On this day 26 years ago I shot this photo of the Australian climbing guide Mike Groom on the southeast ridge of Everest at sunrise. I shot the 2nd photo from the summit 8 hours later as cumulonimbus clouds were boiling up from the valley below. A violent storm soon engulfed the mountain, killing 8 people—including my kind, courageous, absolutely wonderful friends Doug Hansen and Andy Harris, seen in the 3rd photo posing with me during the basecamp puja 25 days before the disaster. I still grieve deeply for them. Hit the link in my profile to read more about that terrible day.
On this day 26 years ago I shot this photo of the Australian climbing guide Mike Groom on the southeast ridge of Everest at sunrise. I shot the 2nd photo from the summit 8 hours later as cumulonimbus clouds were boiling up from the valley below. A violent storm soon engulfed the mountain, killing 8 people—including my kind, courageous, absolutely wonderful friends Doug Hansen and Andy Harris, seen in the 3rd photo posing with me during the basecamp puja 25 days before the disaster. I still grieve deeply for them. Hit the link in my profile to read more about that terrible day.
On this day 26 years ago I shot this photo of the Australian climbing guide Mike Groom on the southeast ridge of Everest at sunrise. I shot the 2nd photo from the summit 8 hours later as cumulonimbus clouds were boiling up from the valley below. A violent storm soon engulfed the mountain, killing 8 people—including my kind, courageous, absolutely wonderful friends Doug Hansen and Andy Harris, seen in the 3rd photo posing with me during the basecamp puja 25 days before the disaster. I still grieve deeply for them. Hit the link in my profile to read more about that terrible day.
Just encountered this mama bear and her 2 cubs taking an evening stroll down my street
I got a nice surprise this morning. GQ magazine announced the 50 best books of literary journalism published this century, and Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith was one of them. Hit the link in my profile to read an excerpt from my book and see the entire GQ list.
I got a nice surprise this morning. GQ magazine announced the 50 best books of literary journalism published this century, and Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith was one of them. Hit the link in my profile to read an excerpt from my book and see the entire GQ list.
On this date 45 years ago I took this selfie at my high camp on the Devils Thumb, striking a celebratory pose after surviving the sketchy descent from the summit without a rope. I was 23 years old. 2nd photo: Looking up at the Thumb from my basecamp before heading up to high camp. 3rd photo: My high camp on the Thumb. 4th photo: Looking across the southeast face at dawn as I departed high camp for the summit. 5th photo: A shot of the summit I took to prove I’d been there, looking east toward Mt. Burkett.
On this date 45 years ago I took this selfie at my high camp on the Devils Thumb, striking a celebratory pose after surviving the sketchy descent from the summit without a rope. I was 23 years old. 2nd photo: Looking up at the Thumb from my basecamp before heading up to high camp. 3rd photo: My high camp on the Thumb. 4th photo: Looking across the southeast face at dawn as I departed high camp for the summit. 5th photo: A shot of the summit I took to prove I’d been there, looking east toward Mt. Burkett.
On this date 45 years ago I took this selfie at my high camp on the Devils Thumb, striking a celebratory pose after surviving the sketchy descent from the summit without a rope. I was 23 years old. 2nd photo: Looking up at the Thumb from my basecamp before heading up to high camp. 3rd photo: My high camp on the Thumb. 4th photo: Looking across the southeast face at dawn as I departed high camp for the summit. 5th photo: A shot of the summit I took to prove I’d been there, looking east toward Mt. Burkett.
On this date 45 years ago I took this selfie at my high camp on the Devils Thumb, striking a celebratory pose after surviving the sketchy descent from the summit without a rope. I was 23 years old. 2nd photo: Looking up at the Thumb from my basecamp before heading up to high camp. 3rd photo: My high camp on the Thumb. 4th photo: Looking across the southeast face at dawn as I departed high camp for the summit. 5th photo: A shot of the summit I took to prove I’d been there, looking east toward Mt. Burkett.
