To the top of Everest in 8 hours 10 minutes: New Ascent Record

[Apple Hobo]

Sadly, he died on a roped climb in Washington 2 years ago. I don't think I'd classify him as a "sissy" either.

I wouldn't call him one either. The two after my "sissy" statement = I'm joking.

 

[Mantat]

Free soloing isnt THAT scary if you climb a few notch below your maximum. I used to climb 5.11 and free soloed some very short route in the 5.8-5.9 range. It wasnt very high (about 20m max) but I had the time of my life. Not thinking about the freaking rope gting stuck, fixing pros, etc. Of course it is dangerous, but not much more than speed driving on the freeway IMHO and at least, I just put myself in danger and not innocents....

Of course, now that I have a serious girlfriend, I dont feel the need to impress girls anymore and would never dare to repeate these stunts ever...

 

[Mr. Anderson]

That was Goran Kropp, the Swedish soloist. I believe he biked from Stockholm actually. And he hauled all of his gear all the way. He didn't hit Cabela's at the Makalu exit and load up. Unreal. I'd like to get a hold of his book. I heard people were throwing rocks at him along the way (in some unsavory parts). Nonetheless, on his first attempt, he turned back 300 feet from the summit because he believed he wouldn't have the strength to get down alive. He supposedly received support from the IMAX crew in the form of a half stick of butter before he summitted.

Sadly, he died on a roped climb in Washington 2 years ago. I don't think I'd classify him as a "sissy" either.

That's just totally nuts! But his death in Washington just goes to show you that no matter how good you are, you can still pay the price.

D

 

[Inspector Lee]

I wouldn't call him one either. The two after my "sissy" statement = I'm joking.

Sorry I didn't catch those faces. Freestyling is unbelievable. The concentration required, on top of the endurance - I'm not sure there is anything out there that can compete.

Everybody has their own defintion of "harda$$." Some people feel alpine ascents (minimal people, supplies, time on mountain) are more impressive than big expeditions. However, I believe that big expeditions are more dangerous than quick jaunts because of the # of people going up and down plus the number of times one has to go up and down running supplies.

On Everest, the Khombu Icefall is a deathtrap. One never knows when the glacier will groan and shift - and then look out! If I ever went to Everest, I'd want to go through this twice - once up and once down.

 

[Inspector Lee]

Everest and Apple

Sticking with the Everest theme... Kropp climbed Everest in 1996 when a bunch of people got "got" on the mountain. In Krakauer's "Into Thin Air," he briefly mentions him and also talks about a South African anti-apartheid expedition which had as one of its sponsors Apple. Well, the SA expedition was pure publicity. There was an African-American member who was told she would be able to attempt but it turned out to be all BS. The leader was a real prick too. Nonetheless, it seemed like a black eye for Apple. This would have been late-Amelio era.

Anybody remember this?