27. February 2008 by Tridad.

Mount Everest is the world’s tallest peak at 29,035 feet.

It’s the ultimate challenge – braving an atmosphere with very little oxygen to climb to the top of the world.Mount Everest is the world’s tallest (29,035ft) and one of the most dangerous peaks to climb. Despite this, between 1922 and 2006, Everest has been climbed by almost 3,000 people from twenty countries, more than 200 of which have died, the odds being one-in-six of not making it down alive.If you want to try and climb the mountain on a budget it can cost around $US25,000, while guided package trips soar to as much as $US60,000. A permit to climb the mountain costs $US10,000 and along with travel, food, equipment, oxygen and Sherpa fees (a member of the Himalayan people living in Nepal and Tibet who are famous for their skill as mountaineers), and insurance is a must.

May is the best month to attempt to climb Everest as the peak is battered by 100 mph windstorms during the rest of the year. The extreme weather conditions and lack of oxygen at altitude mean that what may start out as the climb of a lifetime can cost climbers their lives.

David Stirling from Lloyd’s broker Crispin Spears says that only a specialist insurer like Lloyd’s would consider covering an Everest expedition.

“Assaults of Mount Everest are far more routine than in the days of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing,” he said. “Yet however well prepared climbers are, the risks are still significant.

“The type of cover needed for an expedition to Everest would include Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Permanent Total Disablement through to Life cover.

Coverage can also be accompanied with Emergency Medical, and Evacuation and Repatriation expenses in assisting to get you down the mountain into the care of a hospital and returned home.

“Naturally these mammoth personal achievements come with different degrees of risks. Underwriters look for details of the climbers’ experience, their health, as well as personal details like age. Bespoke coverage, benefits, terms and conditions are set per case.”

“The reality is that standard off the shelf products cater for the masses and more unique risks need that little bit of extra care and attention coupled with a willingness of underwriters to accept more hazardous risks. That is exactly where Lloyd’s comes into its own,” adds Stirling.

-from Lloyd’s of London

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16. February 2008 by Tridad.

by Tammy Webber

Self-made business tycoon Steve Fossett, whose thirst for adrenaline drove him to fly around the world solo in a balloon, climb mountains and aim for speed records, has been declared dead, 5 months after his small plane vanished. He was 63.Fossett, who in 2002 became the first person to circle the world solo in a balloon, was known for his methodical pursuit of pushing endurance envelopes, including swimming the English Channel, completing the Ironman Triathlon and competing in the Iditarod dog sled race.

“Steve’s lived his life to the full, and he hasn’t wasted a minute of his life,” his rival-turned-comrade, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, said after Fossett’s single-engine plane disappeared on Sept. 3. “Everything he’s done, he’s taken a calculated risk with.”

Fossett was last seen after taking off in a single-engine plane from an airstrip near Yerington, Nev., heading toward Bishop, Calif.

Dozens of planes and helicopters spent more than a month searching 20,000 square miles of the rugged western Nevada mountains for any trace of Fossett or his plane. The search was suspended as winter approached.

Cook County Judge Jeffrey Malak’s declaration Friday at the request of Fossett’s wife, Peggy V. Fossett, ended the legal limbo of his estate, said her attorney, Michael LoVallo. The judge heard testimony from Peggy Fossett, a family friend and a search-and-rescue expert before deciding there was sufficient evidence to declare him dead.

“It was very sad,” LoVallo said, “and at first she hoped and sort of envisioned him walking down the road the next day with another story to tell. But as the days went on, she realized it wasn’t going to happen as it had on other occasions when he’d had close calls.”

While flight records brought him his greatest fame, Fossett also climbed some of the world’s best-known peaks, including the Matterhorn in Switzerland and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

He was on a pleasure flight when he vanished and not looking for a dry lake bed to use as a surface on which to set the world land speed record, as was initially reported, according to his wife’s petition.

According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, about 15 to 20 private planes have vanished in the area since 1950. In 2005, wreckage was found in Kings Canyon National Park from a plane that went down during World War II.

LoVallo said his client would like to recover the remains “and really find out what happened.” Plans are to resume a recovery search in the spring.

A Stanford University graduate with a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Fossett went to Chicago to work in investments and founded his own firm, Marathon Securities. The fortune he amassed allowed him to take his childhood fascination with exploration to extremes.

In 2004, Fossett and his crew broke the round-the-world sailing record by six days. He even set world records for cross-country skis, according to his Web site.

But he was best known for his aerial exploits, first in ballooning, more recently in airplanes.

Beginning in the 1980s, teams led by Fossett, Branson and others used steadily improving technology to try to best each other and their predecessors in a series of ever-longer balloon flights. In January 1997 alone, there were three failed attempts, including a solo attempt by Fossett and a try by a crew led by Branson, the flashy founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways.