On this date 45 years ago I took this selfie at my high camp on the Devils Thumb, striking a celebratory pose after surviving the sketchy descent from the summit without a rope. I was 23 years old. 2nd photo: Looking up at the Thumb from my basecamp before heading up to high camp. 3rd photo: My high camp on the Thumb. 4th photo: Looking across the southeast face at dawn as I departed high camp for the summit. 5th photo: A shot of the summit I took to prove I’d been there, looking east toward Mt. Burkett.
Sunrise lighting up the Continental Divide above Wild Basin this morning. I shot the second photo yesterday while climbing on Lumpy Ridge with 2 very dear friends: Tom Hornbein and Harry Kent. Tom is now 91 years old. I met him 57 years ago when I was 9 or 10, shortly after he and Willi Unsoeld made the first ascent of the West Ridge of Mt. Everest—widely considered one of the greatest mountaineering feats of all time. Tom don’t need no stinkin’ harness—he still insists on tying in with a bowline on a coil.
Sunrise lighting up the Continental Divide above Wild Basin this morning. I shot the second photo yesterday while climbing on Lumpy Ridge with 2 very dear friends: Tom Hornbein and Harry Kent. Tom is now 91 years old. I met him 57 years ago when I was 9 or 10, shortly after he and Willi Unsoeld made the first ascent of the West Ridge of Mt. Everest—widely considered one of the greatest mountaineering feats of all time. Tom don’t need no stinkin’ harness—he still insists on tying in with a bowline on a coil.
The east face of Longs Peak at sunrise this morning. The 2nd shot is a closeup of the lake’s dark water, visible through the ice on its surface
The east face of Longs Peak at sunrise this morning. The 2nd shot is a closeup of the lake’s dark water, visible through the ice on its surface
Captain Dennis Knowles stacking sandbags above Forward Operating Base Tillman in February 2007 on an Afghanistan mountaintop overlooking the Pakistan Border. Faintly visible in the background above Knowles’ hand is the “Gray Castle,” a Pakistani Army base from which the Taliban launched numerous attacks on FOB Tillman—despite the fact that Pakistan is an American ally that had received billions of dollars of American aid. I shot this photo while researching my book about Pat Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire a few miles from here in 2004. During the 5 months I was embedded with combat troops in Afghanistan, I developed huge respect and admiration for veterans like Tillman and Knowles as I came to understand the immense sacrifices they make whenever our political leaders send American troops into battle. Thank you veterans! Hit the link in my profile for more about Tillman.
Did a sunrise ridge ramble this morning that traversed a lovely summit. But because this peak’s highest point was slightly less than 14,000 feet, I didn’t encounter another soul until I was well on my way down. I like 14ers just fine. But I’m especially fond of 13.9ers.
Did a sunrise ridge ramble this morning that traversed a lovely summit. But because this peak’s highest point was slightly less than 14,000 feet, I didn’t encounter another soul until I was well on my way down. I like 14ers just fine. But I’m especially fond of 13.9ers.
Had an excellent board meeting this morning at 13,000 feet on the Continental Divide with @JeremyJones, Mario Molina, and Jake Gaventa.
Had an excellent board meeting this morning at 13,000 feet on the Continental Divide with @JeremyJones, Mario Molina, and Jake Gaventa.
Had an excellent board meeting this morning at 13,000 feet on the Continental Divide with @JeremyJones, Mario Molina, and Jake Gaventa.
Started up the trail on my splitboard at 4 AM this morning without a destination. Above 12k the wind was ripping across the divide and visibility was zero, but below that elevation the constantly shifting light was stunning and the fresh snow was delightful
Started up the trail on my splitboard at 4 AM this morning without a destination. Above 12k the wind was ripping across the divide and visibility was zero, but below that elevation the constantly shifting light was stunning and the fresh snow was delightful
Started up the trail on my splitboard at 4 AM this morning without a destination. Above 12k the wind was ripping across the divide and visibility was zero, but below that elevation the constantly shifting light was stunning and the fresh snow was delightful
