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Archive for July, 2011

Travel Reading Series: The Writings of Sir Edmund Hillary

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Over the course of his life, Sir Edmund Hillary published 10 books and countless articles. This month, we chose to read Hillary’s first and last books as a part of the Berg Adventures Travel Reading Series. His first book, High Adventure (1955) tells the exciting story of the successful Everest Expedition of 1953, and his last book, an autobiography called View from the Summit (2000) covers everything from his first encounters with mountaineering to the last years of his life.

High Adventure is a rather humble retelling of the first successful summit of Mount Everest. From the reconnaissance mission of 1951, to the Himalayan training exercises of 1952 and finally the successful 1953 expedition, the book traces his long road to the summit. Hillary tells his story in a very straight-forward manner with a degree of nonchalance. The events of the story are often dramatic and the accomplishments great, yet he writes as though he is describing his morning routine rather than the climb of an 8000 meter peak. However, the intensity and difficulty of the 1953 Everest Expedition is not lost, and the book will leave you with respect for Hillary, Tenzing, the 1953 Everest team and high altitude climbers today.

An informative, and at times, page-turning read, High Adventure lacks a personal element and tells the reader little about Hillary himself. In contrast, View from the Summit, reveals much more about Hilllary’s personal life and experiences in a thoughtful and honest way. Though his writing-style does not change much, he lets down his guard and reflects upon his life with a hint of nostalgia. While reading the book, I often felt as though I was sitting in a cozy den listening to Hillary recount his life’s joys, hardships and adventures.

The book begins with a concise, colorful, and ultimately, more interesting retelling of the 1953 Everest Expedition. It is more opinionated too. To start, he admits that he was not John Hunt’s biggest fan and he describes his anger about discovering that Eric Shipton would not be leading the expedition. Perhaps the most interesting addition to the story of the Everest climb was the description of his realization that he, a simple bee-keeper from New Zealand, had become a celebrity overnight and his life would never be the same. It took him a few speaking tours to figure out how exactly to handle the publicity and he soon learned to embrace his status and to use it to help improve the lives of others. He started the Himalayan Trust in order to raise money for development projects throughout the Himalayas and the organization is still going strong today.

Many people know about Hillary’s summit of Everest and his humanitarian efforts, but most now little else. View from the Summit tells the untold stories of Sir Edmund’s life. He led a team of tractors to the South Pole (a much more difficult endeavor than it sounds), led an expedition to search for the yeti in Nepal, and jet boated up the Ganges River making it all the way to the headwaters. After summiting Everest, Hillary did not have much luck with high altitude climbs – in fact, he suffered from cerebral edema several times and avoided death only by relying on the rescue efforts of his fellow climbers. Also, he lost his wife and youngest daughter in a plane crash and sunk into a dark period of guilt and sadness. He remarried in the late 80s and became the New Zealand High Commissioner to India in the 90s. Up until the last months of his life he was still visiting his friends in Nepal, building schools, hospitals, dams, and other infrastructure to improve the lives of the people there. Now that is a life well-lived!

If you’re looking for an account of the first successful summit of Everest, then consider reading High Adventure, but if you’re more interested in learning about the life of a fascinating and inspiring man, then View from the Summit is the book for you.

What’s Happening this Week at Berg Adventures

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Dr. Chet Sutterlin is in Russia with Wally Berg and their goal is to summit Mount Elbrus, a feat realized by our first 2011 Elbrus team last week.

Read the dispatches from Chet’s trip here: http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_cyber/2011/2011-07-15-mt-elbrus/main.php

Read the dispatches from the first team’s journey here: http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_cyber/2011/2011-07-01-mt-elbrus/main.php

Berg Adventures Elbrus Team 1 celebrates on the summit last week.

Berg Adventures Elbrus Team 1 celebrates on the summit last week.

The Bishop Family – Kim, Reed and Barry are on an adventure of their own. They are up in the air on a Sky Safari. What’s a sky safari? Well, you fly from location to location and you get to see the animals from the comfort of a plane as well as on the ground.

Follow their unique adventure here: http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_cyber/2011/2011-07-18-wildlife-safari/main.php

A hungry looking lion approaches the vehicle on safari in Tanzania.

A hungry looking lion approaches the vehicle on safari in Tanzania.

We’re also recruiting climbers and trekkers for our fall adventures! There is still time to sign up, follow the links below or contact Sara at our office for more information:

Explore Patagonia

October 14-30, 2011

http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_trips/south-america/patagonia-description.php

Penguins on the Magdalena Islands are one of the many sights on our Patagonia adventure.

Penguins on the Magdalena Islands are one of the many sights on our Patagonia adventure.

Climb Ecuador’s Volcanoes

November 5-20, 2011

http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_trips/south-america/ecuador-description.php

Imbabura Volcano is one of our acclimatization hikes in Ecuador to get us prepared for the even bigger, glaciated volcanoes.

Imbabura Volcano is one of our acclimatization hikes in Ecuador to get us prepared for the even bigger, glaciated volcanoes.

Trek to Everest Base Camp

October 8-31, 2011

http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_trips/asia/everest-basecamp-description.php

Along the trail to Everest Base Camp there are many incredible sights.

Along the trail to Everest Base Camp there are many incredible sights.

Climb Loboche Peak in the Himalayas

October 8-November 3, 2011

http://www.bergadventures.com/blog/2011-07-07/657/

The team takes a break to take in the stunning views while climbing Loboche Peak.

The team takes a break to take in the stunning views while climbing Loboche Peak.

