Mount Everest: An Exhilarating Adventure (part 2)

Their findings were remarkable. Even at their base camp, the very low level of oxygen was noted to have a direct effect particularly on the saturation levels of blood oxygen. The usual percentage at sea level is 98% up to 99%, however at the base camp; the percentage fell to about 85% up to 87%. Even the blood samples that were taken from the summit area featured the oxygen's super low levels. With this phenomenon, the breathing rate vastly increased from approximately 20 up to 30 bpm or breathes per minute. Thus, it can even go as fast as 80 up to 90 bpm or breathes per minute. Climbers experienced exhaustion by merely catching their breadth. As a conclusion, exhaustion, lack of oxygen, extreme cold as well as the actual danger of climbing Mount Everest are factors that can contribute to the Mountain's death toll.

Reports of climbers dying in Mount Everest are usually left behind. According to record, approximately 150 bodies were never recovered. In fact, when you climb the mountain, corpses are very much visible even from the standard routes.

Another discovery about Mount Everest is that amidst its very high area, lightning does not plague it. Even the Lightning Detection System of NASA was not able to get any record of lightning episodes in the Tibetan mountains that range from 7,000 feet or 2000 meters and above, only along the fascinating Tibet plateau.

Moreover, in the expeditions to Mount Everest, climbers use oxygen tanks and masks when they are above 26,246 feet or 8,000 meters. Although Mount Everest can actually be climbed even without bringing supplementary oxygen, it still increases potential risks on the climber. This is justifiable because any person that experience low oxygen levels cannot think clearly. Plus, the low temperature, severe weather and very steep slope of Mount Everest necessitate accurate and quick decision making prowess.

This is why using bottled oxygen while ascending Mount Everest has become controversial. However, many attest to using this. Even the famous George Mallory was quoted as saying that using it is "unsportsmanlike". He later took this back when he realized it was very difficult to climb the summit without having one. He consequently used one during his climb. This was also very helpful during the initial successful summit of Hillary and Tenzing in 1953. After this, bottled oxygen has become a standard necessity for successful climbs to Mount Everest. The only dilemma, according to Jon Krauker's book called Into Thin Air, is that with the publicity of using bottled oxygen in Mount Everest, unqualified climbers are also trying and attempting to actually summit the mountain. For Krauker, this can lead to more dangerous situations and even deaths.

Thus, last May 11th of the year 1996, such disaster occurred when 33 climbers attempted to ascend Mount Everest and leaving bottlenecks at Hillary Step. This delayed several other climbers, being unable to go with the 2:00 PM turnaround time. This caused the proposal of banning the usage of bottled oxygen while climbing Mount Everest and should only use it for severe emergency cases. This would both decrease the growth of pollution in Mount Everest and this will keep off unqualified climbers from attempting to ascend the mountain. Aside from this, the 1996 disaster brought about the issue of having a guide use bottled oxygen as well. This is because many guides of Mount Everest do not use bottled oxygen. They regard it as a "false sense of security". The debate on this is about the inability of the guides to help their clients descend without the use of bottled oxygen.

Lastly, another issue in climbing Mount Everest is the reports about life-threatening thefts to climbers. The thefts were from the climbers supply caches. An example is an incident from the party of a certain David Sharp, where in the 1st Brazilian climber, Vitor Negrete died while descending Mount Everest. Speculations reveal that stolen supplies from his "high-altitude camp" contributed to this fatality.

Thus, Mount Everest is a very spectacular mountain. For climbers, it is an ultimate goal to actually ascend and descend it. For the rest of the world, it is a remarkable masterpiece of nature that should be nurtured and cared for.

About the Author

For more information on Mount Everest please visit our website.

(ArticlesBase SC #468596)

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Shanny Fournier
President
Tel:418.849.0101
Cel:418.803.6682
Ultimatum Media inc.

7 Ways to Not Get Burned Out on Rock Climbing

By: Ryan Coisson

Do you find yourself getting burned out on rock climbing? Year after year I see all kinds of people join our climbing community and become completely addicted to rock climbing. It doesnt take long though for a lot of these climbers to get burned out.

It is kinda strange they become so psyched and all of a sudden you stop seeing them around the gym and at the crag.

Well have much contemplation and application I have finally figured out how to stay totally psyched on climbing without ever getting burned out.

First what is it that burns rock climbers out?

The two biggest reasons that climbers get burned out are a lack of variety in their climbing and the fact that they never take a break from rock climbing.

