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Vinson Massif (16,050 ft / 4,892m) – Antarctica
Summited on January 18, 2013
Mount Vinson is the highest mountain in Antarctica, the highest, driest, windiest and coldest continent on earth.
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Aconcagua (22,841 ft / 6,962 m) – South America
Summited on December 12, 2012
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the province of Mendoza, Argentina and near the international border with Chile.
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Mount Kosciuszko (7,310 ft / 2,228 m) – Australia
Summited on October 31, 2012
Mount Kosciuszko is a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park. With a height of 2,228 metres above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Australia.
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Carstensz Pyramid (16,024 ft / 4,884 m) – Oceania
Summited on October 23, 2012
Carstensz Pyramid, also known as Puncak Jaya, is the highest mountain in the Australasian continent and the lowest of the Seven Summits, but it is also the most technical and difficult to get to.
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Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft / 5,895 m) – Africa
Summited on July 31, 2012
Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcanic mountain in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet above sea level.
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Elbrus (18,510 ft / 5,642 m) – Europe
Summited on July 17, 2012
Mount Elbrus is a dormant volcano located in the western Caucasus mountain range in Russia and the highest mountain in Europe. While there are differing authorities on how the Caucasus are distributed between Europe and Asia, many sources agree that Elbrus is also the highest mountain in all of Europe.
Day 17: Foray into the Khumbu Ice Fall
We ventured into the Khumbu Ice Fall today to get a taste of what’s ahead tomorrow when start our first 5-day rotation to through the Ice Fall and onto Camps 1 & 2. We went in about the third of the way before heading back to Base Camp for a late lunch. In the afternoon, […]
Day 16: Acclimatization Hike to Pumori Base Camp
Today we went on an acclimatization hike to Pumori Base Camp which is over 300 m (1,000 ft) higher than Everest Base Camp. The hike to stretch our legs was much more strenuous than expected. On the way back, I felt pretty congested and achy as if I’m coning down with a cold. Tomorrow we […]
Day 15: Training Day
We spent most of the day seriously training and practicing ascending vertical ice walls, repelling down and crossing ladders in preparation to the notoriously dangerous Khumbu Ice Fall crossing. Our guides setup a great course on the edge of the Ice Fall. Everyone did well and had a great time running the course although pretty […]
Day 14: Puja Day
Today is Puja Day: a ceremony to ask for permission to climb Sagarmatha (Everest) and blessing all climbers and Sherpas for safe passage. No Sherpa will climb Everest without going through the Puja Ceremony. The ceremony is focused around a Stupa (Alter) built by the Sherpas in front of which everyone gathers around and follows […]
Day 13: Skills and Techniques Review
Today was a leisurely day at Base Camp as we continue to acclimatize to the high altitude of 5334 meters. To keep the legs fresh and the blood flowing, we took a short hike to the edge of the reviewed some basic skills such as using crampons on hard ice and using ascenders (also known as jumars) […]
Day 12: Rest Day at Base Camp
We spent most of our morning continuing to unpack and getting settled into our new environment. Shortly thereafter, I walked around the humongous Base Camp and visited with a few friends. It took about 45 minutes to walk from one end of BC to another. I also stopped by the HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) tent, […]
Day 11: Lobuche to Everest Base Camp
Under beautiful blue skies, we got on our way for the final leg of our trek to Everest Base Camp. The trail between Lobuche and Gorak Shep, the last stop before EBC, gradually rises under a very rocky terrain. We stopped in Gorak Shep for a long leisurely break. After rehydrating with some warm drinks, […]
Day 10: Rest Day in Lobuche
Today is is rest day to further acclimatize at an altitude of 5000 m. We took a short acclimatization hike to the Italian Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory also known as the High Altitude Research Science & Technology Research Centre at an altitude of 5050 m asl. After a tour of the station, we headed back to our […]
Day 9: Pheriche to Lobuche
As it snow flurried throughout the night, we woke up to about an inch of snow dusting. We had our usual breakfast at 7:30 AM and hit the trail an hour later. We hiked through the wet, rocky and lightly muddy trail to the outpost town of Thokla (Dughla) at 4620. We were surrounded by the […]
Day 8: Rest day in Pheriche
Today is a rest day in Pheriche. Rest Day doesn’t mean we just sit around and hangout; it’s more to the fact that we’re not moving from one spot to another. After the daily 7:30 AM breakfast, we set off on a nice acclimatization hike climbing 588 vertical meters up to 4828 m, 10 meters […]