February and March Events by American Alpine Institute.

February and March The Forest Service is offering Snowshoe Hikes and Cross Country Ski Tours for all ages. Scroll down to find one in your area and make your arrangements.

2/2 – 2/4 Champagny en Vanoise, France — Ice Climbing World Cup

2/2 – 2/5 Munising, Michigan — Michigan Ice Fest

2/2 Las Vegas, Nevada — Save Red Rock Meeting at REI

2/4 — Everett, MA — Dark Horse Bouldering Series Championship

2/11 — Bellingham, WA — NC3 Climbing Comp at WWU

2/10 – 2/11 — Busteni, Romania — Ice Climbing World Cup

2/16 Las Vegas, Nevada — Save Red Rock Meeting at REI

2/17 – 2/20 — Cody, WY — Waterfall Ice Festival

3/3 – 3/4 — El Paso, Texas — Hueco Rock Rodeo

3/3 — Boston, MA — American Alpine Club Annual Benefit Dinner

3/3 — Moscow, ID — University of Idaho NW Collegiate Climbing Comp. 208-885-6810

MT. BAKER
SNOWSHOE HIKES
Make reservations the Wednesday prior to the scheduled program by calling Glacier Public Service Center,
360-599-2714 weekends, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. or Mt. Baker Ranger District Office, 360-856-5700 ext. 515 weekdays,
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. To offset the costs of the program a donation of $10 per person is suggested for all programs payable
by cash or check made out to Discover Your Northwest Interpretive Association.

Heather Meadows 90-Minute Walk
Feb. 4, 18, 19, 25, 11 a.m.
Meet at upper Mt. Baker Ski Area parking lot by the Bagley Lakes Trailhead.
Learn about area history, winter ecosystem, wildlife and safety.
Group size 15

Snowshoe Hannegan Road Feb. 11, 11 a.m.
Meet at the Shuksan Picnic Area at the base of the Hannegan Road, milepost 46.5 off the Mt. Baker Highway, SR 542.
Learn about area history, winter ecosystem, wildlife and safety.
Group size: 15

STEVENS PASS
SNOWSHOE HIKES
Make reservations Jan. 8-Feb. 26 at Skykomish Ranger District, 360-677-2414. Trips for special events and school groups can also be scheduled. Sultan Shuttle offers transportation from Sultan to the resort. Check http://www.stevenspass.com/Stevens/the-mountain/sultan-shuttle.aspx for fees and schedules.

Introductory Snowshoeing
Sat. Sun. 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Learn about the history of the area, the winter ecosystem and wildlife on this beginning walk.
Group size: 20

SNOQUALMIE PASS
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI
No reservations are necessary. Participants must have intermediate ski skills. Meet at Grand Junction on the Nordic ski trail out of Summit East Ski area at 10:30 a.m. The program is free, but participants will need a ski area trail pass to access Grand Junction. For more information call 425-434-6111 or 425-434-7669.

Interpretive Tour
Sun. 10:30 a.m.
Learn about the history of the area, the winter ecosystem and wildlife.

SNOWSHOE HIKES
The 90-minute walk and extended snowshoe trips run Jan. 8-March 31, the winter photography and ecology outings Jan. 21-March 31 and the “Kids in the Snow” program Feb. 4-March 31. Make reservations at 425-434-6111. Trips for special events and school groups can also be scheduled. Meet 15 minutes early at the visitor’s center off I-90, exit 52 on Snoqualmie Pass.

Interpretive 90-Minute Walk
Sat. Sun. 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m.
Learn about winter ecosystem, wildlife and safety.
Group size 20

Extended Half-Day Hikes
Fri. Sat. Sun. 9:30 a.m.
Experience Commonwealth Basin in the winter surrounded by the Cascade crest peaks.
Group size 10

Winter Photography & Ecology Outings
Jan. 21, Feb. 4, 18, March 3, 17, 31, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Capture winter nature on film while learning about ecology.
Group size 6

“Kids in the Snow”
Feb. 4-March 31, Sat. 1 p.m.
Earn a Junior Ranger Snow badge! Learn about tracking, crawl into a snow cave and check out a snow crystal with a magnifier.
Group size 20

* Source : – http://alpineinstitute.blogspot.com/

* Polish Himalayas – Become a Fan

January and February Climbing Events by American Alpine Institute.

