News and notes: The Oklahoma scene, Hillary’s ashes to go up Everest, and a tragedy on Mount Shasta
News and notes from the outdoors…
Guided hikes in this rugged place are being offered in April.
From the local scene
In case you missed this earlier this week, there are some good outdoor opportunities popping up now.
For starters, guided hikes through the boulder field near Elk Mountain in the Wichitas are being offered this month. For more information on that, check this link: http://blog.newsok.com/outthere/2010/03/31/guided-hikes-offered-in-the-wichita-mountains-during-april/
Great Salt Plains State Park and Wildlife Refuge is also offering up a lot of activities this month. Crystal digging, camping, fishing and more. Check out that bit of news here:
http://blog.newsok.com/outthere/2010/04/01/great-salt-plains-state-park-opens-today/
And lastly, here’s a story about a couple of Tulsa men attempting a climb of Cho Oyu, the world’s sixth-highest peak and one of just 14 8,000-meter peaks in the world. More on that here: http://blog.newsok.com/outthere/2010/04/02/tulsa-men-to-attempt-cho-oyu-climb-in-the-himalyas/
Sir Edmund Hillary (AP photo)
Sir Edmund Hillary’s ashes to be spread on Everest
An interesting bit of info from the Himalayas. If you remember, Sir Edmund Hillary died in 2008. One of his wishes is that some of his ashes be spread over Mount Everest.
If you aren’t familiar with his story, he and climbing partner Tenzing Norgay were the first people to ever successfully climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
In the years that followed, Hillary became a huge advocate for building schools and helping the Sherpa people of Nepal. But for us common folks, the New Zealander will always be remembered for his iconic climbing feat in 1953.
Apa Sherpa (AP photo)
Nepalese climber Apa Sherpa will make the climb with Hillary’s ashes in May, according to a report from Reuters. If he succeeds, it will be his 20th summit of the mountain. He already holds the record for the most summits of Everest, but something tells me this one will be a bigger deal to him as well as the many Sherpas who not only remember Hillary’s legendary climb, but his goodwill to the people of Nepal.
Mount Everest.
Here’s a link to the story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/01/2863080.htm?section=world
Mount Shasta (U.S. Geological Survey photo)
Altitude sickness claims climber’s life on Mount Shasta
A sad story from California. Two buddies went climbing up that state’s Mount Shasta, but one of them didn’t make it down alive.
According to published accounts, Thomas Bennett, 26, died after suffering from altitude sickness.
At 14,179 feet, Mount Shasta is pretty high by American standards. But this fatality is, from what I’ve learned, unusual.
I’ve suffered from altitude sickness before, at least to varying degrees. At that elevation, it’s generally limited to headaches. Only one time have I suffered worse, but that was because of previously unknown, underlying health issues that cropped up.
Other people suffer worse symptoms, but death from altitude sickness from being at 14,000 feet is very rare.
In any case, it’s a sad story. Bennett’s climbing partner, 26-year-old Mark Thomas, tried to get his friend down, tried to help resuscitate him eventually had to leave him in a snow cave they’d dug out to ride out the winds.
You can read more about this here: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100402/NEWS/4020324
Bob Doucette
Thank you for joining our conversation on Out There. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment