Dianne Whelan is making a film about her solo adventures on the non-motorized Great Trail (the Trans Canada Trail).
From pushing 150-pounds of bike and packs over rocks, to hiking through flooded bogs, paddling the largest lake in the world, snowshoeing through dense coniferous forests, skiing across wind-blown plains, the trail beckons.
Dianne travels the ‘Old Way’, the slow way of the turtle,seeking wisdom from those that live close to the land, asking the questions “what have we forgotten?”
… Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja and his team as they attempt to climb all 14 eight thousander peaks within a record time of under 7 months. (The previous record was over 7 years.) …
Purja was supported by a rotating team of Nepalese climbers, several of whom are introduced in the film, including Mingma David Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, and Gesman Tamang, however, only Purja would complete the summit of all 14 eight-thousanders …
K2
I liked the film much more than expected.
The video editors did a terrific job putting together something so good from mostly bad GoPro footage.
He’s super talented, of course. Yet irreverent, profane, and funny. A great leader in the face of life and death.
Nims reminds me of a young Mohamad Ali. So confident. So cocky. 😀
Mountaineers might be even more impressed with his later winter summit of K2.
His team consisting of Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Temba Sherpa and himself, joined by the team of Mingma Gyalje Sherpa (Mingma G), Dawa Tenjin Sherpa and Kilu Pemba Sherpa, and Sona Sherpa from Seven Summits Treks.
Nims was the only one to summit without the use of supplemental oxygen.
This time daughter Delaney Adlard joined in the adventure.
In fact, Dave and Lisa were celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary.
We had great weather … on the way up. That’s Mount Hood in the distance.
Dave explained that one difference between hiking and mountaineering is using crampons and/or ice axe.
We set up our tents at the Lunch Counter, a relatively flat portion of Suksdorf Ridge.
Siesta until 3pm. Then we set off towards “Pikers Peak”, the visible false summit that looks close.
It gets steeper.
I loved the clear vistas.
Unfortunately, due to low snow fall and MANY hot days in 2021, Dave had never seen worse snow conditions. We were slow.
In fact, we didn’t quite make the false summit, turning around in time to make it back to camp in daylight.
That night it got very WINDY. None of our 3 tents broke, but we collectively got very little sleep.
Next morning dawned clear again. It was fast and easy downhill on both scree and morning cold ice.
This was Delaney’s personal elevation record.
NEXT TIME we’ll do the middle-of-the-night start with harder snow and ice for the crampons.
Overall, an EXCELLENT adventure. A lot of fun.
Not making the summit was no big deal.
Pro tip — Society Hotel and Hostel in Bingen, Washington — en route to Adams and Hood — is my favourite hostel in the USA, so far. Very cool, you get a complimentary spa and hot springs visit with each stay. That costs $25 by itself.
besthike.com 