Summer Newsletter 2007
Summer Newsletter 2007
Dear Climbers and Trekkers and Trekking Peak Enthusiasts, My name is Dan Mazur and I work for SummitClimb.com and www.SummitTrek.com. I was involved in a rescue of an Australian climber named Lincoln Hall. There is a new book about the rescue, called "Dead Lucky". The photo above this text is of him after we rescued him at 8600 metres / 28,000 feet just below the summit of Everest.
The one hour television program from the rescue was just nominated for an Emmy Award (whatever that is) on July 19th, 2007. It aired on NBC national television network. Here is a link to their website, you can view it, and the show, by clicking here.
Besides bothering you, our mission is to encourage men and women from around the world to affordably trek and climb through some of our planet's highest mountains and green valleys with friends and try to give something back by helping the local people help themselves with health care, education and to become good environmental stewards. I am sending you news of our Autumn climb and trek schedule and a bit about 2008. We encourage you to join us now, if you dare.
Thanks in advance for telling your friends and local clubs and shops about us. By the way, we recently posted a colour mountain card. Have you received it? If not, we don’t have your current postal address, so please email it, and we will send you the colour card so you can drool over beautiful Himalayan and African scenery.
Guess what? We have a new website and if you're not too busy, please do visit www.summitclimb.com/new . It’s under construction, so if it’s not working (oh no!) please visit our old site at: www.SummitClimb.com .
When you see the new site we won’t be surprised if you have suggestions for improvement and send us an email. In fact, we would prefer it if you were as critical as possible. Thank you.
Alright then, we are ready to begin speaking of our charity and non-profit activities and our upcoming schedule of climbs, treks, and events for 2007/2008. Air tickets are still available for these trips. Let us know if you need help with flight booking.
Please keep reading down through this email.
CHARITY AND NON-PROFIT ACTIVITIES –Helping local people help themselves keeps us going. Most people don't have time to help, but they might consider making a contribution of funds. In case you have more time, you could join one of our service treks (see below), which are quite affordable. We are working together with several organizations:
*We are helping www.MountEverestFoundation.org to build a new hospital in remote valleys near to Mount Everest, in order to help poor farm families to help themselves stay healthy, get educated, and become good environmental stewards. We are also involved in starting a new education programme in the village school and seek volunteers to help us for short or long stints. The villagers currently have no running water, no electricity, no roads, no phones, and they live in the 12th poorest country in the world and the poorest country in Asia. Because of its remoteness, their village sustains ancient forests which have never been cut.
*Tibet is a very different place. Since 1997 we have supported the Tibetan Guide School in Lhasa. They educate orphans and nomad children to work in the tourism industry as guides, cooks, and climbing sherpas. We are proud to have helped the school produce some really capable graduates, many of whom have become successful guides, cooks, sherpas, community members and parents. You may be surprised that the students are able to preserve their unique Tibetan cultural heritage while gaining employment.
*The Mountain Fund does a great job of pulling together numerous charities and non-profits and we support their effort to bring all of the mountain causes together under one roof.
SERVICE TREKS - We just returned from a visit to a tiny remote village with some overseas volunteers who were doctors, nurses and regular people, where we saw more than 70 patients from local farm families in one day. A health clinic we are building together with www.MountEverestFoundation.org provides the only health care for over 4000 people in the foothills of Everest and is the only health care available within a three day walk. The trek goes through extensive ancient un-cut forests and hills containing tiny terraced farms. We invite you to lend your support and even visit. People with and without medical expertise are welcome. Everyone is welcome to join a 12-day service trek to their village in November and June. Your trek includes return round-trip domestic flights, cook, food, porters, guide, and everything for your trip.
EDUCATION PROGRAMME- We are starting a new programme, looking for anyone interested in being a teacher in the village school where there are both children and adult students. Volunteers teach English or other languages as well as public health, environmental education, art, building, farming, etcetera. To participate in this program you need a minimum of 3 weeks of holiday time, and it’s not necessary to be a qualified teacher. You just have to want to help. Please contact us to become involved and/or join one of our service treks.
LECTURES - Our leaders tour the world giving video-slide illustrated lectures raising money for charitable causes like www.mounteverestfoundation.org . Would you please suggest a favourite charity or non-profit of your own? We are always glad to help in any capacity.
LEADER IN TRAINING PROGRAMME - are you thinking of becoming a mountain leader or are you one already? Please enquire if you want to explore the world mountain leadership with us.If you wish to learn more about our upcoming treks and climbs, please read on, otherwise, goodbye and thanks for visiting. We wish you well in all that you do. Yours Sincerely, from all of us at SummitClimb.com, www.SummitClimb.com/new, and www.SummitTrek.com
ps. in case you are still reading:
TREKS AND CLIMBS - Well it’s time to join our Autumn Himalayan trekking and climbing programme. Flights are still available for all of these trips. Let us know if you need help booking yours.
AFRICA TREKS AND CLIMBS - Ok I lied, before autumn begins we have our Africa Programme during 1-
20 August (trips from a few days to 3 weeks). Trek, Optional Rock Climb and Safari. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, New trip to Ruwenzori, Mountains of the Moon with optional gorilla viewing, Big Game Safari Amboseli in the shadow of Kili. Cost starts at $950 dollars, £450 gbp, €650 euro. The leader is 15 time Mt. Kenya and Kili climber Felix Berg. There's still time to join our Kili trek August 10th, 2007. Please contact us quickly to join the team.
GLACIER CLIMBING SCHOOL - September (7 days). If you want to learn more about climbing, please attend our glacier school. It’s geared for men and women who are ready to try roped mountaineering on snow and ice. The cost is free and the leader is Dan Mazur, 6 time Everest leader.
CHO OYU CLIMB- 2 September to 9 October (38 days). Expedition t o the 6th highest and most accessible of the worlds 14 highest peaks. Climbing Cho Oyu qualifies you for Everest. Cost starts at $5450, £2650, €3950. Leader is 3 time Cho and 3 time Everest leader, Arnold Coster. 5 people have signed on, and there is still time if you wish to become a team member.
SHISHAPANGMA CLIMB - 2 September to 9 October (38 days). Expedition to the smallest of the world's 14 highest peaks. Climbing Shishapangma qualifies you for Everest. Cost starts at $5450, £2650, €3950. Leader is 4 time Cho and 2 time Everest leader, Phil Crampton. 3 people have signed on, and there is still time if you wish to become a team member.
AMA DABLAM CLIMB - 1 October to 1 November (32 days). Climb Ama Dablam, Asia's most famous rock-ice-snow climb, technical but do-able. Climbing Ama Dablam qualifies you for Cho, Shish, Lhotse, and perhaps Everest. Cost starts at $1450, £750, €1050.Leader is 8 time Ama Dablam and 6 time Everest leader Dan Mazur. 12 people have signed on.
EVEREST BASECAMP TREK - 1 TO 17 October (17 days). Walk, hike, and trek to the world's most famous basecamp on good snow-free trails. Walk to the top of the famous viewpoint of Kala Patar, to take in our world's highest mountain in all of her majesty. Includes return round-trip domestic flights, cook, food, porters, guide, and everything for your trip. Full service cost $1650, £750, €1150. Trek leaders Dan Mazur and Ms. Kandu Sherpa. Leaders of more than 20 treks to Everest basecamp. 6 people are currently signed up. Combine with our 5 day Island Peak climb for optimum enjoyment and a taste of high-altitude.
ISLAND PEAK TREKKING PEAK CLIMB- 18 to 22 October (5 days). An exciting climb on an "easy" small trekking peak in a beautiful valley near Everest. Unbelievable views of the Everest massif. Full Service Cost: $790, £350, €550. Add-on to a Nepal Everest basecamp trek for the best possible acclimatization. Leader: Pemba Sherpa, more than 25 ascents of Island Peak. 4 people are currently in the team.
SERVICE TREK - 2 to 13 November (12 days). Helping local people help themselves in remote villages far from any trails tourist have walked. We have never seen another tourist group in this area. Off the beaten track trekking through tiny terraced farms and ancient un-cut forest in remote Nepal foothills near Mount Everest National Park. Get involved in health clinic, environmental and educational projects. Includes return round-trip domestic flights, cook, food, porters, guide, and everything for your trek. Full service cost $950, £450, €650. Trek leaders Dan Mazur and Ms. Kandu Sherpa, leaders of 7 service treks. We currently have 3 service trekkers signed on. back to top
***WINTER TRIPS
AFRICA TREKS AND CLIMBS - January and February (trips from a few days to 3 weeks). Trek, Rock Climb and Safari. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, New trip to Ruwenzori, Mountains of the Moon with optional gorilla viewing safari, Big Game Safari Amboseli in the shadow of Kili. Cost starts at $950, £450, €650. The leader is 15 time Mt. Kenya and Kili climber Felix Berg, along with Arnold Coster and Dan Mazur. This is a busy time of year, so please book now.
NEW TRIP - RUWENZORI MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON. February (three weeks). A pristine and rarely visited national park where we climb the 3 highest peaks. This is fantastic remote equatorial trekking with optional mountaineering. Very experimental. At the end of the trip we offer an optional gorilla-viewing safari in dense jungles. The gorillas are nearly gone and only two parties a day are allowed to visit. Full service cost $4950, £2450, €3550. The leader is 15 time Mt. Kenya and Kili climber Felix Berg who speaks the local language Swahili, along with Arnold Coster and Dan Mazur. 4 people have already signed on!
ACONCAGUA CLIMB - February (three weeks). Climb the highest peak in all of the Americas with an excellent team. One of the famous 7 summits. Full service cost: $3450, £1650, €2450. Leader Ryan Waters, 4 ascents of Aconcagua and 2 Everest expeditions, runs a great trip. back to top
***SPRING TRIPS
EVEREST SUMMIT CLIMB FROM TIBET OR NEPAL - April and May (68 days or lessif you summit early). For our fourth consecutive year, choose from two expeditions, one from Tibet or the other from Nepal. Take your pick. Costs start at: $6950, £3450, €5050. Tibet side leader is Dan Mazur with 6 Everest expeditions. Nepal side leader is Arnold Coster, with 3 Everest expeditions. During 2007 our Everest expeditions safely placed 12 members and 8 sherpas on the summit. For 2008 the climbs are filling, so please book early.
NORTH COL AND LHAKPA-RI TREKKING PEAK CLIMB. April or May (two trips 28 days each). This may be the quickest and easiest way in the world to climb to 7000 metres/23,000 feet, and a great way to test yourself at high altitude, to see if you should take the next step. Climbing this mountain qualifies you for Cho Oyu Shishapangma, Lhotse, and perhaps Everest. This climb is located in Tibet and while climbing on the North Col you are on the Everest climbing route. New Feature: If you feel well enough on the April trip, you could join our Everest expedition "on the spot". Cost starting at: $3450, £1650, €2450. Expedition leader Dan Mazur. 6 Everest expeditions. This has been a popular trip for us and we just added 3 more details to the schedule. Please let us know.
LHOTSE CLIMB - April and May (68 days or less if you summit early). 4th highest peak in the world, climbed from the same route as Everest. An interesting way to see what is going on with Everest and not pay the huge fees. Climbing Lhotse qualifies you for Everest. Costs start at: $3450, £1650, €2450. Leader is Arnold Coster, with 3 Everest expeditions and 2 Lhotse expeditions. Our team members had summit success again in 2007. A few places are available for 2008.
EVEREST BASECAMP TREK - 30 March to 15 April, 1 to 17 May (17 days), description above.
ISLAND PEAK TREKKING PEAK CLIMB - 16-20 April, 18-22 May (5 days), description above.
SERVICE TREK - 6 to 17 June (12 days), description above.
GLACIER CLIMBING SCHOOL - June (7 days). If you want to learn more about climbing, please attend our glacier school. It’s geared for men and women who are ready to try roped mountaineering on snow and ice. The cost is free and the leader is Dan Mazur, 6 time Everest leader.
AFRICA TREKS AND CLIMBS - August (trips from a few days to 3 weeks), description above.
MUSTAGATA CLIMB - 1 to 24 July (24 days). World's easiest 7500 metre peak. Ski, Snowboard, Snowshoe, Raquette to the top of the world's highest ski-able mountain. Climbing Mustagata could qualify you for Everest. Costs start at: $1850, £850, €1350. Leader Jon Otto is a fluent Chinese speaker and has climbed Mustagata 8 times. Our teams have been climbing Mustagata since 1992. back to top
***That’s the last of all of our 2007 and 2008 trips. We wish we could have done more!
WOW you made it to the bottom of this email. You must have the stamina it takes to JOIN US IN THE MOUNTAINS. What questions and ideas do you have? We wish to hear your thoughts, to learn what you want or don’t want, and to begin a proper conversation to better understand one-another's expectations. This is your expedition, so please contribute your suggestions. In this way, it is our hope that we will work together to build a safe, friendly, and successful team, starting today.
Thank you very much for your interest and support. I await your reply, wish you, your family, friends, and colleagues all of the best, and look forward to making your trip a success.Yours sincerely,
Dan Mazur and all of us at SummitClimb.com, www.SummitClimb.com/new, and www.SummitTrek.com
Dan Mazur and all of us at SummitClimb.com, www.SummitClimb.com/new, and www.SummitTrek.com
Ps. By the way, thanks for telling all of your friends about what we are trying to do.
This Email is sent to you by SummitClimb.com. If you hated it and/or have any suggestions
