Podcast with Author, Journalist Billi Bierling of the Himalayan Database
Close followers of mountaineering know the Himalayan Database and Ms. Elizabeth Hawley. Who you may not know is Billi Bierling who worked with Ms. Hawley since 2004 and continues her work today along with a small team in Kathmandu and the US.
Billi, born in the Bavarian Alpine resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is a well-traveled journalist working primarily for Swiss Humanitarian Aid as a communications expert. She also writes mountaineering articles for German and English-speaking magazines, translates or writes books and leads mountain treks and expeditions in Nepal and around the world. And she climbs mountains, big mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Manaslu (fore summit) and Broad Peak – the latter three she summited without the help of supplemental oxygen.
Billi recently published a book, a memoir, Riding my Bike iN Kathmandu.
This in-depth podcast introduces us to Billi, her background in humanitarian work, her book and some of her climbs before discussing the changes we are seeing in the ever-commercialized world of mountaineering, especially in Nepal. Finally, we wrap up discussing the future of the Himalayan Database.
Grab a beverage or take a walk and please enjoy meeting Billi Bierling.
Everest 2023: An Insider Story
The 2023 Everest spring season is over, and most of the climbers are back home with their families. They’re providing an intimate look at their experiences, sharing tears, laughs and holding hands as their loved one reveals their true story. Often are is difficult, as no one likes to see their partner in pain, yet it comes through in their eyes as they describe seeing a dead body or being told the summit push is canceled because of winds. Yet they also share the joy of the summit. While one climbed, the other stayed home, often wondering.
Summit Coach client, Asher Perez, summited Mt. Everest in May with Phil Crampton’s Altitude Junkie team. His wife, Elianna Perez stayed home with their one-year-old daughter, wondering. After all, this spring was the deadliest season in history on Everest. This is her story.
#everest2023
Everest 2023: Season Summary – Deadliest in History
In this 2023 Everest season summary, I look at the good and the bad during the deadliest season ever on Everest and the much-needed changes. Plus a narrative on the last Icefall passage and co ing home #everest2023
Nepal issued a record 478 climbing permits to foreigners. Add in one and a half Sherpa supporting each foreigner; over 1,200 people pursued the summit this spring. Fears were rampant of a 2019 repeat with long lines and deaths. The lines never developed, thanks in part to colder weather that sent a higher number of climbers home in mid-season, many with a persistent virus. However, the deaths did, but not due to the record permits or climate change. #everest2023
Everest 2023: An End to a Tough Season
It’s always tough to characterize an Everest season, so I’ll give it a few more days to let everything settle before posting my season summary. But one thing is clear, 2023 is the deadliest season ever, and some routine mountaineering practices are broken. #everest2023
Everest 2023: Yet Another Death, Missing Not Found – Update Szilard Found
As the Everest spring season nears the end, we see more Everest summits and peak bagging. With at least fifty more summits on Wednesday, May 24, the season is approaching 600 total summits by members and Sherpas. Another climber, this one not using supplemental oxygen, is now considered missing.. #everest2023
Everest 2023: Last Few Summits and Another Missing
As the Everest spring season nears the end, we see more Everest summits and peak bagging. With at least fifty more summits on Wednesday, May 24, the season is approaching 600 total summits by members and Sherpas. Another climber, this one not using supplemental oxygen, is now considered missing.. #everest2023
Everest 2023: Final Summits? and Another death, now 11
As the Everest spring season nears the end, we see more Everest summits and peak bagging. With fifty more summits on Tuesday, May 23, the season is approaching 550 total summits by members and Sherpas. More theft was reported at the South Col. #everest2023
Everest 2023: Summits “Records”
Monday, May 22nd, was a windy but good day for summits and records. An estimated fifty more people summited, advancing the season total to close to 500. The season could end this week as winds will become too dangerous. #everest2022
Everest 2023: Weekend Update May 21: Now 11 Deaths, Several Missing
The death toll climbed to ten, perhaps eleven, for the spring 2023 season, with multiple climbers missing. Wednesday, May 24th, may be the last summit day this season. #everest2022
Everest 2023: High Winds Stall Most Summits
While summits dwindle as the winds move in for a few days, the dead and missing totals continue to skyrocket. 2023 has the ninth most Everest death total. Season may end next week.