Suunto Rocks Red Rock!

Apa Sherpa helps raise $1800 for Access Fund

Some seriously generous folks got together at Red Rocks Canyon National Conservation Area for the Red Rock Rendezvous, the country's largest outdoor climbing festival, to share their love of climbing and of Red Rock Canyon. After a full day of climbing for all skill levels, the crowd put their money down to show their support in a major auction fundraiser for the Access Fund, a national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment.

Again this year, we were excited to participate, and yes, you heard it right, the Apa Sherpa Suunto Core Extreme Edition Everest brought in $1800 to support the Fund! Check it out:



Apa Sherpa, the mountaineer who holds the record for most summits of Everest - 20th summit was May 2010! - was on hand at the Rendezvous, and his signature is on the back of this limited edition watch. It's fitting that this is the 20th year that the Access Fund has been working to preserve and protect climbing locales around the country. The high-bidder was a happy fellow, knowing he got a fabulous watch, signed by an incredible athelete, while helping make climbing possible for future generations!

Happy 20th to both of you!

Suunto Core Extreme Edition Everest Launch Event with Apa Sherpa

Suunto USA has teamed up with Eastern Mountain Sports in New York City to honor legendary mountaineer and Suunto Ambassador Apa Sherpa and his recent record-breaking summit of Mt. Everest.

The only person in history to summit Mt. Everest 20 times, Apa Sherpa is widely recognized as one of the greatest living mountaineers. In recognition of his historic achievement, Suunto created the Core Extreme Edition Everest. Suunto and Eastern Mountain Sports SoHo have partnered to debut the Core Extreme Edition Everest at an in-store celebration event October 28, 2010 from 7:00pm—9:00pm. Special guest Apa Sherpa will be there to discuss climbing the world's highest peak and why he established the Apa Sherpa Foundation, a non-profit promoting educational and economic opportunities in the Nepalese village where Apa grew up. Suunto will give away one Core Extreme Edition Everest at the event, and 40 will be available for purchase.

What: Apa Sherpa at Eastern Mountain Sports

When: Thursday, October 28, 2010 7:00pm—9:00pm

Where: Eastern Mountain Sports NYC-SoHo, Spring & Broadway, 530 Broadway, NYC

“Eastern Mountain Sports was founded by climbers, and for 43 years we’ve enjoyed sharing that passion with our community,” says store manager John Taylor. “So, we are beyond honored to host Apa Sherpa, one of the greatest living mountaineers, in our flagship NYC-SoHo store.”

Complete with altimeter, barometer and compass functions, the Suunto Core Extreme Edition Everest helps users navigate through the wilder parts of the world. As a limited edition, Suunto is producing only 8,848 models of the Extreme Edition Everest, in correlation with Mount Everest’s elevation at 8,848 meters. Suunto is donating a portion of every watch sold to the Apa Sherpa Foundation.

Apa Sherpa Challenge at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market

To summit Mount Everest is no small feat. Those who do accomplish this deserve respect and adoration from their peers. However, when you summit Mount Everest a record 20 times, you deserve something a little more. That’s why in honor of legendary mountaineer and Suunto Ambassador Aba Serpa’s world record 20th climb of Mount Everest, we are launching the Limited Edition Suunto Core Extreme Edition Everest watch.

“We’re happy to honor Apa with this limited edition Core,” says Suunto Vice President and Business Director Nora Stowell. “Apa Sherpa embodies the spirit of Suunto and we’re happy to commemorate his historic world record with this amazing watch.”

An addition to the award winning Suunto Core collection, the Core Extreme Edition Everest is an essential partner and tool for outdoor enthusiasts. Complete with Altimeter, Barometer and Compass functions, the Core helps users navigate through the wilder parts of the world.

As a limited edition, Suunto is producing only 8,848 models of the Extreme Edition Everest, in correlation with Mount Everest’s elevation of 8,848 meters. Suunto is also donating $2 of every watch sold to the Apa Sherpa Foundation.

In conjunction to the launch of the Core Extreme Edition Everst at OR there will be two events held at the Suunto booth #20015.

The Apa Sherpa Challenge: Aug. 3,4, and 5 at 4 pm. And Aug 6 at 1 pm.

Two challenge contestants' names will be drawn to compete in the Apa Sherpa Challenge treadmill endurance contest for the the chance to win a new Suunto Core Extreme Edition Everest.

Autograph Signing: Aug. 3, 4, and 5 at 4pm

Apa Sherpa will be at the Suunto booth to sign autographs and meet fans.

Launching to the outdoor industry in the United States at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market the Extreme Edition Everest will be available to the public in Fall 2010 at select retailers.

Apa Sherpa Update

Update from Everest! Apa Sherpa is in the midst of attempting his 20th Everest summit. He is in the final stages of setting a world record 20th summit of Mt. Everest. Apa is updating Marshall Thompson hourly about the team's progress and updates are available on Twitter, Facebook and Apa's blog.

Here is the latest from Thompson who sits and waits for updates from Apa:

Barricaded in the communications tent- May 21st, 2010

Dawa Steven, the expedition leader, Chunu, the Nepali government liaison officer, and I are now barricaded in the communications tent. We brought in a small gas heater and have zipped up the doors and tried to plug all the cracks. It’s starting to get a bit warmer. Outside there are heavy clouds over Mount Everest right now. It’s beautiful by moonlight. Birbal, the cook, has been burning incense at the puja altar and the prayer flags above are illuminated by the flickering yellow light. As the team leaves from Camp 4, we’re a bit worried down here about the snowfall at higher altitudes. The team delayed their departure by about 45 minutes because of the snow, but they say now that it’s not that bad. It’s going to be a long night.

Good luck team! Looking forward to the updates!

Apa Sherpa--Going for 20

Apa Sherpa, a world-renowned mountain climber and Suunto athlete is nothing less than astounding. He is in the midst of attempting to summit Mt. Everest for the 20th time! If successful, the accomplishment will be a World Record--previously held by himself.

Largely acclaimed as one of the best climbers in the world, Apa Sherpa began climbing at a very early age. At 12 years old, he worked as an expedition porter following his father's untimely death. It didn't take long for Apa's uncanny ability and sheer strength to became noticed by fellow trekkers. Apa's first ascent of Everest was in May of 1990 and he has been leading teams ever since.

Currently, Apa is in his third rotation of altitude acclimatization before pushing for the summit with his team. Marshall Thompson, from Everest base camp, has been writing a very active blog about the team's progress.

Here is an excerpt (Before final rotation):
This is one of his last chances to get acclimatized and physically prepared for the summit push. Unfortunately, he has been plagued by a very bad case of the Khumbu Cough. A cough may not seem like that big of a deal, but when you’re struggling to get enough oxygen with every breath, a cough can cut your energy and ability to perform severely. Apa is taking it very practically. He says that if the cough is too bad, he will turn back and delay his last rotation.

Update after Snowstorm:

It should be noted that I’ve been told more than once today to stop worrying – everyone will be fine. I believe that. It’s just hard not to get worked up when you’re stuck at base camp looking up at the mountain. I’ve talked with Apa on the radio. His cough is gone and he seems very confident about what he’s doing. All I can say is that if I were stuck at Camp 2 on Mount Everest, I would want to be stuck with the guy who has climbed her more than anyone else. Last week I asked Apa if he had a special relationship to the Chomolungma (The Sherpa name for the Goddess who is Mount Everest). He laughed and said, “Maybe she’s watching over me, because she’s let me climb her so many times.”

Stay tuned for more updates from Everest! Good luck Apa and team!