In 2002, after years of trying, Fossett became the first person to fly nonstop around the world alone in a balloon, setting the record on his sixth attempt. It took him two weeks to float 19,428.6 miles around the Southern Hemisphere.

Three years later, in March 2005, he was first to fly a plane solo around the world without stopping or refueling, covering 23,000 miles in 67 hours in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer jet.

Solo flights represent the ultimate challenge, he told The Associated Press when the GlobalFlyer was introduced in 2004.

“They become more of an endurance endeavor, and become focused on the ability and the performance of a single person,” he said.

Fossett made nearly as many headlines for his narrow escapes as he did for his successes. In 1998, during one of his solo around-the-world attempts, his balloon ripped during a storm, sending him plunging 29,000 feet into the Coral Sea. Falling at about 2,500 feet per minute, Fossett blacked out.

He said his next memory was “waking up with the capsule upside down, half full of water and on fire.”

He was fished out by the crew of a schooner and was still on the ship when Branson called to invite him on another round-the-world attempt later that year, this time as part of a team. It ended in another dramatic rescue.

Branson, Fossett and Swedish balloonist Per Lindstrand made it more than halfway before poor wind conditions forced them to ditch in the shark-infested waters off Honolulu on Christmas Day 1998. The Coast Guard spent about $130,000 sending planes, helicopters and a boat to rescue the trio.

Fossett pressed on because of his thirst for accomplishments, and for all his close calls, those who knew him well said he wasn’t reckless. Fossett once said the most dangerous thing he ever did was fall off his bicycle in Chicago without a helmet on.

“I’m doing these things for personal accomplishment, not the thrills,” he told Stanford’s alumni magazine in 1997, after his second around-the-world balloon attempt ended in India. “I don’t do these things because I have a death wish.”

Born in Jackson, Tenn., in 1944, Fossett grew up in Garden Grove, Calif., and climbed his first mountain as a 12-year-old Boy Scout and got his pilot’s license in college.

On a fraternity dare in 1965, his senior year at Stanford, he swam to Alcatraz and tried to hang a “Beat Cal” banner on the wall of the island prison, which had closed two years earlier.

“I got it up there, briefly,” he told the alumni magazine. “Then a security guard pushed me offshore. Luckily, my frat brothers were following behind me in a fishing boat with a keg of beer.”

Fossett was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in July.

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11. February 2008 by Tridad.

by Erik Monasterio

People drawn to high-risk adventure sports can blame inherited personality traits – and may have cause to be grateful that the same instincts don’t draw them into more anti-social pursuits.

Adventure sports such as mountaineering, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking and base jumping are increasingly popular.

These risk-taking sports court significant dangers and attract individuals who are prepared to gamble their personal safety, and at times their life, in search of a rush of excitement or an unusual accomplishment.

Paradoxically these sports have increased in popularity at a time when modern societies have become obsessed with risk-avoidance and risk- management.

Could it be that the bombardment of ACC warning signs highlighting the risks of everything from falling off a curb to wandering cattle, the current culture of blame, hand rails, safety bars and compulsory helmet use have contributed to this trend?

There is growing evidence to suggest that the propensity to take risks is strongly determined by the chemistry of the brain – “hard-wired”.

Risk-taking genes and exploratory behaviours are likely to have conferred specific advantages in the early (hunter and gatherer) stages of human evolution, and therefore may have become more common through natural selection.

Despite the changed social environments these primitive instincts continue to exert a strong influence, and the modern civilisations that pride themselves on risk-avoidance and predictability may indeed be the recruiting ground of adventure sports people.

Risk- taking or “extreme” sports may well provide socially sanctioned opportunities for the expression of risk-taking instincts.

As a mountaineer and psychiatrist, I have been involved in a number of studies to try to determine whether people who take up adventure sports have unique personalities, and whether biological and genetic factors contribute to their choice of leisure activity.

Also, as New Zealand currently promotes itself as an adventure destination, where “extreme” sports and activities are popular and traded commercially, it is important to determine just how dangerous these sports are.

In a New Zealand-based study of experienced and committed mountaineers, I found that almost half of them had suffered at least one climbing related injury.

Two-thirds of those injured were hospitalised and 20 per cent required more than three months to recover, or were left with long-term health problems. Four years after starting the study there was a 10 per cent death rate (five deaths) – four due to climbing accidents.

Other studies of mountaineers have found similar results. For example, Murray Malcolm from the University of Otago found that the death rate from climbing in the Mount Cook National Park was 5000 times greater than from work-related injuries.

The death rates from climbing on the highest peaks in the park were similar to those of climbers to peaks over 7000m, approximately 4 per cent.

I also found that the personality of climbers was quite different to that of average people. Climbers scored higher in the areas of novelty-seeking and self- directedness and lower on harm-avoidance.

What this suggests is that climbers generally enjoy exploring unfamiliar places and situations. They are easily bored, try to avoid monotony and so tend to be quick- tempered, excitable and impulsive.

They enjoy new experiences and seek out thrills and adventures, even if other people think that they are a waste of time.

When confronted with uncertainty and risk, climbers tend to be confident and relaxed. Difficult situations are often seen by climbers as a challenge or an opportunity.

They are less responsive to danger and this can lead to foolhardy optimism. Climbers also have good self-esteem and self-reliance and therefore tend to be high-achievers.

Base jumping is probably the most dangerous sport in the world and involves parachute jumping from either tall natural features or man- made structures. The parachute is initially closed and is opened after a (short) free fall.

In a study of base jumpers, I also found a high rate of injury– two-thirds of the participants had suffered at least one base jumping accident. Almost all of those injured required hospital treatment and two-thirds needed more than three months to recover, or were left with long-term health problems.

All base jumpers estimated that they had had “near- misses” and all of them had witnessed friends die from the sport. Overall, the personalities of base jumpers were very similar to that of mountaineers.

These findings are similar to those of other studies, which have found that risk-taking sports people score high on the measure of sensation seeking (very similar to novelty- seeking). What this suggests is that biology and genetics do, indeed, play at least a moderate role in determining who will take up adventure sports.

We know that harm- avoidance, novelty-seeking and sensation-seeking are genetically inherited and determined by the levels of a number of brain neurotransmitters, called monoamines. These monoamines (dopamine and serotonin) are chemicals that pass information between lower and higher brain regions.

High novelty-seeking and sensation-seeking are both associated with low levels of dopamine and involvement in risk-taking activities may help to boost the levels of this brain neurotransmitter.

It has also been established that individuals who score high on these measures are at significant risk of developing drug and alcohol addictions and are more frequently involved in reckless behaviours and criminal activities.

High harm-avoidance, which confers a propensity to become anxious or scared in the face of risk or uncertainty, is related to levels of serotonin in the brain. Risk-taking sports people have low levels of harm-avoidance and this may explain why they are able to tolerate risk without becoming overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.

In fact, the low levels of harm-avoidance may contribute to a tendency to underestimate danger and therefore may partially account for the high rates of accidents.

The study of risk-taking sportspeople provides interesting and compelling results. Not surprisingly sports, such as mountaineering and base jumping, are associated with a significant risk of injury and death.

People who choose to take up these sports appear to have a unique biological make-up and these differences in brain chemistry help to explain why they choose to put themselves in peril.

Although the risks are not insignificant, risk-taking instincts may well be better off channelled into adventure sports, where experience and training can minimise danger, than to drug addictions and anti-social or criminal behaviours.

Erik Monasterio is a Bolivian/New Zealand medical doctor and mountaineer, specialising in forensic psychiatry.

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11. February 2008 by Tridad.

BY CALEB SHEAFFER

Michael Miscavage knows the best places for ice climbing in the Wyoming Valley, but he’s not talking about any of them. Miscavage, owner of Top of the Slope Ski Shop in Wilkes-Barre, even has a picture of a nearby wall of ice he climbed in 1994, a 200-foot cliff with the intimidating name “The Fang.”

He’s keeping quiet about the locations for two reasons. First, he doesn’t want anyone getting hurt, especially after he heard the recent news.

A New Hope man, Luke Wolfgang, was injured Feb. 2 while ice climbing in the Buttermilk Falls area of Toby Creek, near the rock cut on Route 309 in Courtdale. The rescue effort involved about 60 people from seven West Side fire and rescue departments. The incident publicized a sport that tends to avoid the spotlight.

There is no real reason for ice climbers to seek attention, Miscavage says. People learn of places to climb through word-of-mouth and friends interested in the hobby. It is a sport that takes place under the radar — in areas where few people go, during a time of the year when few people like to be outside.

Also, Miscavage won’t reveal places to ice climb because some are on private property. Often when he ice climbs, he has an agreement with the landowner. You can’t park at these places without the owners knowing you’re there. This season though, Miscavage hasn’t gone ice climbing. The weather has been too warm.

“We haven’t sold as much (ice climbing gear) because the ice hasn’t been that great,” Miscavage said.

According to Frank Slymock, a deputy fire chief in Edwardsville, Wolfgang’s accident occurred because his rope was severed on jagged rocks. Wolfgang fell about 30 to 40 feet, and landed on his feet, like climbers are taught, Slymock said. Wolfgang was taken to Community Medical Center in Scranton, and his injuries were not expected to be life-threatening. Multiple calls this week to Wolfgang’s home went unanswered.

