Staso 0 #1 June 1, 2010 Almost a year ago I wrapped up my skydiving career on jump 1001 and started getting ready for the next adventure in my life – climbing North Col of Mt. Everest. North Col is a saddle between mount Everest and mount Changtse with the elevation of 23100 ft (it’s slightly lower but there is a permanent slab of ice on top of it and some camps are higher than the lowest point). After 10 month of extensive training, running, swimming, weight lifting and climbing in New England I was finally ready a went on with my expedition. Now after 1 month of sheer misery (I think that’s the best word that describes being above 18000 ft for me :) ) and 17 pounds lighter I’m back and can say that I’ve done it and that I don’t want to do it again :) Getting to 23k altitude without a plane is a very tough job and staying there is for a while is a pretty dismal experience. Here are some pics for you folks to enjoy. The rest of them could be found here: picasaweb.google.com/stan.snigir There are 17 albums going from 00 – Kathmandu, Nepal to 17 – North Col, Everest. If someone wants to do something like that I can recommend the company I went with. I think my next thing is camping :) -- it's not about defying gravity; it's how hard you can abuse it. speed skydiving it is ... Speed Skydiving Forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Staso 0 #2 June 1, 2010 3 more pics ... -- it's not about defying gravity; it's how hard you can abuse it. speed skydiving it is ... Speed Skydiving Forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 June 1, 2010 Quote Almost a year ago I wrapped up my skydiving career on jump 1001 and started getting ready for the next adventure in my life – climbing North Col of Mt. Everest. North Col is a saddle between mount Everest and mount Changtse with the elevation of 23100 ft (it’s slightly lower but there is a permanent slab of ice on top of it and some camps are higher than the lowest point). After 10 month of extensive training, running, swimming, weight lifting and climbing in New England I was finally ready a went on with my expedition. Now after 1 month of sheer misery (I think that’s the best word that describes being above 18000 ft for me :) ) and 17 pounds lighter I’m back and can say that I’ve done it and that I don’t want to do it again :) Getting to 23k altitude without a plane is a very tough job and staying there is for a while is a pretty dismal experience. Here are some pics for you folks to enjoy. The rest of them could be found here: picasaweb.google.com/stan.snigir There are 17 albums going from 00 – Kathmandu, Nepal to 17 – North Col, Everest. If someone wants to do something like that I can recommend the company I went with. I think my next thing is camping :) Way to go Stan...Its good to do the things like that while you are young enough to accomplish that kind of very physical activity... because later in life... you may not be able to ever do them again. Then you will have to resort to coming back to speedskydiving when you get old and fat like me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guppie01 0 #4 June 1, 2010 What an incredible journey! Congrats!!! g "Let's do something romantic this Saturday... how bout we bust out the restraints?" Raddest Ho this side of Jersey #1 - MISS YOU OMG, is she okay? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NovaTTT 1 #5 June 1, 2010 Quote staying there is for a while is a pretty dismal experience. Yeah - you look so glum in those pics. Great photos - congrats on the accomplishment. ETA : "/""Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 232 #6 June 2, 2010 Pretty bad-ass. Let me know if you need a side-kick on some winter hikes/climbs up here. I'm in Brattleboro, VT."I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hungarianchick 0 #7 June 2, 2010 Awesome! Trekking from Katmandu to Base Camp is on my bucket list! "I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,619 #8 June 2, 2010 Very Cool! No sign of Mallory or Irvine, then?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micduran 0 #9 June 2, 2010 Impressive! Be patient with the faults of others; they have to be patient with yours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Staso 0 #10 June 2, 2010 QuoteVery Cool! No sign of Mallory or Irvine, then? Just memorial at the base camp. also i saw a memorial for David Sharp - he was the guy on Discovery "Everest Beyond the limit" show who was found at around 8400 and who many expedition passed by. Seeing that made it very real .. -- it's not about defying gravity; it's how hard you can abuse it. speed skydiving it is ... Speed Skydiving Forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 14 #11 June 2, 2010 Very cool. How long did you stay at 23K? All your pics look like you're happy and trying to catch your breath. Your description of it has cemented my desire to not ever do that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Staso 0 #12 June 2, 2010 Quote Very cool. How long did you stay at 23K? All your pics look like you're happy and trying to catch your breath. Your description of it has cemented my desire to not ever do that. i spent a night there. we got to the Col at around 5 pm and then spent 5 or 6 hours melting snow and ice. I managed to get some sleep there but it was weird and disturbing sleep - hypoxia plays some tricks on your brain. I couldn't wait next morning to bolt out of there! :) -- it's not about defying gravity; it's how hard you can abuse it. speed skydiving it is ... Speed Skydiving Forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
