http://blog.firstascent.com THE FIRST ASCENT BLOG Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:11:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/23/video-leif-whittaker-and-team-conclude-winter-expedition-in-the-olympic-mountains/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/23/video-leif-whittaker-and-team-conclude-winter-expedition-in-the-olympic-mountains/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:13:58 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=6576 http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/23/video-leif-whittaker-and-team-conclude-winter-expedition-in-the-olympic-mountains/feed/ 2 Leif Whittaker and team didn’t achieve their ultimate goal to summit and descend by ski/snowboard from Mount Anderson, but they witnessed the winter wilderness in Washington State’s Olympic Mountain Range that few have seen. They also overcame challenges along the way that strengthened their bond. The team found time to lock-in their bindings and get [...] http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/22/leif-whittaker-and-team-descend-from-olympic-mountains-with-motivation-to-return/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/22/leif-whittaker-and-team-descend-from-olympic-mountains-with-motivation-to-return/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:45:42 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=6563 http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/22/leif-whittaker-and-team-descend-from-olympic-mountains-with-motivation-to-return/feed/ 3 By Leif Whittaker The summit is flanked with debris. Avalanche crowns cut across couloirs, depositing snow-boulders into gullies and basins like a knocked-over bookshelf. These intimidating features, still miles away, are starkly visible from the edge of Honeymoon Meadows. I can’t imagine what they might look like up close, and I won’t have a chance [...] http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/21/leif-whittaker-and-team-decide-against-mount-anderson-summit-ski-nearby-slopes/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/21/leif-whittaker-and-team-decide-against-mount-anderson-summit-ski-nearby-slopes/#comments Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:32:40 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=6529 http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/21/leif-whittaker-and-team-decide-against-mount-anderson-summit-ski-nearby-slopes/feed/ 0 Leif Whittaker and team attempt a winter summit of Mt. Anderson in Washington's Olympic Mountain Range, but are challenged by difficult conditions for a summit bid. Leif_Homepage http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/18/video-leif-whittaker-and-team-make-slow-progress-on-mount-anderson-winter-attempt/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/18/video-leif-whittaker-and-team-make-slow-progress-on-mount-anderson-winter-attempt/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:06:54 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=6511 http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/18/video-leif-whittaker-and-team-make-slow-progress-on-mount-anderson-winter-attempt/feed/ 3 Freya Fennwood and Leif Whittaker produced this video, shot on their way to climb and ski Mt. Anderson in the heart of the Olympic Mountains. As Leif wrote in his previous dispatch, the team encountered extreme conditions and difficult terrain from the beginning. This video captures the team’s preparation and approach as they make their [...] http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/17/leif-whittaker-and-team-encounter-difficult-terrain-on-mount-anderson-winter-attempt/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/17/leif-whittaker-and-team-encounter-difficult-terrain-on-mount-anderson-winter-attempt/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:30:59 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=6484 http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/17/leif-whittaker-and-team-encounter-difficult-terrain-on-mount-anderson-winter-attempt/feed/ 3 By Leif Whittaker Our heaviest sled is broken. The aluminum has cracked at the rivet where the haul-bars attach to the plastic hull. Heavy snowflakes fill the air like ash from a volcanic eruption, covering our jackets in sopping white blankets as we huddle together and discuss our options, which are few. We can either [...] http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/16/leif-whittaker-and-team-kick-off-mt-anderson-winter-summit-attempt/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/16/leif-whittaker-and-team-kick-off-mt-anderson-winter-summit-attempt/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:34:24 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=6473 http://blog.firstascent.com/2011/03/16/leif-whittaker-and-team-kick-off-mt-anderson-winter-summit-attempt/feed/ 2 By Leif Whittaker A snowplow pushes branches to the edge of the rain-soaked pavement. There isn’t a trace of actual snow on the ground, just brown and green debris that the wind has cleaved off the trees. For a few minutes, as our two-car caravan trails the thundering plow, the sun appears, illuminating the bristling [...] http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/06/18/leif-whittaker-and-dave-hahn-reflect-on-everest-expedition/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/06/18/leif-whittaker-and-dave-hahn-reflect-on-everest-expedition/#comments Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:25:08 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=2943 http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/06/18/leif-whittaker-and-dave-hahn-reflect-on-everest-expedition/feed/ 0 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. http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/06/09/leif-whittaker-recounts-everest-summit/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/06/09/leif-whittaker-recounts-everest-summit/#comments Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:32:19 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=2916 http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/06/09/leif-whittaker-recounts-everest-summit/feed/ 6 By Leif Whittaker: 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 [...] http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/05/27/eddie-bauer-has-triumphant-may-on-everest/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/05/27/eddie-bauer-has-triumphant-may-on-everest/#comments Fri, 28 May 2010 06:41:58 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=2865 http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/05/27/eddie-bauer-has-triumphant-may-on-everest/feed/ 9 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 [...] http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/05/27/whittaker-and-hahn-return-safely-to-base-camp/ http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/05/27/whittaker-and-hahn-return-safely-to-base-camp/#comments Thu, 27 May 2010 19:09:56 +0000 First Ascent Brand Team http://blog.firstascent.com/?p=2863 http://blog.firstascent.com/2010/05/27/whittaker-and-hahn-return-safely-to-base-camp/feed/ 2 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.