– Jan 17 — Seattle, WA — Denali NP Open House Meeting On Climbing Fees

— Jan 18 — Golden, CO — Denali NP Open House Meeting On Climbing Fees

— Jan 20 — Portland, OR — Telluride Mountain Film Fest

— Jan 22 — Bellingham, WA — Northwest Collegiate Climbing Challenge (WWU)

— Jan 27 — Seattle, WA — Altitude Illness Seminar

— Jan 29 — Truckee, CA —  Lost Trail Lodge Ice Climbing

— Feb 4 — Munising, Michigan — Michigan Ice Fest

— Feb 5 — Mammoth, CA — (Ski Mountaineering) Mammoth Chase

— Feb 12-13 — Alpental, WA — VertFest sponsored by OR

— Feb 12 — Seattle, WA — Northwest Collegiate Climbing Challenge (UW)

— Feb 18 – 21– Cody, WY — 13th Annual “Waterfall Ice” Fest

— Feb 26 — Seattle, WA — AAC Annual Benefit and Awards Dinner

* Source : – http://alpineinstitute.blogspot.com/

* Previous story :

– Karakoram Winter Expedition 2010/2011: Polish secret on Nanga, news from GII.

– Karakoram Winter Expedition 2010/2011: Broad Peak and GII teams hit BC.

– Gasherbrum II Winter Expedition 2010/2011: Simone Moro’s latest news and thoughts.

– Gasherbrum II Winter Expedition 2010/2011 – The Beginning.

– Gasherbrum II Winter Expedition 2010/2011.

– Polish winter expedition to Broad Peak 2010/11, part 7. Zimowa wyprawa PZA na Broad Peak 2010/11.

– Winning teams to join the Karakoram winter games: Poles, Simone & Denis for GII for Broad Peak.

* Related Links :

– Mount McKinley or Denali in Alaska – highest mountain peak in North America. /Version english and polish/

* Polish Himalayas – Become a Fan

Exweb Week-In-Review is sponsored by HumanEdgeTech the world’s premier supplier of expedition technology. Our team helps you find ultra light expedition tech that works globally.

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AAC Book Club: Winter Book Club Dates in Golden.

We are always looking for new books to read and new members so bring great ideas, great discussions and a friend to the December meeting. The meeting will be December 14, 2010 around 6:30 p.m .  See you then.

Future Front Range Book club books are going to be:

December 14: Fatal Mountaineer by Robert Roper.

This is the biography of Willi Unsoeld.

This mountaineering book is very well-written in a unique style that belongs to Robert Roper. It was unique from other mountaineering books in the way he intermixed climbing scenes with Willi Unsoeld?s philosophies on life. He contrasts the sport climber versus the true mountaineers who find spiritual strength in high places. He shows the contrast between team climbers and soloists. It goes beyond…

January 11: Touching the Void by Joe Simpson.

One of the great classics of mountaineering literature.

Touching the Void is a phenomenal true story about Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. The two young men decide to try to climb the heart stopping West-face of Sirula Grande. Though it was extremely cold, and a very difficult few days to reach the mountain’s summit, they succeeded. Only a short while later did the unthinkable happen, Joe had fallen and broken his leg. Even though Simon was sure that Joe would…

(You can watch the movie if you want… )

For February 8: We were thinking about reading Fifty Classic Climbs by Steve Roper and Alan Steck.

Detailed narratives profile fifty challenging climbs in premier mountaineering areas, describing the physical features and surroundings of the Alaskan ranges, the Rockies, the Bugaboos, the Washington Cascade, and the Sierra Nevada.

However copies of that book are hard to find (outside of the library).

So if you are interested in something like that, we could do Fifty Favorite Climbs by Mark Kroese.

This was printed in 2001 and can be found easily and cheaply.

* Source : – The Blog of The American Alpine Club Library

* Related Links : – Books.

* Previous story :

– AAC Book Club meeting: Freddie Wilkinson Slideshow and Booksigning – September 13th.

– AAC Book Club: Book Club Coming Attractions.

– AAC Book Club: Book Sale and Other February News.

– AAC Book Club meeting: February 9 – Forever on the Mountain, James Tabor.

– AAC Book Club : Winter Book Club Picks – Start Your Reading.

– AAC Book Club meeting: December 8th – Annapurna.

– American Alpine Club Events – Celebrate Eldo: AAC and ACE Book Release Party.

– AAC Book Club meeting: Everest – Alone At The Summit.

* Polish Himalayas – Become a Fan

** zapraszam na relacje z wypraw polskich himalaistów.

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Book Review: The Summit by Eric Alexander.

Author : Kraig Becker.

Climbing Mt. Everest, or any other big peak, is always fraught with perils. You have to deal with altitude and technical challenges. You’ll have to acclimatize and plan your ascent carefully, and spend months preparing for an opportunity to reach the top that may never come, often due to circumstances beyond your control. How a climber deals with those challenges and adversities varies with each individual. For climber,  professional mountain guide, and author Eric Alexander, it is his religious faith that helps see him through those challenges.

That is the core premise behind Alexander’s new book The Summit, which hits bookstores soon. The book is his opportunity to share not only his adventures in the mountains, but also how his faith in God served him well on those expeditions. In fact, those journeys actually helped to strengthen that faith and give him further insights into his beliefs.

On its surface, Alexander’s story is a typical tale of adventure in the mountains. In the book he shares stories of his climbs on Ama Dablam, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Everest, and more. Those tales include near death experiences, crushing disappointments, spectacular triumphs. and moments of self discovery, aind in the author’s case, moments of clarity about his faith.

The book begins with Alexander meeting and befriending Erik Weihenmayer, an experienced climber who also happens to be blind. The two men discovered that they were kindred spirits and soon they were climbing together all over the world. Their friendship would lead to the two of them going up Everest together, with Alexander serving as guide as Weihemayer climbed into history, becoming the first blind man to reach the summit of the tallest mountain on the planet. But the two climbers would go on to have even more adventures together.

For most arm chair mountaineers, Weihenmayer’s story is well known, but in this case it is told from a different perspective, that of his guide, who helped him through some of his most challenging climbs. But Alexander also helped other physically challenged adventurers reach their goal, such as taking four blind teens to the top of Kilimanjaro and taking three “at risk” kids to the top of Mt. Pisco. Often times, Eric suffered and struggled himself to ensure that the people that he was guiding succeeded in their mission.

While The Summit does offer some interesting insights into the various climbs, I personally found little new in the book. If you’ve already read some of the more well known mountaineering books, you probably won’t feel that you’ve garnered much new out of this book. The most interesting story for me personally was the climb up Everest with blind mountaineer Weihenmayer, but you’ll likely find his own book, Touch the Top of the World, a better read. Don’t get me wrong, The Summit isn’t a terrible book, although I did find the writing to be a bit uneven at times.

Perhaps part of my issue with the book was Alexander’s focus on his faith. Now, admittedly, that is one of the central messages of the book and at the core of the story that the author is telling. While I am personally not a religious person, I do have a spiritual side, and a healthy respect for other people’s religious beliefs. That is why when Alexander refuses to take part in in certain cultural rituals in Nepal, such as spinning prayer wheels, on the basis that they are essentially pagan rituals, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of a disconnect. While I respect Eric’s religious views, I couldn’t relate to the way he saw some of the beliefs of others.

That aside, The Summit is a solid entry into the mountaineering book club. For armchair mountaineers who are looking for something new to read, the book will keep you entertained, and if you’re a Christian who takes their faith very seriously, the religious aspects will appeal as well. If you’re new to the genere however, there are plenty of other books I’d recommend ahead of this one.

* Source : – http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com/

* Related Links :  – Books.

** Previous story :

– First Pakistani Women on Winter Expedition In the Karakorum Pakistan.

– Polish winter expedition to Broad Peak 2010/11. Zimowa wyprawa PZA na Broad Peak 2010/11.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Season Finally Ends On Lhotse.

– Everest Climbing Legend Missing On Baruntse.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: More From Lhotse.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Lhotse Update!

– Everest 2011 season – Expeditions with any British Teams or Britons.

– Himalaya 2010 wrap-up: Shisha Pangma and Manaslu summit reports.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Solo Summit Bid On Lhotse.

– Himalaya 2010 wrap-up: Everest fall season summits and Cho Oyu too.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Eric Summits Everest, Completes Save The Poles Expedition!

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Eric Larsen In Camp 3, High Winds Predicted For Summit Day.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Eric Larsen Begins Summit Push On Everest.

– Himalaya 2010 wrap-up: Cho Oyu update, Pauner about Manaslu summit, Everest C4, Lama Geshe recovering.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Summits On Manaslu and Cho Oyu.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Avalanche on Dhaulagiri – three Japanese climbers and one Sherpa missing.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Avalanche May End Season On Cho Oyu.

– Himalaya 2010 wrap-up: Cho Oyu summit push take 2, Manaslu teams ready.

– Himalaya 2010 wrap-up: Summit plans buried in the snow.

– Himalaya Fall 2010: Climbers Injured In Avalanche on Cho Oyu.

– Himalaya 2010 wrap-up: Everest summit push plans, TMA team deserts Cho Oyu.

– Himalaya 2010 wrap-up: Everest sieged from both flanks, Cho Oyu C2, Manaslu C1.

– Himalayan 2010 wrap-up: the season’s soaked kick-off.

– ExWeb special on Everest 2010: The autumn of the solo climbers.

* Related Links :

– Book Review: Beyond the Mountain by Steve House.

