This photo of the summit ridge on Everest was shot by Nimsdai on May 22, 2019. Every year when May arrives and swarms of guided climbers queue-up like this to ascend the mountain, it triggers painful memories of my own guided ascent 28 years ago. 2nd shot: On May 10, 1996, as I descended from the top of Everest, I took this photo from the crest of the Hillary Step looking down at the South Summit. (This is the same part of the summit ridge shown in Nimsdai’s photo but viewed from above instead of below.) Although I saw the cumulonimbus clouds boiling upward as they engulfed the nearby summit of Lhotse, my hypoxic brain failed to recognize that a storm was headed our way. It swept over Everest with horrific force, leading to the deaths of my guides Rob Hall and Andy Harris and my teammates Doug Hansen and Yasuko Namba. Rob’s body was found at the South Summit. Doug’s ice axe was found on the narrow ridge of snow imprinted with boot tracks in my photo. Andy’s axe was found near Rob. The bodies of Doug and Andy were never located. Yasuko’s body was recovered on the South Col where she succumbed to the storm. 3rd shot: Our team at Basecamp before the calamity. 4th and 5th shots: A stone chorten for Yasuko, Rob, Andy, and Doug we built under the guidance of my good friend Chhongba-Dai when I returned to Everest in 1998 with Andy’s parents, Doug’s sister, and my wife to hold an intimate memorial service. 6th shot: The trail to Everest Basecamp crosses a hillside studded with dozens of chortens. The majority of them memorialize Sherpas killed on Everest—a sad reminder that Sherpas do all the heavy lifting, are exposed to the greatest danger, and play an utterly crucial role on every guided Everest expedition. 125 Sherpas have been killed while working on the mountain. When “Into Thin Air” was published in 1997, I thought my book would deter novice climbers from attempting Everest but it had the opposite effect instead. The alarming, increasingly common queues like the one in the first photo are therefore partly my fault. Hit the link in my bio for more about the 1996 disaster.
This photo of the summit ridge on Everest was shot by Nimsdai on May 22, 2019. Every year when May arrives and swarms of guided climbers queue-up like this to ascend the mountain, it triggers painful memories of my own guided ascent 28 years ago. 2nd shot: On May 10, 1996, as I descended from the top of Everest, I took this photo from the crest of the Hillary Step looking down at the South Summit. (This is the same part of the summit ridge shown in Nimsdai’s photo but viewed from above instead of below.) Although I saw the cumulonimbus clouds boiling upward as they engulfed the nearby summit of Lhotse, my hypoxic brain failed to recognize that a storm was headed our way. It swept over Everest with horrific force, leading to the deaths of my guides Rob Hall and Andy Harris and my teammates Doug Hansen and Yasuko Namba. Rob’s body was found at the South Summit. Doug’s ice axe was found on the narrow ridge of snow imprinted with boot tracks in my photo. Andy’s axe was found near Rob. The bodies of Doug and Andy were never located. Yasuko’s body was recovered on the South Col where she succumbed to the storm. 3rd shot: Our team at Basecamp before the calamity. 4th and 5th shots: A stone chorten for Yasuko, Rob, Andy, and Doug we built under the guidance of my good friend Chhongba-Dai when I returned to Everest in 1998 with Andy’s parents, Doug’s sister, and my wife to hold an intimate memorial service. 6th shot: The trail to Everest Basecamp crosses a hillside studded with dozens of chortens. The majority of them memorialize Sherpas killed on Everest—a sad reminder that Sherpas do all the heavy lifting, are exposed to the greatest danger, and play an utterly crucial role on every guided Everest expedition. 125 Sherpas have been killed while working on the mountain. When “Into Thin Air” was published in 1997, I thought my book would deter novice climbers from attempting Everest but it had the opposite effect instead. The alarming, increasingly common queues like the one in the first photo are therefore partly my fault. Hit the link in my bio for more about the 1996 disaster.
