I have begun to watch a new series on the Discovery Channel called Expedition on Everest. It is about a team of climbers who are attempting to summit Everest for the 1st time under the leadership of the famous guide Russel Brice. The level of training required is incredible: the Dutch climber trained by hiking 10 miles a day with a 150 pound pack.
The most awe inspiring part of the show is watching the team's Sherpas climb up and down to the team's camps up the mountain (Camp 4 is at 27,500 feet!).
They do it without oxygen and with what appears to be relative ease, at least compared to the struggles most of the climbers are having. The Sherpa's bodies are built for climbing and they are the ones to make every Everest Expedition possible. Check out this <a href="http://www.mounteverest.net/story/ApaSherpas15summits-ataleofskillandsurvivalMay312005.shtml">article</a> on MountEverest.net about Apa Sherpa, the Sherpa who holds the world record of summiting Everest 15 times! </p>
<p>I have also attached below an awe inspiring video of an Everest Summit. I would never put my life on the line to climb that mountain. I have a great admiration for the folks who would - I am willing to bet many of those folks who have summited have used that same laissez faire attitude toward risk to accomplish some amazing things in life.</p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dlITgWcJMSM" width="425" height="350" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></p>
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