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Chris Korbulic is the newest and youngest adventurer on the First Ascent kayak team. Chris was featured in some of the biggest runs in the expedition kayak film Hotel Charley V.5: First Descent and has built up a résumé of first descents. He describes his latest achievement below.
By Chris Korbulic
I stand in the intense sun at the edge of the biggest rapid I have ever wanted to run. Mist from water crashing onto rock cools my sunburnt face, but does little to ease my nerves. I’ve seen this cataract before and walked away, knowing that the time would come for me to see the line and solve the crazy puzzle falling in front of me. I know it’s right at the edge of what I can handle, but this is why I kayak—for these moments of clarity when commitment to the line is all you know. Read More…
Posted Under: Expeditions
This post was written by First Ascent Brand Team on June 29, 2010
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Michael Brown shares how he planned for shooting the First Ascent team’s Everest summit and dealt with unexpected gear problems at high altitudes and freezing temperatures.
Posted Under: Expeditions
This post was written by First Ascent Brand Team on June 24, 2010
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Leif Whittaker and First Ascent guide Dave Hahn describe the severe weather that nearly jeopardized their summit attempt and the window of opportunity that afforded their success. See Leif’s summit and some amazing scenery from the top of the world in this video recap.
Posted Under: Expeditions
This post was written by First Ascent Brand Team on June 18, 2010
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Clouds collide, explode into 50 mph winds that throw frozen bullets at the tent. Inside, the stove roar drowns out the mayhem, but it doesn’t warm our spirits. This is our second night of delay at 26,000 feet and the entire expedition hinges on the next few hours. If the unexpected storm finally calms, we will charge for the summit like it’s our last chance, because it will be. If the wind doesn’t abate, if the sky doesn’t clear, we’ll descend in failure, unsatisfied, discouraged by the fact that we didn’t receive even one clear shot at the summit. But I still have hope that our clear shot will come. We need to get lucky. We need to get lucky right now. Read More…
Posted Under: Expeditions
This post was written by First Ascent Brand Team on June 9, 2010
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Clouds collide, explode into 50 mph winds that throw frozen bullets at the tent. Inside, the stove roar drowns out the mayhem, but it doesn’t warm our spirits. This is our second night of delay at 26,000 feet and the entire expedition hinges on the next few hours. If the unexpected storm finally calms, we will charge for the summit like it’s our last chance, because it will be. If the wind doesn’t abate, if the sky doesn’t clear, we’ll descend in failure, unsatisfied, discouraged by the fact that we didn’t receive even one clear shot at the summit. But I still have hope that our clear shot will come. We need to get lucky. We need to get lucky right now. Read More…
Posted Under: Expeditions
This post was written by First Ascent Brand Team on June 6, 2010
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Leif Whittaker with First Ascent guides Seth Waterfall and Dave Hahn on the Summit of Mt. Everest
The 2010 Everest climbing season has been a record-setting success for Eddie Bauer. In one 3-day window, three different climbing teams outfitted in Eddie Bauer First Ascent gear reached the Everest summit.
On May 22, Apa Sherpa, climbing leader for the Eco Everest Expedition 2010, broke his own world record by reaching the highest point on Earth for the 20th time.
On May 23, First Ascent guide Melissa Arnot, accompanied by Dave Morton, became the first American woman to summit Everest three times. This achievement was pre-confirmed by Liz Hawley, pending a further database search.
On May 24, Leif Whittaker retraced American and family history when he topped out 47 years after his father, Jim, became the first American to do so, back on May 1, 1963. Also with Leif was First Ascent guide and expedition leader Dave Hahn, who made his 12th summit—more than any non-Sherpa in history. Other members of the summit team were First Ascent guide Seth Waterfall, photographer Michael Brown, RMI guide Casey Grom and climber Scott Jones.
Becoming a full IFMGA-certified guide has been my lifelong dream. A few years back, I took a friend up the beautiful Forbes Arete on the Aiguille du Chardonnet in Chamonix. She had never climbed any mountain and I was in charge of the whole climb. I loved how taking someone up and down a mountain required so much problem solving: what time do we need to start, what are the hazards and how do I manage them, how much rope should be out on the glacier, what is the most efficient yet safe way to do this section, how do I care for my friend, etc. Read More…
RMI has reported that First Ascent guide Dave Hahn and Leif Whittaker have arrived safely back at Base Camp and reunited with the team. The group is packing up camp and will begin their trek to Lukla shortly.
It was quite a year for First Ascent ski guides Reggie and Zach Crist, Lel Tone, Tom Wayes, Erik Leidecker and Kent McBride, as they set out to design the 2010 ski collection. They packed up the First Ascent Airstream back in December in Sun Valley, Idaho and made their way through California, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Washington before catching the ferry to the big mountains of Alaska. Using the Airstream as base camp, the guides designed, tested, redesigned, and retested gear until they finally ended the season with a fifth prototype that will be the basis for final product this fall. We hope you enjoyed the journey as much as we did, and we can’t wait for you to see the gear in time for the 2010 ski season.
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