This photo of the summit ridge on Everest was shot by Nimsdai on May 22, 2019. Every year when May arrives and swarms of guided climbers queue-up like this to ascend the mountain, it triggers painful memories of my own guided ascent 28 years ago. 2nd shot: On May 10, 1996, as I descended from the top of Everest, I took this photo from the crest of the Hillary Step looking down at the South Summit. (This is the same part of the summit ridge shown in Nimsdai’s photo but viewed from above instead of below.) Although I saw the cumulonimbus clouds boiling upward as they engulfed the nearby summit of Lhotse, my hypoxic brain failed to recognize that a storm was headed our way. It swept over Everest with horrific force, leading to the deaths of my guides Rob Hall and Andy Harris and my teammates Doug Hansen and Yasuko Namba. Rob’s body was found at the South Summit. Doug’s ice axe was found on the narrow ridge of snow imprinted with boot tracks in my photo. Andy’s axe was found near Rob. The bodies of Doug and Andy were never located. Yasuko’s body was recovered on the South Col where she succumbed to the storm. 3rd shot: Our team at Basecamp before the calamity. 4th and 5th shots: A stone chorten for Yasuko, Rob, Andy, and Doug we built under the guidance of my good friend Chhongba-Dai when I returned to Everest in 1998 with Andy’s parents, Doug’s sister, and my wife to hold an intimate memorial service. 6th shot: The trail to Everest Basecamp crosses a hillside studded with dozens of chortens. The majority of them memorialize Sherpas killed on Everest—a sad reminder that Sherpas do all the heavy lifting, are exposed to the greatest danger, and play an utterly crucial role on every guided Everest expedition. 125 Sherpas have been killed while working on the mountain. When “Into Thin Air” was published in 1997, I thought my book would deter novice climbers from attempting Everest but it had the opposite effect instead. The alarming, increasingly common queues like the one in the first photo are therefore partly my fault. Hit the link in my bio for more about the 1996 disaster.
This photo of the summit ridge on Everest was shot by Nimsdai on May 22, 2019. Every year when May arrives and swarms of guided climbers queue-up like this to ascend the mountain, it triggers painful memories of my own guided ascent 28 years ago. 2nd shot: On May 10, 1996, as I descended from the top of Everest, I took this photo from the crest of the Hillary Step looking down at the South Summit. (This is the same part of the summit ridge shown in Nimsdai’s photo but viewed from above instead of below.) Although I saw the cumulonimbus clouds boiling upward as they engulfed the nearby summit of Lhotse, my hypoxic brain failed to recognize that a storm was headed our way. It swept over Everest with horrific force, leading to the deaths of my guides Rob Hall and Andy Harris and my teammates Doug Hansen and Yasuko Namba. Rob’s body was found at the South Summit. Doug’s ice axe was found on the narrow ridge of snow imprinted with boot tracks in my photo. Andy’s axe was found near Rob. The bodies of Doug and Andy were never located. Yasuko’s body was recovered on the South Col where she succumbed to the storm. 3rd shot: Our team at Basecamp before the calamity. 4th and 5th shots: A stone chorten for Yasuko, Rob, Andy, and Doug we built under the guidance of my good friend Chhongba-Dai when I returned to Everest in 1998 with Andy’s parents, Doug’s sister, and my wife to hold an intimate memorial service. 6th shot: The trail to Everest Basecamp crosses a hillside studded with dozens of chortens. The majority of them memorialize Sherpas killed on Everest—a sad reminder that Sherpas do all the heavy lifting, are exposed to the greatest danger, and play an utterly crucial role on every guided Everest expedition. 125 Sherpas have been killed while working on the mountain. When “Into Thin Air” was published in 1997, I thought my book would deter novice climbers from attempting Everest but it had the opposite effect instead. The alarming, increasingly common queues like the one in the first photo are therefore partly my fault. Hit the link in my bio for more about the 1996 disaster.
This photo of the summit ridge on Everest was shot by Nimsdai on May 22, 2019. Every year when May arrives and swarms of guided climbers queue-up like this to ascend the mountain, it triggers painful memories of my own guided ascent 28 years ago. 2nd shot: On May 10, 1996, as I descended from the top of Everest, I took this photo from the crest of the Hillary Step looking down at the South Summit. (This is the same part of the summit ridge shown in Nimsdai’s photo but viewed from above instead of below.) Although I saw the cumulonimbus clouds boiling upward as they engulfed the nearby summit of Lhotse, my hypoxic brain failed to recognize that a storm was headed our way. It swept over Everest with horrific force, leading to the deaths of my guides Rob Hall and Andy Harris and my teammates Doug Hansen and Yasuko Namba. Rob’s body was found at the South Summit. Doug’s ice axe was found on the narrow ridge of snow imprinted with boot tracks in my photo. Andy’s axe was found near Rob. The bodies of Doug and Andy were never located. Yasuko’s body was recovered on the South Col where she succumbed to the storm. 3rd shot: Our team at Basecamp before the calamity. 4th and 5th shots: A stone chorten for Yasuko, Rob, Andy, and Doug we built under the guidance of my good friend Chhongba-Dai when I returned to Everest in 1998 with Andy’s parents, Doug’s sister, and my wife to hold an intimate memorial service. 6th shot: The trail to Everest Basecamp crosses a hillside studded with dozens of chortens. The majority of them memorialize Sherpas killed on Everest—a sad reminder that Sherpas do all the heavy lifting, are exposed to the greatest danger, and play an utterly crucial role on every guided Everest expedition. 125 Sherpas have been killed while working on the mountain. When “Into Thin Air” was published in 1997, I thought my book would deter novice climbers from attempting Everest but it had the opposite effect instead. The alarming, increasingly common queues like the one in the first photo are therefore partly my fault. Hit the link in my bio for more about the 1996 disaster.