So now that we understand that let me give you the 7 ways to not get burned out on rock climbing.

1. Climb with rock climbers that are motivating you and that you have fun with. It is essential that those you climb with motivate you and make climbing fun for you. Nothing is worse than climbing with someone that is constantly complaining and killing your psyche. I also find that I like to climb with people that like to joke around a lot. It makes it a lot more fun for me.

2. Get out of the darn gym. I know gym is great you have the project in there but a lot of people become burned out because they are gym rats. Get your butt out of the gym, get out in nature and climb outside. I do not care how far from the crag you are I used to have to drive 6+ hours one way to go climbing outside. Trust me just do it.

3. Take a road trip. Getting out to new areas can not only be motivating but a great time to meet new climbers from all over. One of the best things about road trips is the experience. When I lived in Florida road trips are what kept me sane as a climber. Oh and by the way you do not need to go to a different area every time but I recommend mixing it up.

4. Try different styles of climbing. A lot of the climbers that I see who are not psyched on climbing anymore were just boulderers or sport climbers. Mix up the styles of climbing try trad climbing, go bouldering, or go clip some bolts on a few sport routes. Whatever you do mix things up that way when you are not to psyched on bouldering you can just go trad climbing. Or if you need a change from trad climbing go sport climbing. I promise this will help a ton and that is why I do everything from bouldering, trad, sport, soloing, rope jumping and even buildering. It always gives me something to stay psyched on.

5. Take a break from climbing. I honestly think it is a really good idea to take at least 2-4 weeks of from climbing every year. Just take a break and do something else. This gives you a chance to refresh your mind and rejuvenate your body. I like to keep my body in shape by still working out 3 days a week and running 2-3 days a week as well, but stop climbing.

6. Keep yourself motivated by setting goals for yourself. Find routes or boulder problems that inspire you and that you want to climb. Make sure the line and the movement inspires you as you will most likely be on it a lot and if you are not inspired you will not enjoy yourself. Having these goals give you great motivation and an awesome sense of accomplishment that can’t be put in words.

7. Finally just have fun with your rock climbing. Rock climbing is meant to be fun dont be all serious about it. Remember why you climb and stay with that.
So the next time you start to feel like you’re getting burned out on rock climbing put any of these 7 tips into practice and I promise you will get more motivated on climbing almost instantly.

About the Author

Ryan Coisson is the publisher of the Pull Harder Training Course, a free mini-course full of information for rock climbers of all skill levels. For your free subscription, drop by Rock Climbing For Life today.

(ArticlesBase SC #598282)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - 7 Ways to Not Get Burned Out on Rock Climbing

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Shanny Fournier
President
Tel:418.849.0101
Cel:418.803.6682
Ultimatum Media inc.

Mount Kilimanjaro hiking

By: James Muchina

MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMB

Any physically fit person can climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.. No climbing experience is necessary to get you to the top of Africa's highest mountain 5,895M (19,340FT) with its magnificent gleaming glaciers, Flora and Fauna.

Weather

Mt. Kilimanjaro can be climbed any time of the year but there are two rainy seasons - late March to mid June and November. The best months are December, January to March and July to October usually dry and minimum clouds.

8 DAYS MT. KILIMANJARO- MARANGU ROUTE

Day 1: Arrival - Arusha

Travel from Nairobi to Arusha on board a Shuttle bus or pickup from Kilimanjaro Airport – transfer to a hotel for an overnight stay

Day 2: Marangu Gate (1980m) - Mandara hut (2700m)

Hiking time: 5 hours | Distance: About 12 km's | Habitat: Montane forest



The drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate, takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Marangu, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you reach the park gate, all hikers are requested to sign in at the Park office and make their final preparations for the climb. Porters will be seen arranging and loading their packs, containing the food, water, cooking gas as well as most of your equipment. Make sure that you have all your daypack items (containing at least drinking water, your lunch pack and extra clothing) with you as the porters ascend a lot quicker than the hikers. Our guides will be available to assist with any additional information or needs you might have. You now leave the Park gate and ascend on a cleared ridge trail through the rain forest. The forest, suffused with mist and dripping with beards of moss, is also where most of Kilimanjaro's animals are found. (An alternative and more scenic parallel forest trail, branches off to the left a few minutes after the gate. This trail follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to rejoin the main trail either, after 1½ hours hiking, or 1 hour before Mandara hut.)

Your first night stop, Mandara hut, is a group of wooden A-framed huts in a forest clearing. Each hut features 6-8 sleeping bunks with solar generated lighting. The total capacity of the camp is 60 climbers. Water is piped into the camp from springs above and there are flush toilets behind the main hut.

Lightweight Hiking - an Example

By: Steve Gillman

Is lightweight hiking and backpacking viable in cold weather? I think so. Last Fall I was in four feet of snow at 13,000 feet - in my running shoes and with just 11 pounds on my back for an overnighter. Crazy? I don't think so. Anyhow, I have been going lightweight for too many years to want to go back to a heavy pack and hiking boots.

Heading For Crestone Peak

It was September 2006. I was in the Sangre De Christo Mountains in Colorado, hiking up the trail to South Colony Lakes. I just surprised a large buck, who snorted and ran off. I started to see more patches of snow as I went higher. I poked at the frozen puddles with my walking stick.

I had hoped to climb Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle earlier in the month, but was rained out. Then it snowed heavily in the high country on September 18. I started checking the online forums to see if anyone was still climbing these "fourteeners" (mountains higher than 14,000 feet). Someone did mentioned climbing Crestone through the snow - which I didn't want to do.

However, by the 28th there had been several warm days, so maybe the snow melted. It had where I parked the car. But by the time I hiked to South Colony Lakes a few hours later, I was almost knee-deep in it. Then, up above the lakes and beyond the last of the trees, the snow was even deeper.

My shoes and socks were soaked, but the sun and the climb kept me warm. I continued because it really looked like there was bare rock up near the peaks. Eventually I adjusted my goal to just getting to Broken-Hand Pass, where I could look down into the San Luis Valley. I made it to within 100 yards.

It was so steep and the snow so deep, that I slid back at least as far as I stepped each time. Then I slipped and needed to self-arrest with my walking stick to keep from sliding down a few hundred feet. It was clear that I was under-equipped for climbing any further.

Lightweight Backpacking

Hiking down was worse (it often is). I sunk into the snow and hit my shins against rocks hidden there. I walked on top of the snow crust at times, until I suddenly broke through - which I did when I stopped to look at some bobcat tracks. At least I didn't have much weight on my back.

I had 11 pounds, to be exact. The pack itself weighed a pound or so. My down sleeping bag weighed 17 ounces, and the tarp 16 ounces. I also had food and water and dry socks. Going lightweight meant I hardly even noticed the pack - even after 13 miles of hiking.

Back down near the lakes it was time to put my lightweight hiking and backpacking skills and equipment to the test. It would be about 24 degrees Fahrenheit that night.

I found a nice grassy area where the snow had melted away. The sun was still bright and warm, so I laid out my wet socks and shoes to dry on a large log while I ate mixed nuts, wrote some notes, and then took a nap. Several deer walked by an hour later. I woke up gripping my walking stick like a weapon.

Everything was dry, so I put on my shoes and got busy. It took about 20 minutes to collect dry grass and old thistle stalks to make a thick mattress. This was for comfort as well as for insulation to keep me warm. I set a piece of plastic over this, and strung the tarp overhead. Then I laid out the sleeping bag to fluff it up.

I collected some dry wood and tinder and laid a fire, just in case I needed it later (I never did). I covered this with a few pieces of bark to keep frost, snow or rain off of it. I ate some wild currants and rose hips. I saved my corn chips for a bedtime meal. The fat would heat me up as it digested. I used my walking stick to lift the bag with the rest of the food up to a high branch where it would hang for the night.

I put on my thermal underwear, hat and gloves. I used my shoes with the backpack on top of them for a pillow. The wind started blowing, so I lowered one side of the tarp before going to sleep.

The frost was heavy and the ice was thick on the puddles in the morning, but I had managed to sleep well. I packed up, scattered the mattress materials so they wouldn't smother the plants underneath, and I ate some crackers. The sun was just rising as I hit the trail.

I probably had just 9 pounds total on my back by now. That may seem very lightweight for backpacking, but I had everything I needed. I even had a camera with me. I stopped hiking long enough to take a photo of Crestone Needle in the morning sun. I'll be on top of it this summer.

About the Author

Copyright Steve Gillman. To get the ebook "Ultralight Backpacking Secrets (And Wilderness Survival Tips)" for FREE, as well as photos, gear recommendations, and a new wilderness survival section, visit: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

(ArticlesBase SC #156812)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Lightweight Hiking - an Example