Bonus Episode: Annapurna IV Recap
Ben Clark’s Spring 2008 Expedition – Postmortem. Ben and his climbing partners Josh Butson and Tin Clarke have returned from Nepal and their expedition on Annapurna IV. This year they went out to climb...
View ArticleEpisode 094: Beyond Everest, The Annapurna IV Series Introduction
Everest Isn’t Necessarily The Pinnacle. We’re kicking off season 3 of The Rest of Everest with a special series I’m calling Beyond Everest. All of you know my dear friend Ben Clark and you’ve watched...
View ArticleEpisode 095: Beyond Everest, The Annapurna IV Expedition begins
We Approach The Subject Of The Approach. Unlike here in the United States, in Nepal there are no parking lots at the trail head for many of the large mountains. No, for A4 the guys need to trek 65...
View ArticleEpisode 096: The Road (At Least For Now) Less Traveled
If You Build It They Will Come. The approach trek continues as the team heads towards Annapurna IV. Along the way they talk to a hotel owner about the road being built along the Annapurna Circuit. The...
View ArticleEpisode 097: Hearts Racing, Hearts Aching
Love You, Honey. The approach trek continues as the team heads towards Annapurna IV. Along the way the team catches their first glimpse of the high peaks. It’s always interesting to be hiking though a...
View ArticleEpisode 098: Approaching The End Of The Approach
Sick, Huge Fun. The approach trek is almost over as the team heads towards Annapurna IV. They finally get an unrestricted view of their objective. The guys have finally made it out of the jungle and...
View ArticleEpisode 099: Up…To The Bottom
Where’s Waldo? He’s At Base Camp. The approach trek ends after it almost never ends. The exact location of base camp is debated by the porters. Apparently the porters all feel that the true location of...
View ArticleEpisode 100: Earn The Turn
“We Are The Luckiest People On Earth.” The guys get to work settling in to base camp. They also make their first exploratory climb to check out the snow conditions. When you’re thousands of miles away...
View ArticleEpisode 101: Typically Himalayan
The Weather Is What It Is. Team takes a few more turns on the skis but the excitement is short lived. The weather is calling the shots now. Ben calls the team’s official weather man, his father Jerry...
View ArticleEpisode 102: Sweet Dreams
Who Needs TV When You Have Nocturnal Insanity? Living at altitude is not just rough on the body, it is also rough on the brain. While it’s a common occurrence to feel that the lower oxygen levels high...
View ArticleEpisode 103: A River Runs Through It
As Precise As A Diamond Bullet. Just when they begin to consider solving dinner-table arguments with their ice axes, conditions on the mountain improve enough to begin the climb in earnest. Good thing,...
View ArticleEpisode 104: A Room With A View
The Line of Demarcation. The guys finally get the chance to begin upward progress on the mountain. They make it to a point above 19,000 feet and set up Camp 1. It is rather amazing how much work it...
View ArticleEpisode 105: The Best F****** Cheerleader
No Shame, No Regrets. After a restless night at Camp 1 the guys set out to make more upward progress. At a rest stop a few pitches up, Tim announces that he’s made a decision about his role on the...
View ArticleEpisode 106: Cowboys But not Indians
Butterflies In The Himalayas. The team returns to base camp to regroup and dry out after embracing Tim’s decision to leave the climbing up to Ben and Josh. The Austrian team has left and now Ben and...
View ArticleEpisode 107: Going Up, And Blowing Up
A Damn Fine Day. Ben and Josh decide to resume the climb and head out of base camp, climbing to Camp 1. They made great time since their old ski tracks were still in place. Still, the snow conditions...
View ArticleEpisode 108: Not Bad, Not Good
Not A Bad Perch. The Annapurna IV climb continues with an exhausting slog up to Camp 2. The snow conditions continue to be problematic, but the views from the peak continue to be exhilarating. So, for...
View ArticleEpisode 109: 2 Steps Up, 5000 Steps Down
Calling It. The Team make more progress up the hill and establish a camp at around 20,000 feet. Ben and Josh feel certain that they can make it to the summit as long as the weather window remains open....
View ArticleEpisode 110: The Slog
Who Said Going Downhill Was Easy? The snow conditions on Annapurna IV are so terrible it makes moving, even downhill, unbelievably difficult. With each step, the guys sink up to their waist in rotten...
View ArticleEpisode 111: Onward And Downward
No Ganja For Me, Thanks. The Team packs up and leaves their Annapurna IV basecamp. It’s been real. It’s been fun. It’s been real fun. Still, there are days of trekking ahead before flying back to...
View ArticleEpisode 112: The End Of The Annapurna IV Expedition
Enough Walking, Let’s Ride. The Annapurna IV expedition comes to an end as The Team completes the hike out and make their way to Pokara. Once in Pokara they rent motorcycles and scooters and zoom...
View ArticleEpisode 113: Annapurna IV Bonus Interviews
The Himalayas Are Worth It. While the team was trekking out from A4, Ben filmed some interviews with other trekkers met on the trail. This is just a quick bonus episode since these interviews were too...
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