Ed Viesturs: with summits of Everest, K2 and all the others except Annapurna attempts to finish the 14 this Spring

Ed Viesturs: SEEKING THE HIGHEST PLACES: The Quest to Climb the World's Greatest Mountains Ed will attempt to finish the 14 this year. He will warm up on Cho Oyu and then head over to Annapurna. Veikka Gustafsson will again be his climbing partner.

Ed Viesturs is widely regarded as this country's foremost high-altitude mountaineer, and one of the all-time "greats" in the world of mountaineering. Familiar to many from the 1996 IMAX Everest Expedition documentary, Ed was awarded the historic Lowell Thomas Award by the Explorer's Club in 2002, for outstanding achievement in the field of mountaineering, along with such notables as Sir Edmund Hillary. Ed has successfully summited thirteen of the world's fourteen 8000 meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. He is one of only a handful of climbers in history (and the only American) to accomplish this.

SEEKING THE HIGHEST PLACES is the inspirational account of Ed's fourteen year pursuit of all the world's peaks above 8000 meters, a goal nearing its culmination. In a presentation tailored to fit the particular concerns of his many and varied corporate audiences, Ed uses spectacular photographs from his 16 years of expedition climbing as breath-taking illustration for his compelling story.

Ed makes a clear and dramatic connection for his audiences between commitment to integrity and superlative achievement. Totally committed to the integrity of his approach to his goals, Ed has elected to forgo using supplemental oxygen on his climbs, making an already extremely difficult endeavor almost beyond human possibility. He does this not to prove anything "macho" or vainglorious, but just the opposite: to climb without oxygen is a direct, often humbling encounter with the true reality of these mountains. "I want to climb the mountain under its own terms," he states. "How I climb a mountain is more important to me than getting to the summit at all costs."

In addition, Ed's fourteen-year quest has encompassed many astounding successes within it, each of which would be the pinnacle of life-time accomplishment for most adventurers. But Ed shares a broader, bigger view of life and of success, with uncommon messages of focus, passion, desire, and patience. These messages, together with Ed's friendly, gently humorous style, make Seeking the Highest Places a deeply inspiring, unforgettable presentation for everyone lucky enough to experience it.

Millet One Sport Everest Boot for Spring 2009 has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

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