This photo of the summit ridge on Everest was shot by Nimsdai on May 22, 2019. Every year when May arrives and swarms of guided climbers queue-up like this to ascend the mountain, it triggers painful memories of my own guided ascent 28 years ago. 2nd shot: On May 10, 1996, as I descended from the top of Everest, I took this photo from the crest of the Hillary Step looking down at the South Summit. (This is the same part of the summit ridge shown in Nimsdai’s photo but viewed from above instead of below.) Although I saw the cumulonimbus clouds boiling upward as they engulfed the nearby summit of Lhotse, my hypoxic brain failed to recognize that a storm was headed our way. It swept over Everest with horrific force, leading to the deaths of my guides Rob Hall and Andy Harris and my teammates Doug Hansen and Yasuko Namba. Rob’s body was found at the South Summit. Doug’s ice axe was found on the narrow ridge of snow imprinted with boot tracks in my photo. Andy’s axe was found near Rob. The bodies of Doug and Andy were never located. Yasuko’s body was recovered on the South Col where she succumbed to the storm. 3rd shot: Our team at Basecamp before the calamity. 4th and 5th shots: A stone chorten for Yasuko, Rob, Andy, and Doug we built under the guidance of my good friend Chhongba-Dai when I returned to Everest in 1998 with Andy’s parents, Doug’s sister, and my wife to hold an intimate memorial service. 6th shot: The trail to Everest Basecamp crosses a hillside studded with dozens of chortens. The majority of them memorialize Sherpas killed on Everest—a sad reminder that Sherpas do all the heavy lifting, are exposed to the greatest danger, and play an utterly crucial role on every guided Everest expedition. 125 Sherpas have been killed while working on the mountain. When “Into Thin Air” was published in 1997, I thought my book would deter novice climbers from attempting Everest but it had the opposite effect instead. The alarming, increasingly common queues like the one in the first photo are therefore partly my fault. Hit the link in my bio for more about the 1996 disaster.
In February Charlie Barrett, the celebrated professional climber and guidebook author whom I’ve posted about previously, was found guilty of repeatedly raping a woman in Yosemite National Park in 2016. Three other women testified during the trial that they had also been sexually assaulted by Barrett. This morning U.S. District Court Judge John Mendez sentenced Barrett to life in prison for actions that one of his victims described as a reign of terror. Hit the link in my profile to learn more about Barrett and his despicable crimes.
Headed into the Indian Peaks Wilderness this morning with @tinacurrin. The corn harvest was bountiful
Headed into the Indian Peaks Wilderness this morning with @tinacurrin. The corn harvest was bountiful
Headed into the Indian Peaks Wilderness this morning with @tinacurrin. The corn harvest was bountiful
Sunset yesterday and sunrise this morning in Roosevelt National Forest. Our public lands are one of our nation’s most precious assets.
Sunset yesterday and sunrise this morning in Roosevelt National Forest. Our public lands are one of our nation’s most precious assets.
Sunset yesterday and sunrise this morning in Roosevelt National Forest. Our public lands are one of our nation’s most precious assets.
Sunset yesterday and sunrise this morning in Roosevelt National Forest. Our public lands are one of our nation’s most precious assets.
Just got back from a morning ride in the alpine zone. Nothing brings me more joy than tundra
Just got back from a morning ride in the alpine zone. Nothing brings me more joy than tundra
Just got back from a morning ride in the alpine zone. Nothing brings me more joy than tundra
Celebrated Independence Day with a sunrise ramble in the Indian Peaks Wilderness that culminated in a super-fun, semi-technical traverse along a knife-edge ridge between two 13k summits on the Continental Divide. 1st photo: the start of the ridge leading to the summit of the first 13er. 2nd photo: Looking at the summit of the second 13er (on the left skyline) from midway along the ridge.
Celebrated Independence Day with a sunrise ramble in the Indian Peaks Wilderness that culminated in a super-fun, semi-technical traverse along a knife-edge ridge between two 13k summits on the Continental Divide. 1st photo: the start of the ridge leading to the summit of the first 13er. 2nd photo: Looking at the summit of the second 13er (on the left skyline) from midway along the ridge.
The wind was screaming across the crest of the Continental Divide with astonishing force this morning on my splitboard tour with @bequitahall. It was humbling. Made me grateful for the experience, grateful for this one and only life.
Had a magnificent impromptu ride into the alpine zone this morning with @bequitahall, my badass literary agent and longtime adventure buddy
Had a magnificent impromptu ride into the alpine zone this morning with @bequitahall, my badass literary agent and longtime adventure buddy
Had a magnificent impromptu ride into the alpine zone this morning with @bequitahall, my badass literary agent and longtime adventure buddy
Encountered this beautiful creature this afternoon in the hills above town