– Forever on the Mountain by James M. Tabor.

* Polish Himalayas – Become a Fan

Exweb Week-In-Review is sponsored by HumanEdgeTech the world’s premier supplier of expedition technology. Our team helps you find ultra light expedition tech that works globally.

e-mail or call +1 212 966 1928

* Read these stories – and more! – at ExplorersWeb.com

Himalaya Autumn 2010 expeditions.

Himalaya Autumn 2010 expeditions.

Updated: Sep 13, 2010
Note: List is preliminary and subject to changes

Did we forget you or your friends?
Mail us at:team@explorersweb.com
EVEREST
Alberto Zerain to solo the Hornbein Couloir

After fasts ascents on K2 and Kangchenjunga, Basque Alberto Zerain is tackling Everest north face’s Supercouloir solo. A small team will acclimatize with him up the peak’s normal route in Tibet and then remain in BC to film Alberto’s ascent from that point.

www.albertozerain.com

Hornbein Couloir Italian expedition

Mountain guides from Courmayer (Aosta valley) Edmond Joyeusaz, Gianluca Marra and Francesco Civra Dano will set off towards Tibet next week. After reaching the summit in alpine style, the men also hope to descent on skis.

everesthornbein2010.blogspot.com

No-O2 Japanese expedition

Japanese Nbukazu Kuriki also hopes to get the second solo ascent of Everest (Zerain permitting) at only 28. He will be accomapnied only by a Sherpa who will stop in BC. It is yet unclear though, whether Kuriki will use supplementary O2 or not. This is Nobukazus second attempt on Everest, after a first shot from the north side in spring last year. Its also the last stage in his 7Summit quest.

www.kurikiyama.jp

Eric Larsen Save the Poles expedition

Polar adventurer, musher and educator Eric Larsen, from Minnesota hopes to raise attention towards polar areas by trying to reach Everest summit, the North Pole and South Pole in a continuous 365-day period.

Starting in November, 2009, he skied 750-mile to the geographic South Pole, arriving on January 2, 2010. Two months later he set off from northern Ellesmere Island as member in an international team who reached the North Pole 51 days later. Next stop is Everest.

Eric will climb O2-supported, together with a small team of Sherpas on the mountain’s south side.

www.ericlarsenexplore.com

Lhotse

“k2 Pirates” Jordi Corominas and Jordi Tosas for the Lhotse Face

2004’s Magic Line summiteer Jordi Corominas and mate Jordi Tosas are back with a grand Himalayan climbing plan: Following their usual way of light style and shoe-string bugdet, they’ll attempt a new variation route on the mighty South face of Lhotse, in alpine style. Young gun Israel Blanco will join the team up to BC and, if feeling well, on the climb too.

jorditosas.blogspot.com

Annapurna

South Korean Kolon Challenge expedition – tentative

Jae-Soo Kim and Byung-Woo Son are planning to climb Annapurna and/or Cho Oyu in fall, 2010.

Kim was Go Mi-sun’s climbing partner on all her 12 8000ers until she perished on Nanga Parbat in summer, 2009.

Manaslu

Carlos Soria (71), Juanito Oiarzabal & Co.

Veterans Carlos Soria and Juanito Oiarzabal and sharing permit and surely collaborating on the Japanese route to Manaslu top.

Carlos’ previous attempt on the mountain in spring this year was thwarted by loads of snow and storms. Juanito, hoping to complete the 14x8000ers twice, bagged his 24th 8000+m summit in spring on Annapurna, but was airlifted back from C4 in an epic chopper rescue after his mate Tolo Calafat died on the mountain. Sharing permit as well is Sechu (Sergio) Lopez.

www.carlossoriaalpinista.com
www.sechugalicia.com

Carlos Pauner and Javier Prez

The two climbers are also sharing permit with fellow Spaniards Juanito, Carlos and Sechu, although climbing at their pace.

www.carlospauner.com

Xavi Arias’ Infinit Emotions expedition

Already recovered after being hit by an avalanche on Annapurna in spring, Catalan Xavi Arias is now giving a shot to Malaslu.

www.infinitemotions.cat

Quebec Manaslu expedition

A team of 4 french canadian from the Quebec province, including brothers Frederic Bleau and Francois Xavier Bleau with Pierre Boutin and Mathieu Morin, will attempt Manaslu via its normal route, w/o supplementary O2.

www.hautdefi.ca

Mexicans Badia and Mauricio

Mexican 5x8000er summiteer Badia Bonilla and husband Mauricio Lopez (4x8000ers topped-out) are back to Manaslu after a failed attempt last year.

