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That Untravelled World – Book Review

For my book review I chose to read That Untravelled World by Eric Shipton. Although it is an autobiography written by Shipton, the book starts out with a lengthy seven page foreword written by Katie Ives, providing the reader with a descriptive background of Shipton and his past. The foreword is a great beginning that…

The Summit – Film Review

The Summit – Film Review [Released 2012] The Summit is a hybrid documentary that examines the events leading up to, and surrounding, the deadliest day in history on K2. In August 2008, the savage mountain claimed the lives of eleven people. Director and filmmaker Nick Ryan, pieces together the events by including real footage, interviews, and…

Vanity, Pollution and Death on Mt. Everest

Vanity, Pollution and Death on Mt. Everest I chose to post this article, as it addresses lots of the issues that we have been dealing with this semester, as well as it raises other points that we have not discussed thus far. Vanity, Pollution, and Death on Mt. Everest, written by Pablo Figueroa, is an…

The post-colonialism affect on Everest

In the article, Climbing Mount Everest: Post-colonialism in the Culture of Ascent, author Stephen Slemon explores the use of mountaineering literature, particularly in the past, as a colonial allegory. Although quite dry and mundane at times, the article picked up speed throughout the middle and sparked my interest while explaining the effects that commercialization has…

True Summit: What REALLY Happened

The entire time I was reading this book, all I kept thinking was…mic drop. In True Summit, David Roberts reveals the truth of what really happened when Maurice Herzog summited Annapurna on June 3, 1950. Robert’s does a great job starting off the book by re-introducing the summit events the way it was told by…

Rethinking the Sahib-Sherpa Relationship

I thoroughly enjoyed Sherry Ortner’s book, Life and Death on Mt Everest. It was different from the recent books that we’ve been reading that included more of a climbing focus, in that it took us much more in depth about the relationships between the Sahib (“boss”: climbers) and the Sherpas. Ortner delivered it in a…

Neat GoPro Footage of Himalayan Climb

One more link from Red Bull. Awesome 60 second GoPro point of view footage from a climber attempting to climb Lunag Ri (on the border between Nepal and Tibet). Worth the watch! Incredible view! http://www.redbull.com/en/adventure/stories/1331778297605/60-seconds-to-make-you-feel-on-top-of-the-world

Red Bull Link: Sasha DiGiulian First Woman to Ascend Eiger Route

Heres a link from the Red Bull website, for anyone whose interested in the gender issues surrounding mountaineering. A 22 yr old female just attempted to climb the North Face of the Eiger. She’s the first female to ascend this particular route on the North Face, and describes why it is so important. Enjoy! http://www.redbull.com/us/en/adventure/stories/1331746365694/sasha-digiulian-climbs-eiger-interview?wtk=us000028&linkId=22051896

Shit Happened on Everest & K2: For Different Reasons

I really enjoyed both these readings this week. Until K2: The Savage Mountain, I had never heard of the incredible, and tragic, story of the1953 American expedition. This story was one tale of bad luck after another, yet at the same time, a story of incredible heroism and friendship. Charles Houston and Robert Bates did…