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I saw Wielicki present during the Book Festival. And just now he launched the Banff Mountain Film Festival.
He’s old school. Tough. Thinks nothing of losing the odd finger or toe. Says you must learn to enjoy suffering to be a real climber. (That’s why I’m a hiker.)
The Polish climbers are the world’s best (most would […]

Remember the fantastic climber in IMAX Everest?
She’s here at the Banff Mountain Festival. Lively, engaging, beautiful.
It was a real treat to see her in the flesh.

Araceli Segarra - official website
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At the 2007 Banff Mountain Book Festival John Harlin III (the son) gave us the background for his new book, The Eiger Obsession: Facing the Mountain that Killed My Father.
It’s a moving story. John was very emotional while telling it.

In 1966, when John Harlin II set out to climb a new route straight up the […]

Note to self: In future, arrive 15min late for festivals to avoid the predictable, boring introductory speeches.
The opening act at the Banff 2007 Mountain Book Festival was quite entertaining, and refreshingly open-minded for an environmentalist. This is no Al Gore clone.

David de Rothschild
Adventure Ecology

Britain’s David de Rothschild has traversed Antarctica, has set a […]

Michelle is everywhere these days. Look for a cover article on New Zealand Wilderness magazine.
Promoting her new book (which will certainly be a huge success) has Michelle on the book tour, both virtual and in the real world.
She was even interviewed by The Outdoor Station: listen to the audiocast.
Sex in a Tent: […]

I tried. I tried.
On White Mountain I tried to persuade wheelchair hiker climber 4WheelBob to buy a kayak.
KayakBob … I like the sound of that.
Yet Bob’s persisting in his dream of ascending the highest mountain in Africa. Bob was quoted on Marion’s blog:

“I’m not a real publicity hound by nature, so my […]

Chuck Bonner — of Hiking with Chuck — sent us recommendations for some “best hikes and hiking areas” out of New Hampshire:
Mine Falls Park in Nashua, New Hampshire
Suwannee Canal Recreation Area in Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Ripley Falls in New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch State Park
Saco Lake Trail in New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch State Park
Elephant Head […]

Previously I Iinked to photos by Tom Mangan and myself from the historic ascent by 4WheelBob Coomber to the summit of 14,246ft (4342m) White Mountain in California by wheelchair.
This was the culmination of a 5-year dream of Bob’s, his third attempt.
But photos cannot convey the difficulty of this feat. You need to see […]

Andrew (Drew) Shelley contacted Tom Mangan after hearing about the successful ascent of 14,246ft (4342m) White Mountain by 4WheelBob Coomber in a standard wheelchair.
Drew has Muscular Dystrophy and also locomotes by chair. But Drew’s is a high tech motorized off-road machine — much different than Bob’s.
Instead of “hiking”, Drew goes off-roading on hiking trails. […]

The historic ascent by normal wheelchair to the summit of 14,246ft (4342m) White Mountain is old news now.
4WheelBob Coomber made the front page of the San Jose Mercury News.

Mercury News
No doubt, the editors of Backpacker Magazine are kicking themselves they did not send someone to cover his third successful attempt. They had sent a […]