Author of climbing book ‘Oklahoma Select’ at Backwoods Wednesday
An event for those of you who are into the Oklahoma rock climbing scene. This is at the Oklahoma City Backwoods store:
Tomorrow night 7-8PM at Backwoods in Oklahoma City:
Book signing, presentation, & photos w/ Tony Mayse author of “Oklahoma Select: A Climber’s Guide”! This guidebook was recently released, is the second edition, and a MUST HAVE for every climber.
Might be worth checking out. The book is loaded with routes.
Bob Doucette
Jordan Romero reaches Mount Everest’s summit
Jordan Romero (courtesy jordanromero.com)
A couple of posts from jordanromero.com indicate that the 13-year-old Californian and his team have successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest and has now descended back to Camp 2.
With the successful summit attempt, Jordan becomes the youngest person to every reach the top of the world’s highest peak. This is a pretty serious accomplishment for anyone, and with his safe descent so far, you can only imagine the hype that will result from this endeavor. Here’s a story from The Associated Press:
By CARA ANNA (AP) – 7 hours ago
BEIJING — A 13-year-old American boy became the youngest climber to reach the top of Mount Everest on Saturday, surpassing the previous record set by a 16-year-old Nepalese.
Jordan Romero called his mother by satellite phone from the summit of the world’s highest mountain, 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level. He is now one climb away from his quest to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents.
“He says, ‘Mom, I’m calling you from the top of the world,’” Leigh Anne Drake told The Associated Press from California, where she had watched her son’s progress on a GPS tracker online.
“There were lots of tears and ‘I love you! I love you!’” Drake said. “I just told him to get his butt back home.”
The teenager with long curly hair — who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa when he was 9 years old — says he was inspired by a painting in his school hallway of the seven continents’ highest summits.
“Every step I take is finally toward the biggest goal of my life, to stand on top of the world,” Jordan said earlier on his blog.
The former record for the youngest climber to scale Everest had been held by Temba Tsheri of Nepal. He reached the peak at age 16.
Also Saturday, officials said a Nepalese Sherpa who lives in the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper broke his own world record by climbing Everest for the 20th time. Apa, who goes by one name, went up with fellow climbers on a mission also to collect garbage, a growing environmental problem on the mountain.
Mountaineering Department official Tilak Pandey said several climbers took advantage of Saturday’s clear weather to reach the summit.
Jordan’s climbing team reached the peak hours earlier than expected.
“The first thing, they all hugged each other and said, ‘I love you, I can’t believe we’re finally here’ and started crying,” said Rob Bailey, the team’s spokesman, by phone from the United States.
Jordan, from Big Bear, California, was climbing Everest with his father, his father’s girlfriend and three Sherpa guides. He left for the peak from the base camp on the Chinese side.
Everest was his first challenge above 26,240 feet (8,000 meters).
Unlike neighboring Nepal, the other approach to Everest, China has no age limit for climbers. Jordan registered with Chinese officials in April, said Zhang Mingxing, secretary general of China Tibet Mountaineering Association.
No interview with Jordan would be possible until he returns to advance base camp, which could take a couple of days, Bailey said. Climbers stay overnight at three or four camps before the summit, depending on their route and pace.
Jordan carried a number of good luck charms, including a pair of kangaroo testicles given to him by a friend who has cancer.
“That’s the one that probably meant the most,” Bailey said.
At the summit, Jordan left behind his lucky rabbit’s foot and planted some seeds that a Buddhist monk at a local monastery had given him for luck on his journey, Bailey said. Then he took the satellite phone and called his mom.
Jordan continues the recent trend of young adventurers. Earlier this month, 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail around the globe solo, nonstop and unassisted. Thousands lined Sydney Harbor to cheer as she cruised past the finish line in her pink yacht.
A Dutch court late last year blocked an even younger sailor, 14-year-old sailor Laura Dekker, from pursuing a similar round-the-world voyage, ordering her to prepare more and wait at least until this year before starting.
And in January, 17-year-old Johnny Collinson of Utah became the youngest person to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.
Just one mountain remains in Jordan’s own quest to climb those peaks, the Vinson Massif in Antarctica.
Jordan’s team leaves for Antarctica in December, Bailey said.
“A piece of cake,” his mother said.
Here’s a quick audio account of the feat from a team member:
Bob Doucette
Update: Jordan Romero now on Everest’s Camp 2
Mount Everest route, north side.
Following Jordan Romero’s attempt to climb Mount Everest: He and his team are making progress. Here’s the latest from Team Jordan and jordanromero.com:
The team made it to Camp 2 last night. According to the GPS information it took them almost 9 hrs to complete this stage. It was approximately 2.0 km but the elevation gain was significant (~600 meters). Keep in mind, true climbing/walking distances are always a lot further than GPS point to point distances!
Pretty good progress. The really hard part is about to begin, but so far, it seems like Jordan, 13, is on his way. Will he become the youngest to ever reach Everest’s summit? We should know pretty soon. Next stop: Camp 3.
Bob Doucette
Jessica Watson becomes youngest to ever sail around the world solo
Jessica Watson (AP photo)
Another one for the file where young people try amazing feats in the world of adventurism: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2010/05/global.html
In this case, a 16-year-old girl from Australia, Jessica Watson, sailed around the world solo. An impressive feat, but not without the some controversy given her age. Check out the post.
Bob Doucette
Jordan Romero on Everest’s Camp 1; looking at weather forecasts
Mount Everest route, north side.
It appears that Jordan Romero and his team have ascended from Advanced Base Camp to Everest’s Camp 1. Their latest post shows weather forecasts, which could give the team an opportunity to make a push to Mount Everest’s summit. Here’s a link: http://www.jordanromero.com/2010/05/weather-forecast/
Jordan Romero, if you haven’t heard by now, is trying to become the youngest person to climb the world’s highest peak. He’s 13. I’ll keep following the team’s progress here. Best of luck to the team!
