Expeditions

Alpinists are modern day hunters, our quarry being the tall peaks and steep cliffs. Our humility comes from the knowledge that the peaks are always stronger. We are merely guests.

Everest Education Expedition 2012

OBJECTIVE:
To climb the West Ridge and the Southeast Ridge of Mount Everest in an expedition supported by National Geographic, The North Face, and Montana State University. Team members will measure the summit, conduct groundbreaking geological research and work with The Mayo Clinic to conduct tests on high-altitude human physiology.
Nat Geo Everest 2012 website
The North Face Everest 2012 website
Montana State University Everest 2012 website

Everest Extreme Ice Survey – Spring 2010

OBJECTIVE:
Boulder-based Extreme Ice Survey’s research of the world’s glaciers reached new heights this year when a field team mounted five time-lapse cameras in three locations high in the Himalayas.
The cameras, mounted in late April and early May, are in position to document the changing glacial landscape on Mount Everest and the nearby mountain of Ama Dablam, focusing on the Khumbu and Nare Glaciers. Their locations were decided by Extreme Ice Survey director James Balog and well-known mountaineer Conrad Anker to match historical photographs the two found during research at the American Alpine Club Library in Golden.
Read more: The North Face Website

The Khumbu Climbing School
January 2004 – ongoing

kretyen
OBJECTIVE:
To increase the safety margin of Nepali climbers and high altitude workers
by encouraging responsible climbing practices in a supportive and community-based program.

LOCATION:

Everest Region, Nepal

TEAM:
Team Leader: Conrad Anker
Climbing / Instructor Team: Heidi Wirtz, Cedar Wright, Jimmy Chin, Dawa Sherpa, Jon Krakauer, Adam Knoff, Ross Lynn, Kevin Tatsugawa, Ace Kvale, Lila Bishop
Photographer: Jimmy Chin
Videographer: Karl Swingle

Chang Tang Trek
May – June 2002

Chang Tang Trek

LOCATION:
A trek with rickshaws into Tibet’s Northern Chang Tang Plateau, an unpopulated and desolate alpine steppe averaging 16,000 feet in altitude.

OBJECTIVE:
To locate herds of the endangered Tibetan antelope, the chiru, and follow females on their annual migration to their calving grounds somewhere in the remote Kunlun mountains to the north.

TEAM:
Rick Ridgeway
Galen Rowell
Conrad Anker
Jimmy Chin

Antarctica – Vinson Massif
December 2000-January 2001

Antarctica - Vinson Massif

LOCATION:
Antarctica

OBJECTIVE:
To climb the Vinson Massif from the east via a new route and conduct snow studies en route on the glaciers.

TEAM:
Conrad Anker – Climber/ Alpinist and member of The North Face Team
Jon Krakauer – Author of Into Thin Air / Explorer
Liesl Clark – Producer/Director from NOVA
John Armstrong – Cinematographer
Rob Raker – Second cameraman and soundman
Dan Stone – Glaciologist
Andrew McLean – Field guide
Dave Hahn – Field guide