Hiking Lady

If you’ve read my blog for awhile, then you probably are already familiar with the most famous American mountaineer, Ed Viesturs. Ed has climbed all 14 of the world’s highest peaks, and what is even more amazing is that he did so without supplemental oxygen!

Himalayan Quest was published in 2003, and is a compilation of photos from many of his death defying adventures. This self-proclaimed “incidental photographer” is a humble man: the pictures in this book are breathtaking!

Did this book get a 5 Star Ranking from the Hiking Lady? Read my full review of Himalayan Quest to find out.

I just finished reading the online version of this weekend’s New York Times travel section, and what did I see, but another fantastic article about K2. Many think that Everest is the most dangerous mountain in the world, and after reading Ed Viesturs’ book K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain, I sure learned how intimidating and deadly K2 really is.

I highly recommend you read the New York Times article. Why? Because it is a great reminder how alpine hiking is dangerous, and we all need to be aware of the challenges associated with climbing at altitude. The article captures the struggles of just getting to Base Camp! After hiking to the peak of Mt. Whitney last year, I have set my sights on some other challenging peaks. Not K2 or Everest, but the respective Base Camps seem reasonable (with extreme caution!)

The author of the article, Graham Bowley, traveled to K2 last June with his cousin. Their goal – to reach Base Camp and learn more for Bowley’s upcoming book called “No Way Down”. But despite their experience and research on the place, the author and his cousin still had to be helicoptered out because of altitude sickness.

Ed Viesturs does a good job in his book relaying the challenges and struggles of achieving the peak (and returning alive), but this article puts it all in perspective for someone like me whose big aspiration would be to go to Base Camp, not the top. Even then there are risks we all need to be aware of, and this article is a great reminder.

The NY Times article on K2 (plus slideshow).

If you have a fascination with adventure, and love to read stories about climbing Kilimanjaro (without a permit!), summiting K2, and exploring the Andes, then you’ll enjoy this book.

Check out my review of Risking Adventure: Mountaineering Journeys Around the World. Do you agree?

Renowned American mountaineer Ed Viesturs has just come out with a new book, called K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain.

Until I watched the IMAX movie Everest, I had never heard of Ed Viesturs. But since then I’ve read his book Himalayan Quest, have heard about him in David Breashears book High Exposure, tweeted with him on Twitter, and now read his latest book!

He is not just an amazing mountaineer, but apparently Ed is a nice guy in person too. I haven’t met him yet, but a friend who has told me he’s humble and down to earth. That’s quite impressive for a guy who is the only American to have climbed all 14 of the world’s highest peaks, and done so without supplemental oxygen!

His book K2 is worth reading. Check out my review of K2: Life & Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain here and let me know how you like the book.

Oh Eun Sun, picture from Korean Times

“By conquering the 14 world’s tops, I would like to give hope to Korean people suffering from the slumping economy.” – Oh Eun Sun, 2009

A 43-year old South Korean, Oh Eun Sun, reached the summit of her 13th 8,000-meter peak, and is headed to Nepal this fall to attempt to climb Annapurna, the last one on her list!

Very few men have achieved this accomplishment, and Ed Viesturs is the only American to have done so. To boot, he made all of his climbs without supplemental oxygen. Oh Eun Sun would be the first woman to complete this amazing feat! Let’s wish her luck!

Check out this really great interview and learn more about Oh Eun Sun!

For those of you unfamiliar with the 14 8,000-meter peaks, these are the highest points in the world, with Everest being the highest. All are above 8,000 meters, or 26,200 feet. as a basis of comparison, the highest mountain in the continental U.S. is Mt. Whitney in California, which is a “mere” 4,421 meters, or 14,505 feet.

All 14 of the world’s 8,000 meter peaks: