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Monday, July 12, 2010

Rock Climbing in Vietnam

Written by Branly

Rocky peaks soaring towards the sky, cliffs cutting through turquoise waves, caves tormented by erosion... Ghostly outlines surfacing from the mist, routes defying gravity, overhangs, tufas, stems, improbable perspectives! These fantastic landscapes don't just emerge from Lovercraft's crazy mind nor from an addicted climber's dream. Welcome to Vietnam.
Here the rock-climbing dream is being realised; imagination is power. Let your senses go crazy, let your hand sweat, feel the exhilaration of the climb. Trad climbing, deep water soloing, sport routes, slabs, roofs, stalactites...

It's not easy. You will have a glimpse into what's it like to be one of the first rock climbing pioneers in Vietnam. But what satisfaction. You'll be the one of the first ones to sketch those moves on the old cliff. "Defy gravity, be intoxicated by the power of those rocks, by osmosis with the holds, unite with the limestone." These are the words of Confucius, when he was drunk one moonless night.

The website Vietclimb.com is the outcome of countless hours of explorations, thought, green tea, smiles, naps, Ha Noi Beers, navigation, climbing, and thuoc lao. Refusing any lucrative purpose, vietclimb.com has been developed with the aim of exploring the Vietnam revealed by the core principles of rock climbing: mutual aid and a spirit of discovery. The second goal is to attract climbers -especially equippers- to take part in the development of rock climbing in Viet Nam. You, also, can contribute to this history, this synthesis of rock-climbing in Asia, by sharing your discoveries, pictures, and experiments.

http://www.vietclimb.com/

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

US boy Jordan Romero, 13, in Mount Everest bid

Jordan Romero talks about how he has been preparing for the challenge

A 13-year-old American boy is set to attempt to climb Mount Everest, in an effort to be the youngest person to scale the world's highest peak.

Jordan Romero has set off from Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, to the base camp on the Chinese side of the mountain.

He will begin his ascent there, along with his father and stepmother.

Jordan climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania aged 10 and wants to be the youngest person to climb the highest mountains on eight continents.

His father and stepmother have been with him on all his mountain climbs.

The current record for the youngest climber of Everest is held by Nepali Temba Tsheri, who was 16 when he reached the peak in 2001.

Jordan Romero has already climbed the highest peaks in six continents. After Everest, his next target will be Vinson Massif in Antarctica.

JORDAN'S SUMMITS

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa: July 2006

Mount Kosciuszko, Australia: April 2007

Mount Elbrus, Russia, Europe: July 2007

Mount Denali, Alaska, North America: June 2008

Aconcagua, Argentina, South America: Dec 2007

Carstenz Pyramid, Indonesia, Oceania: September 2009

"It's something I've always wanted to do before I die - I just happen to be doing it at this age. I happen to be going for a world record. But I just want to climb it," Jordan told the AFP news agency ahead of his Everest attempt.

The latest post on his website says: "It's time to mobilise" and that the five-day drive to the Chinese base camp was about to begin.

There have been concerns about allowing somebody of Jordan's age to make the ascent but he has said he will not take any unnecessary risks and will turn around if any problems arise.

Before he begins climbing, he will spend some weeks acclimatising at base camp.

Asked if, given the risks, a 13-year-old could make an informed decision to climb Everest, his mother, Leigh Ann Drake, told the BBC World Service that her son would be with his father the whole time.

FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE