Chad Kellogg Everest 2013

Chad Kellogg is returning to Everest this spring, intent on setting the speed record from base camp to the summit and back. As he did in earlier seasons, he’ll be climbing solo and without oxygen. With two previous attempts and over six years of training, Chad is better prepared than ever to achieve his goal. The Summit Register will offer exclusive content about Chad’s attempt, including a video series, informational articles and regular updates from Base Camp. You can even follow Chad’s progress in real time on our Everest map. Join us in wishing Chad speed and safety on the mountain!

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“Tempting Fear” – a ski film featuring Andreas Fransson

 What does it mean to live life on the edge? Ski mountaineer Andreas Fransson shares his thoughts on the subject in his new film “Tempting Fear” “Only by defying society’s expectations can you find the true uncertainty that defines adventure.” Fransson examines his perspective on the risk, euphoria and philosophy surrounding his approach to high level ski mountaineerning pursuits, describing what it’s like to take risks when death lies just one misstep away.

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Outdoor Cooking with Tim & Christine Conners

“Lipsmackin Backpackin’” is an essential item for your packing list that outdoor enthusiasts Tim and Christine Conners have authored, along with six other outdoor cooking books.  These two are not only familiar with all things food, when not writing you will most likely find them camping, backpacking the Appalachian Trail and kayaking! Title’s that might come in handy while on your next adventure: Lipsmackin’ Backpackin Lipsmackin’ Vegetarian Backpackin The Scout’s Outdoor Cookbook The Scout’s Dutch Oven Cookbook The Scout’s Backpacking Cookbook The Scout’s Large Group Cookbook Expect a new series to be released this year for 2013 and visit Tim and Christine’s website to get one of these essentials for your outdoor equipment packing list!  

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Climb for a Cause profile: Summit for Someone

Mountaineering can be a selfish endeavor but there are programs out there that help combine one’s love for the summit with aiding a noble cause. Big City Mountaineer’s program, ‘Summit for Someone’ aims to improve the lives of under-served urban youth.  Funds that are raised through SFS climbs allow Big City Mountaineers’ to lead transformational wilderness mentoring expeditions to thousands of urban youth across the country in need of “positive adult guidance in challenging and restorative environments.”

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First Winter Ascent of Broad Peak

On March 5, Polish climbers Artur Malek, Adam Bielecki, Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski reached the summit of Broad Peak (8047m) laying claim to the first winter ascent of the mountain. Tragically, two teammates did not return. Tomasz Kowalski and Maciej Berbeka separated from their teammates, on the decent and spent the night at or near the high saddle at 7,900 meters. Bielecki and Malek returned to Camp IV, staying the night before continuing their final descent. Bielecki reached Base Camp at 9:30 p.m. on March 6, followed by Malek. What happened to Kowalski and Berbeka? In a statement on polishwinterhimalaism.pl, reports that Kowalski was having trouble breathing and felt fatigued. He later fell and broke one of his crampons and was having a problem fixing it. Expedition leader Krzysztof Wielicki called off the rescue effort on March 8th: Considering all…

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My MSR Backpacking Stove Belongs in My Estate Planning

I bought my first MSR stove in 1993, soon after I started backpacking. A buddy and I just returned from a trip in the Southern Sierra where his stove exploded while we cooked dinner. I can’t say that we escaped unfazed. But, thankfully, we were unharmed. My friend’s stove was a cranky, burner-over-tank model from a well-known camping gear manufacturer. I was in the market for a stove at the time, and didn’t know what to buy. But our experience on that trip certainly narrowed the brand choices! Christine and I had yet to marry, but I already knew her to be a trustworthy source of gear information. Her backpacking debut preceded mine by several years, and she had already checked off some impressively long expeditions. She owned a Whisperlite…

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Dean Potter “Moon Walk”

This is great. Talk about getting your ducks in a row and executing an intricate plan. A wonderful job directing by Mikey Schaefer with “Moon Walk” and an impressive display of slackline prowess by Dean Potter. This is just one part of a bigger project for National Geographic called The Man Who Can Fly. Moonwalk from Reel Water Productions.

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Remembering Bill Forrest

This week, the climbing community and MSR lost a dear friend. Bill Forrest, the Colorado climbing legend and prolific inventor, died of natural causes snowshoeing on Monarch Pass, near his home in Salida, Colorado. Our thoughts and hearts are with Rosa, his beloved wife, who was snowshoeing with him at his side when he passed.

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Fred Beckey honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at 2013 Winter Outdoor Retailer

Fred Beckey is one of the foremost pioneers of the Northwest climbing scene. He is an explorer and adventurer who made the North Cascades his playground. Here is a must see video about the man his climbing companions know simply as “Beckey.” Fred recently won the Adidas Lifetime Achievement Award at the Winter Outdoor Retailer show. Take a look:

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