Taking on Patagonia in Style

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Our Patagonia trip itinerary is new and improved! We visit the same spectacular locations, hike the same world renowned trails and stay in the same unique lodges, but this year we have reversed the order of the visit to give you more time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the region. From the penguin colonies of the Magdelena Islands off the southern end of South America to the jagged peaks of Torres del Paine National Park and the floating glaciers of Argentina’s Glacier National Park, you won’t want to miss a thing!

Jagged peaks

Jagged peaks

Trip highlights include: dining in the historic Jose Nogueira Hotel where Sir Ernest Shackleton negotiated the rescue of his stranded ship, touring by boat to Magdelena Island and to see the glaciers of Glacier National Park in Argentina, hiking along the highly regarded “W” Trek of Torres del Paine National Park, and trekking to the base of Mount Fitzroy. We would be pleased to also help you plan an extension of your trip to visit Antarctica or tour Buenos Aires, where our trip begins and ends.

Glacial lakes

Glacial lakes

Staying true to Berg Adventures form, we stay in gorgeous lodges, eat delicious food and travel with fantastic guides. Our Patagonia trip is perfect for people looking for a less strenuous adventure than many of our climbs and treks, or for people who just want to experience the wonders of Patagonia! It is also a great trip for fall when days are gray and growing shorter, because in Patagonia the flowers will just be starting to bloom and the days will be getting longer. We’d love to have you join us!

Scenic lodges

Scenic lodges

Dates:

October 14 – 30, 2011

October 13 – 29, 2012

To get more information about the trip, please view our previous Patagonia expedition dispatches and visit the Berg Adventures Patagonia trip description page.

Join us for an Adventure on Ecuador’s Volcano Alley

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

We’re going to Ecuador, one of the world’s most ecologically and culturally diverse countries, for an explosive adventure of volcanic proportions. Over the course of two exciting weeks, we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage City of Quito, climb four incredible volcanoes, stand at the farthest point from the center of the earth, soak in relaxing hot springs and take in the beauty of a remarkable country.

The trip begins in Quito, Ecuador with a brief stop to satisfy your curiosity – don’t worry, you’ll have more time to explore after the climbs. We then move on to a serene hacienda outside of Otavalo, a town famous for its colorful market and close to many hikes that are a perfect warm-up for our more challenging climbs ahead. We start with a day hike around Guinea Pig Lake, named because it is shaped like a Guinea Pig (which is a must-try dish in Ecuador, might I add).

Our first volcano climb is of the 15,750ft/4800m Imbabura. We complete the climb as a pleasant day hike and return to our hacienda for the night before moving down Volcano Alley to our next goal, Cayambe. As Ecuador’s 3rd highest peak, the glaciated 18,900ft/5790m summit of Cayambe lies directly on the equator! Before climbing, we will spend a day going over glacier travel and basic mountaineering skills to prepare us for the exciting climb.

The serene hot springs where we stay on our rest day between climbs.

The serene hot springs where we stay on our rest day between climbs.

Before continuing, we take a rest day at Termas Papallacta. Here we can soak in the lovely hot springs and recuperate some energy and strength for our next climb, Cotopaxi, Ecuador’s second highest peak at 19,350ft/5900m. This is perhaps the most well-known of the mountains we will climb due to its distinct symmetric appearance.

The Cotopaxi Crater is a dramatic reminder of the volcano’s explosive past

The Cotopaxi Crater is a dramatic reminder of the volcano’s explosive past

And finally, we will climb the big one, Ecuador’s highest volcano at 20,701ft/6310m, Chimborazo. It is on the summit of Chimborazo that we will stand at the farthest point from the center of the earth. Due to the bulge of the Earth’s surface around its middle, Chimborazo actually stands over 7000ft/2130m farther from the center of the Earth than the summit of Everest!

Hiking to the high camp hut on Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo.

Hiking to the high camp hut on Ecuador’s highest mountain, Chimborazo.

Dates:

November 5 – November 20, 2011

November 4 – November 19, 2012

Contact us to sign up or to get more information. You can also visit the Ecaudor’s Volcanoes page on our http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_trips/south-america/ecuador-description.php.

Climb Loboche Peak with Berg Adventures Fall 2011

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Stand atop the glaciated peak of Loboche at 20,076ft/6119m for a uniquely rewarding 360 degree view of the Himalayas. From the stunning base camp site to the snowy summit ridge, Loboche will keep you both physically challenged and visually delighted. Offering spectacular views from the summit of famed peaks such as Ama Dablam, Makalu, Nuptse, Pumori and, of course, Everest, the Loboche climb is perfect for adventure travelers looking to gain climbing experience in the Himalayas.

The view of Everest from the top

Your adventure begins with a trek to Everest Base Camp and climb of Kala Patar with our regularly scheduled Everest Base Camp Trek. You will arrive in the bustling city of Kathmandu where you will have a few days to pick up souvenirs, tour the city’s many religious and historic sites and browse the outdoor stores for any last minute climbing gear needs. From there you fly to the village of Lukla – the gateway to Everest’s Khumbu Valley. The quiet and slow-paced life of the Khumbu will feel like a different world, especially in comparison to the hectic city life of Kathmandu. There are no road and no cars in the Khumbu – just trails, yaks and your own two feet.

After a visit to Everest Base Camp and a climb of Kala Patar, you will continue on to Loboche Base Camp where your climb begins. Basic mountaineering skills are recommended, but not required for this climb.

Approaching the summit

Contact our office for a detailed itinerary of this trip and our other fall adventures in Nepal. The dates are inclusive of travel from North America – the trip begins in Kathmandu on October 10, 2011.

Loboche Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp Trek:

Dates: October 8 – November 3, 2011

Price: US $5,900