How Much Does it Cost to Climb Mount Everest?
“How much does it cost to climb Mount Everest?” is one of the most common questions I get after a talk. The short answer is, a car, or at least $30,000 but most people pay about $45,000. This post is the 2016 update of the most common questions and expedition prices. The headline for 2016 is that the high-end […]
Close Call on First Ascent of Nepal’s Burke-Khang
“I’ll never trust a mountain photo again” noted Bill Burke summing up his thwarted attempt to summit Burke-Khang in Northern Nepal. Burke is the oldest American to summit Mt. Everest at age 72. After six attempts on Everest with two summits, Nepal became a second home for this retired corporate lawyer. He had established close relationships with […]
Nanga Parbat to see 5 winter Attempts, None on K2
Only two of the fourteen 8000 meter mountains have not seen climbers top out in the winter: K2 and Nanga Parbat in Northern Pakistan. But this winter of 2015/2016 will see five attempts on Nanga Parbat. However before predicting a summit, there has been 27 previous winter attempts on the “Naked Mountain” without success thus preparing the teams […]
Sherpas Make a Statement with Their Own Climbs
There is a change happening in Nepal. The Sherpas, long thought of as only in support of western climbers, are now doing their own climbs. This article I wrote for Outside Magazine’s website Outside Online looks at some recent developments. —————— Since well before Tenzing Norgay Sherpa made the first ascent of Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund […]
The Back Story on Manaslu 2015 – Summits, Res, Death
In the autumn of 2015, some of the world’s 8000 meter guides stopped their Manaslu expeditions due to risks that crossed their comfort zone but others continued and summited. One person died and another had to be rescued. Why do some stop, others continue and why did one person die? Manaslu, the world’s 8th highest peak at 26,759’/8156m has […]
Climbing Memories Week 4
As I climb the world to end Alzheimer’s, healing I have taken thousands of photographs. I am posting many on Facebook over the next few months and will do a weekly summary post here on my site. I hope you enjoy them. Karakoram Porters Previously I posted a series of pictures of the porters in the Khumbu […]
7 Minutes that will change the way you look at Alzheimer’s
In this 7 minute video made for a TED Talk, researcher Samuel Cohen clearly explains what Alzheimer’s is, why we have not found a cure and what needs to be done. Well worth 7 minutes of your time, even if you don’t know anyone with Alzheimer’s. Climb On! Alan Memories are Everything
Climbing Memories Week 3
As I climb the world to end Alzheimer’s, hospital I have taken thousands of photographs. I am posting many on Facebook over the next few months and will do a weekly summary post here on my site. I hope you enjoy them. Manaslu Manaslu is known as one of the “achievable” 8000 meter mountains at 26, […]
Nepal Trekkers and 6000m Climbers Find Success
For all the bad press about Nepal, those who are over there now are enjoying a stable, peaceful environment for trekking and climbing the lower peaks. Most of the press articles are about fuel shortages, the new constitution and the state of earthquake area six months later. Yes, Nepal has significant and serious issues, yet […]
Climbing Memories Week 2
As I climb the world to end Alzheimer’s, I have taken thousands of photographs. I am posting many on Facebook over the next few months and will do a weekly summary post here on my site. I hope you enjoy them. Rainier Rainier at 14, advice 411 feet 4392 meters is as close as one can […]