The 51-year-old Apa, who like most Sherpas uses only one name, is trekking the length of Nepal to warn villagers to prepare themselves for change. A third of the way along his 120-day journey, he has already seen many lakes that look ready to spill.
"If it happens again, many villages would be washed away and lives lost," he said during a break in his trek in Tatopani, a resort village near the Tibet border.
Apa's 21 ascents of the world's highest mountain have given him a unique up-close view of conditions in the Himalayas. Read the full story here.
Thanks Apa Sherpa for going where few have gone, and for carrying your message across the world.
Check out their new 3D film that documents their ascent up the “Karma route” of Loferer Alm near Berchtesgaden in Germany, which at grade 11 is one of the most challenging climbs in the Alps. This gripping film captures the brothers’ efforts in one of their final ascents as extreme climbers. Both in their 40s, the duo describe it as “their final statement.”
“This route stands as a mark of our teamwork as brothers,” says Thomas, “for all the conflicts that have been and that we have solved.”
In the 2007 film "On the Limit," these two Suunto ambassadors attempted a speed climbing record on El Capitan’s Zodiac face. Although they initially failed to set a record during that particular ascent, they returned later in the year and achieved their goal. And of course they used Suunto every inch of the way.
You can catch the entire film - “Extremkletterer auf ihrer Schicksalsroute”- on Youtube. So grab your 3D glasses and your German dictionary (ja, ist auf Deutsch, but you don't need to speak German to love this amazing film). Prepare for some extreme!
As we reported earlier, Suunto athlete Kim Havell, a top alpine skier and mountaineer, and a team of nine others are attempting to climb the North Face of Shishapangma in Tibet followed by the First decent of the Swiss/Polish route. Here is an update from Kim and the rest of the team from their blog:
The lingering Monsoon has kept us in Kathmandu for an extra day. We are hoping the bulldozers are busy clearing the alleged 5 landslides between here and our first stop in Zhangmu (just across the border into Tibet).
We are all getting eager to leave Kathmandu, though the additional day will hopefully provide time to sort out the Yak weight negotions (like the Monsoon our personal Yak weight allotments have been a bit shifty). With the Yaks all set the remainder of the day will be spent finalizing details, getting some "epic temple shots", eating, and more than likely some adventure in Kathmandu transportation (uncertain at this point if it will be motorized or human powered).
Overall, all is well... The team is healthy, happy, and typically a bit sweaty.
Before they left Kim described some of the logistics of the trip:
Our food for on the mountain above advanced base camp (“ABC”- 19,200ft) will be high altitude meals provided by Mountain House, supplemented by Clif products. We will also have staples such as chocolate bars, energy mixes, soup packets and more. When at BC, we will eat local food like Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), occasionally mixed with pieces of goat, along with more standard fare like pasta.
Moving on to the gear category, expeditions that involve ski-mountaineering, which is climbing mountains and then skiing down them, demand different gear choices then other types of trips. Since skis add an extra load carry to the process, weight and efficiency become top priorities in the system.
The specifics are lengthy but generally speaking we bring two light axes/ice tools/and or a whippet (axe attachment made for a ski pole), light bindings with spare parts, light crampons- two sets, and light tents. We also bring two sleeping bags each, one for our ABC, and one that travels up with us on the mountain. There are as many variations on gear and equipment as there are cows in India, but hopefully this lends some perspective on the general process and the gear that we will use.
Playing further into the equation, our clothing choices are extremely important. We use merino wool for base layers, and down and gore-tex for outer/upper layers. Since we will be attempting to ski, we will climb in ski boots, which are not as warm and beefy as your typical mountaineering boot. So, in this case, we will bring “overboots” which are neoprene zip-on booties that allow you to attach crampons to the boot but keep your feet warm in the colder environments up higher on the mountain. We also bring more high density down jackets (800+ fill) for warmth and flexibility, as our clothing cannot inhibit our ability to move in ski descent.
When we arrive to BC (16,400ft), we will settle in for a day or two and then will slowly move our operation to base out of ABC (17,700ft). From ABC, our plan is to climb up whatever route/s we plan to ski down so as to understand the snow and the terrain. We will work our way up the mountain carefully, acclimatizing and accessing conditions and options each step of the way. We will adhere to the alpinist adage, “climb high, sleep low” and we will hope that the weather and conditions cooperate.