www.unaparejaenascenso.com

Altitude Junkies

fresh from Everest in spring and the Gasherbrums in summer, Phil Crampton is leading a fully-serviced expedition on Manaslu via the NE ridge. The team will be limited to 7 clients and provides a 1:2 Sherpa to climber ratio.

www.altitudejunkies.com/manaslu.html

Adventure Consultants

The NZ-based outfitter is launching a fully-supplied expedition on Manaslu, starting on Aug 29th.

www.adventureconsultants.com/adventure/Manaslu

Dream Guides

8-times Everest summiteer Kenton Cool will lead a team on Manaslu, which the company describes as a perfect 1st 8000er and warm-up before Everest.

www.dream-guides.com

East Meet West Manaslu Expedition

American/Brazilian Cleo Weidlich is the appointed leader of an international team outfitted by Asian Trekking and also including Hungarians Eva Baranyl and Zoltan Janosi; Chinese Sumiyo Tsuzuki, Kristine Kravcova and Chi Sing Tsang; and Latvians Voldemars Sprozs, Viesturs Varpins and Atis Plakans.

cweidlichsherpagirl.blogspot.com

Kobler & Partner

The Swiss outfitter is also launching a commercial team on Manaslu.

www.kobler-partner.ch

Himex

Himalayan Experience announces a Manaslu expedition to take place from Aug 27th to Oct 10th.

www.himex.com

Shisha Pangma+Cho Oyu double-headers

GyoungGi Alpine Federation Expedition

The mountaineering federation of South Korea’s GyoungGi province has launched an expedition to both Shisha Pangma and Cho Oyu.

Shisha Pangma

South Korean Busan Dynamic Expedition

Led by Bo-Sung Hong, it also includes Chang-Ho Kim and Sung-Ho Suh.

SummitClimb

On emore year, Dan Mazur will lead a team on Shisha’s north side normal route.

www.summitclimb.com

Alex gavan – tentative

Romanian Alex GAvan intends to climb Shisha Pangma in fall this year; on his latest update, he was looking for climbing mates to share permit with.

www.cloudclimbing.ro

Cho Oyu

Walter Nones for a new route

Two years after losing his mate Karl Unterkircher on Nanga Parbat Rakhiot face, Italian Walter Nones is finally returning to high altitude climbing. The goal is Cho Oyu, via a new route on the mountains west flank. Also in the team are Giovanni Macaluso and Manuel Nocker

www.walternones.it

Silvio “Gnaro” Mondinelli

Italian 14x8000er summiteer Silvio Mondinelli is back to Cho Oyu, with four other climbers.

www.gnaromondinelli.it

Argentina C.A.B.A. Cho Oyu expedition

Five members of the Centro Andino Buenos Aires departed towards Cho Oyu on Aug24: Adrian Jorge Sanchez, Marcelo Julin Hernandez, Juliana Eguia, Carlos Ezquiel Dorsa and Oscar Alfredo Bellini.

www.alpinismonline.com

Alpine Ascents

The US-based outfitter is launching a fully-supported expedition on Cho Oyu, kicking off on August 28th.

www.alpineascents.com

IMG

IMG Cho Oyu post-monsoon expedition kicks off on August 22dn..

www.mountainguides.com

Adventure Consultants

The NZ-based outfitter is launching an expedition on Cho Oyu with clients on supplementary O2.

www.adventureconsultants.com/adventure/ChoOyu

Amical Alpin

Ragna Krckels and Stefan Fei are leading Amical’s expedition on Cho Oyu.

www.amical.de

Field Touring Alpine

Karakoram specialists with a recent BP+K2 attempt, FTA is also launching a fully-serviced expedition on Cho Oyu.

www.fieldtouring.com

SummitClimb

Dan Mazur (also heading a team on Shisha) and Max Kausch are the appointed leaders of the upcoming expedition.

www.summitclimb.com

Jagged-globe

The UK-based outfitter is launching a team led by Robert Anderson, Matthew Parkes & Tomaz Jakofcic .

www.jagged-globe.co.uk

Kobler & Partner

KAri Kobler’s outfitter has announced a Cho Oyu expedition kicking off Aug 28th.

www.kobler-partner.ch

South Korean Kolon Challenge expedition – tentative

Jae-Soo Kim and Byung-Woo Son may attempt Cho Oyu in addition to/instead of Annapurna.

* Previous story :

– Expedition list

* Polish Himalayas – Become a Fan

Exweb Week-In-Review is sponsored by HumanEdgeTech the world’s premier supplier of expedition technology. Our team helps you find ultra light expedition tech that works globally.

e-mail or call +1 212 966 1928

* Read these stories – and more! – at ExplorersWeb.com

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