Bob Doucette
Oklahoma doctors hike the North Pole
I like to write about my own adventures (mild as they may be), as well as those of others. But I really like stories about fellow Oklahomans participating in adventures that you might see featured on Discovery or NatGeo. The Oklahoman published one such story today. You can read about it here: http://newsok.com/north-pole-hike-unworldly-adventure/article/3461956
As you’ll read in the story , one of the people involved here, Doug Beall, has climbed the seven high points of the world’s seven continents (the Seven Summits), which includes Everest. His friend, Perry Taaca, has sailed across the Pacific. So right here in Oklahoma, we have a couple of hard-core adventurists. Pretty interesting when you think about it. Here’s a video interview that goes with the story:
Kind of inspiring.
Bob Doucette
bdoucette@opubco.com
Outdoors news and notes: Armless man to attempt Everest; climber dies on Denali
News and notes from the outdoors…
Armless man to attempt Everest climb
Put this on the list of yet another somewhat dubious attempt at a “first” on Mount Everest.
It appears there is a Nepali man, who is missing both arms, with a stated goal to climb Mount Everest.
You can read about it on this link: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2010/05/11/13903096.html
If you read the article, it mentions that the man has already ascended a high Himalayan peak. Still, I’m a little perplexed at this one. People have climbed the mountain without legs, but they also had prosthetic legs. But not arms? How would you self-arrest? How do you use your ascenders on the ropes? How to you manage to climb Everest’s technical pitches when you have no hands for the handholds? The answer must lie within the help he’d likely receive from guides. I admire the man’s courage, but I have to wonder if this is yet another ill-conceived attempt to enter the record books.
Denali's West Buttress (National Park Service photo)
Climber dies on Alaska’s Denali
It looks like there’s been a tragedy in Alaska involving a French mountaineer. A story about it can be found here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2010/05/climber-falls-to-his-death-from-west-buttress-of-alaskas-mt-mckinley-.html
The accident occurred on Denali, North America’s highest peak.
My heart goes out to the man and his family. Let’s hope for no more tragedies on the peak.
Bob Doucette
Jordan Romero reaches Mount Everest’s Advanced Base Camp; summit push to begin soon
Jordan Romero on his way to Everest's Advanced Base Camp (courtesy jordanromero.com)
The first step to Jordan Romero’s summit bid on Mount Everest is complete. Jordan, 13, and his team made it to Advanced Base Camp and will likely begin their summit push soon. Here’s a post the team made on Facebook:
Jordan leads the team the whole 25km straight to ABC. Feels like home again. Kid is on fire. Legs, Lungs and Heart are in PRIME condition. We could hardly stay with him. Confidence is right where it needs to be. Hang tight for our summit bid. Could be soon.
***
I think the build-up to this climb has been pretty big. Now it begins in earnest.
The California teen is trying to become the youngest person to ever climb Mount Everest. If he does, he’ll have topped a peak more than twice as high as anything I’ve ever climbed.
Success would be a major achievement. Here’s hoping, though, that safety trumps success if it comes to that.
Bob Doucette
Update: Jordan Romero’s climb to Mount Everest’s summit to begin soon
Jordan Romero
It looks like Jordan Romero is about to make his summit bid. All of the pre-climb work – setting up camps, stashing gear, fixing ropes and acclimatizing – has been done. Now it looks like Jordan’s team has the weather window it needs to ascend. They’re headed to Advanced Base Camp soon. Here’s the text of a blog post from jordanromero.com:
***
We are on a 48 hour countdown. This means leaving Base Camp for the big trek to the foothill, then it’s on. All in all, it’s a 5-7 day climb. Team is very ready, weather is about to be in our favor.
We are kicking around a summit attempt of May 21/22.
Please continue to be patient with us.
Jordan- has displayed all the patience and maturity in the world. Body and mind is ready.
Ad Alta
Team Jordan on Everest
***
We should know soon, maybe within the next week or so, if the California kid becomes the youngest person to ever reach the world’s highest summit.
Bob Doucette
Some campsites to close at Chickasaw National Recreation Area during tree removal project
Some news that will affect those who want to camp at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area…
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The Point Campground in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area is currently undergoing a tree removal project. One loop of campsites may be closed at a time due to contractors working within the area.
Park Superintendent Bruce Noble asks that park visitors consider the following guidelines for their safety during the completion of this work:
• Remain clear of the contractor work area to ensure your safety.
• Access to the comfort station during work hours will be by foot traffic only via designated foot paths and roadway.
• Campers are advised to stay out of areas beyond the posted road closed signs.
• Please do not remove any flagging applied to trees within the campground. Flagged trees represent trees that will not be removed.
• Dangers associated with this work may include: falling trees, flying debris (wood chipper operation), hanging limbs, sharp sticks and heavy truck traffic.
• First-come, first-served utility camping sites will be very limited until the completion of this project in June.
This work is part of the Point Wildland Urban Interface Thinning Project which will thin red cedar and juniper trees in about 925 acres along the north boundary of the Lake of the Arbuckles. This fall, after the thinning work is done, prescribed fire will be used to reduce the wildfire threat. The park is mechanically thinning eastern red cedar and Ashe juniper in two portions of the park to reduce wildfire risk and maintain a more balanced natural environment. Although eastern red cedar and Ashe juniper are native to Oklahoma, they are extremely invasive. The two tree species create a wildfire hazard, displace other species from the natural ecosystem, impair local air quality by producing allergens, and contribute to the general decline of the local water table.
Superintendent Noble said, “We recognize the inconvenience to campers. When completed, this work will greatly improve the camping experience at the Lake of the Arbuckles.”
***
Bob Doucette