Good luck to Kim and the rest of the team!
For more on Kim Havell visit her website.
You can also track Kim’s adventure on Outside TV and at www.fashisha.blogspot.com
We are very excited about the upcoming trip to Tibet for Suunto althlete Kim Havell. Kim is an experienced mountaineer and alpine skier based out of Telluride, CO. Armed with her trusty Suunto Lumi altimeter, barometer compass, she along with nine others will be attempting to climb the North face of Shishapangma followed by an attempt of the First Decent of the Swiss/Polish route. More information from the statement by Kim's team:
As the 14th highest mountain in the world, Shishapangma soars above the grassy plains of far Eastern Tibet, within the Chinese territory. Our ultimate objective, the Swiss- Polish route, has been sought out once before as a ski descent by a highly accomplished team sponsored by The North Face in 1999. This was an expedition that resulted in the tragic death of two of its members- Alex Lowe and David Bridges when an avalanche ripped down the 2,200 meter couloir. Since that time, no skier or snowboader has attempted to descend the intimidating South face of Shishapangma.
Though Shishapangma has been dubbed as one of the “easy” 8,000 meter peaks, along with Cho-Oyu and Gasherbrum II, there is nothing easy about climbing and skiing any mountain 8000 meters above sea level. Since Shishapangma’s first ascent by a Chinese team in 1964, twenty two people have perished on its slopes. Further statistics show, the numbers of mountaineers that are turned away each year from a successful summit bid are staggering. As both climbers and skiers, our group will deal with continuous obstacles in the form of altitude, weather, possible sickness, teamwork, decision making, transporting the many extra loads and coordinating logistics in order to get the entire team, and our ski gear, to the top of this mountain..twice!
Our team is unique in its strength as individuals. Each member of this team has spent years guiding, climbing and training. It has been a journey of learning about the beauty, the perils, and the soul behind the heights and challenges that call our names. As each of our resumes reflect, we are all mountaineers who have a deep passion for skiing and climbing, a passion that has taken us around the world to confront and accomplish or goals. Together as a team we are comprised of males and female, skiers and snowboarder, photographer, writers and videographers, guides, instructors, and SAR volunteers. We in our deepest essence exist for the rare opportunity for the true pursuit of the unknown as we test ourselves within untouched realms of possibility.
In our objective, we have chosen to acclimatize during a climb and ski of the normal“Northern” route, enabling us to assess conditions, track weather patterns and prepare forthe goal; To make an alpine style ascent of the Swiss/Polish couloir route on Shishapangma’s Southwest face followed by a first descent of the same route. Thistechnically demanding descent on a 50-degree slope, following one of the most aestheticlines imaginable. The Swiss/Polish route, in the words of the great Alex Lowe “is the most aesthetic line of any 8,000 meter peak”
With a rare combination of skill in climbing and skiing, rescue training and guiding, medical and rigging training, all within the nature of our professional make-up, we will present insight and personal perspective into the critical elements behind this exhilarating and dangerous journey. This ambitious mountain endeavor will reveal a story or our backgrounds, relationships, and cultural interactions. This story of personal exploration and world’s first will take our readers down the long road we shall have traveled to be the first to ski/snowboard this most alluring ski line at the extreme heights of our planet.
You can follow Kim as she makes her way to Tibet on her website here. She will also be contributing to the Outside Television and Elevation Outdoors blogs.
“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.
An amazing pro skier, mountaineer, global adventurer and good friend of Suunto, Kim Havell, recently returned from a whirlwind trip of skiing in Morocco and we couldn't be more excited to see her photos and hear about the trip. Here are some of the snapshots from Kristoffer Erickson, expedition photographer and trip leader. Check out the great shots of Kim's Suunto Lumi altimeter, barometer, compass wristop computer that helped her log her vertical feet and gauge weather trends on the adventure. Photos courtesy www.kristoffererickson.com.
enchanting adventure that involved many unknowns but that resulted in great success in all our climbing and skiing endeavors. Highlights from the journey included a ski descent from the 2nd highest peak in Northern Africa at over 4,000m, Jbel M’Goun, as well as five additional summit ski descents and some reconnaissance missions. Along the way we skied some new routes/first descents, which added to the pioneering sensation of our travels.
our trip leader.