Ice climbers usually use two axes, sturdy boots and metal teeth, called crampons and fangs, attached to the bottom of their boots. Climbers take safety precautions by using rope as an anchor, climbing with friends and wearing a helmet.

Many people who ice climb start by rock climbing, and gradually move to ice climbing. The sports require similar skills, but ice climbers handle tougher terrain and must judge the quality of the ice. People interested in learning to ice climb can expect to spend at least $1,000 for necessary equipment.

“In rock climbing we have a saying, ‘There’s old climbers and there’s bold climbers, but there’s no old bold climbers.’ Limits definitely get pushed, but it’s a sport where you need to have a conservative mindset,” said Brett Simpson, associate director of Quest, an outdoor adventure and recreation program based at Bloomsburg University.

According to Simpson, Quest usually offers classes in ice climbing every year, but didn’t this winter because there isn’t enough ice. This season, Simpson has only done mixed climbing — a combination of ice and rock climbing involving crampons and axes. Mixed climbing is only for advanced climbers, those able to handle changes in terrain.

Simpson only knows a few places to go ice climbing in the Wyoming Valley, and most of them are on the West Side along Route 309. Another spot is at Ricketts Glen State Park, 30 miles north of Bloomsburg and spanning 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan and Columbia counties. Climbers at Ricketts Glen can face the challenge of the 94-foot Ganoga Falls. For more advanced climbing, experienced ice climbers travel to New York to the Catskills or the Adirondack Mountains.

The sport came easily to Simpson. Originally from Oregon, he began rock climbing in the West, where he climbed more than 2,000 feet. Simpson learned to ice climb with a friend near Noxen. He and his experienced buddy shared equipment and took turns climbing a waterfall.

“You have to deal with the cold and the weather conditions,” Simpson said. “Once you got used to the equipment, and holding things correctly, it wasn’t too bad. Good instruction to start was helpful.”

Terence Daltroff, park manager of Ricketts Glen State Park, said to his knowledge, there have been only one or two ice climbing accidents at the park, and those were both broken legs. Daltroff mainly does more of a hiking form of ice climbing, in which he uses a longer axe and crampons. Rarely does he go on vertical climbs. When he does, it is only to gain respect for the power the mountain has over climbers.

“It does take someone who is willing to be more disciplined and in better shape, more so than other sports,” Daltroff said.

Even the best ice climbers need to double check their safety gear and make sure they don’t strain themselves too much. According to Daltroff, the sport cannot really be classified as dangerous, because those who do it are experienced and cautious.

“I’m a skier with the National Ski Patrol, but I ski and know what I’m doing. Some people might think that’s a daredevil sport,” Daltroff said. “It is the same as driving on the Cross Valley when the weather is bad.”

Miscavage, Simpson and Daltroff all say the same thing: If you plan on learning to ice climb, make sure to take lessons, and when you are learning, test your limits, but not so much that you put yourself in danger.

“You’re pushing yourself, but you’re not pushing yourself to get hurt,” Miscavage says.

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11. February 2008 by Tridad.

from Engadget Mobile….

We’ve seen some pretty well equipped helmets in our day, but UMass Amherst student Brycen Spencer seems a touch more interested in safety advancements than integrated speakers. His concoction, dubbed the Wireless Impact Guardian (WIG), looks like your average helmet at first glance, but a quick look inside reveals electronics designed to sense an impact, judge if you’re conscious and dial for help if necessary. Essentially, an alarm is triggered upon impact, and if you’re not cohesive enough to disable it after 60 seconds, it automatically rings up 911 and beams out your location via GPS so that medical personnel can get moving. Currently, the device is quite a ways from going commercial, but considering that Mr. Spencer has already invested in a provisional patent, we’d say it’s well on its way.

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10. February 2008 by Tridad.

Kevin Knieling set off February 8th on his journey of biking, hiking and kayaking across the U.S. and from Canada and to the Gulf of Mexico. This solo, unsupported ultra-triathlon begins with a 5,000-mile bike ride across the U.S., followed by hiking the length of the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail and finally a 3,500 mile kayak trip beginning in Winnipeg, Canada which will end in the Gulf of Mexico.Knieling represents the growing generation of executives turned adventurists, leaving his job on Wall Street after 10 years to pursue his dream of adventure travel. In the last two and a half years, Knieling has traveled over 200,000 miles in 40 plus countries, ridden a bicycle over 4,000 miles across the US, hiked through the Himalayas, stood atop Mt. Kilimanjaro, jumped out of planes and completed scuba dives the world over.

Always inspiring others, Knieling tracks and reports his trip through updates on his website http://www.kevinknieling.com . The account of his quest will take the audience up close and personal as Knieling brings everyone along on this exciting and wild ride.

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7. February 2008 by Tridad.

Posted in BASE jumping, ski, air | Print | 1 Comment »