: Do you feel there was a lack of balance between Hall's strong
leadership and client self-reliance?
A.) I think this question leads to the very heart of whether
an 8000 meter mountain should be guided. In a traditional guiding environment on
lower mountains this sort of imbalance is typically a given. Whether or not this is
appropriate on the earth's highest peak will continue to attract debate.
Q.) Can Everest be guided?
A.) Difficult question. I've thought long and hard about
what it means to "guide" Everest. Having participated in numerous guided
and unguided climbs, I think it comes down to a rope. Over crevassed and
or steep glaciated terrain in the European Alps would a guide rope-up to his client?
Generally, yes. To even remotely "guide" in the traditional sense I
think the guide and the client must be attached by a rope. On summit day, this is an
all day scenario from camp to camp. This has been done before but it is not the
typical arrangement. Skip Horner has guided in this fashion as have others.
Q.) How should Everest be guided ?
A.) I'm not totally convinced that Everest can be guided in the
traditional sense. On the highest peaks there are too many variables that can never
be fully controlled.
Q.) What do you think Rob Hall would say about Into This Air ?
A.) I can't say.
Q.) What do you think Scott Fischer would say about Into this Air ?
A.) As much as I might imagine what they might say it's really not
my place.
Q.) Do you agree with Ed Douglas that Boukreev has not due credit
for his physical achievements that day(s)?
A.) I agreed with much of what Ed discussed, in particular, the
argument about different cultural psyches. Anatoli Boukreev was set to join a very
elite group of Himalayan climbers and this rattled more than a few egos and sponsors.
Some people also manipulated a pile of secondary issues in an effort to blur many
of the important primary issues.
Boukreev was not the leader of the expedition and was not ultimately
responsible for setting the summit day plan. But on this day he performed his job as
it was previously defined. And more. He saved lives. He was a hero.
It has been disappointing and perplexing to witness the lengths to
which some have gone to cast his efforts in a different light. If the summit plan
was poor should he be blamed? For better or worse, he followed the plan.
Much of this goes back to the entire discussion of whether or not Everest should or
can be guided. I think Anatoli had a very clear picture of his role on the mountain.
I was pleased to see him receive the American Alpine Club's highest award for valor.
Everest Spring 99: On Wednesday, we will have some
interesting News on a climber (s) returning to Everest !
Everest Spring 99: It has been decided to cancel the
Colombian Everest Expedition due to the current economic situation and
its effect on our sponsors. We have decided to go to Cho-Oyu (Spring) as
a good and more economical alternative for the team at this moment. The Cho-Oyu team
is composed of:
Juan Pablo Ruiz - Team Leader
Marcelo arbelaez
Luis Alberto Camargo
Roberto Ariano
Miguel Vidales
Cristobal Von Rothkirch
Manuel Antonio Barrios
Fernando Gonzales
Nelson Cardona
Gonzalo Ospina
Carlos Rodriguez - medic
Source: Luis Alberto Camargo, Please check out their excellent web site on our 99 Everest Expeditions Links Page. We will look forward to seeing
them on Cho Oyu !!!
David Keaton (Everest 94 with Rob Hall) and
the youngest person at the time (29 yrs) to complete either version of the Seven Summits.
(Rob Hall previously held the record.) The same year he also became the first person to
have attained both the 'Seven Summits' and the 50 US state highpoints.
On
1/11/99 News is his article " Everest Misguided ? ", David will be taking
questions from You, our readers of EverestNews.com, please submit your questions to everestnews2004@adelphia.net for the first part of
his Q&A all the other information see the David Keaton Page.
Everest Spring 99: Well as many of you know Eric
Simonson will be back on Everest in Spring 99 leading a group that will probably
include our friend Jochen . This expedition appears to be taking on several tasks
including Jochen Hemmleb's Research. .
Several
Stories (many Old) has been added to
our New Site Index. The feedback on this new Index has been very
positive...so that is the plan !
Jochen's Work also has an Index !!!
The Iridium-IceTrek South Pole trek http://www.iridium-icetrek.org/index.htm
featuring Everest climbers Jon Muir, Peter Hillary, along with Eric Philips
appear to be having a difficult time ! Check their site for details and stay turned...