Hello and welcome to another episode of Armchair Adventures.
This week, we're heading to Nepal!
In September 2018, Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison set out to become the first people to ski the Lhotse Couloir. Lhotse is the mountain next to Everest. At 8,516 metres it is the 4th highest mountain in the world. A perfect couloir drops straight off the summit down to the Lhotse face enabling, for the brave (some might say foolish), 2,000m plus of extreme skiing perfection.
With stunning videography, this film is a beautiful portrayal of high altitude Nepal. But you should watch it for more than just the scenery.
Why these people are here makes for a fascinating question. What is it that makes a mother leave her children at home and play Russian roulette in the Khumbu icefall? How does time in the mountains help a man cope with losing his wife and children in an air crash?
Society has a growing aversion to risk taking – something we know and understand very well here at STC Expeditions. But if we are to learn anything about ourselves, it is important we take risks - to plan and prepare, and make an informed decision as to the potential outcomes. How can we tear down the walls we build around ourselves and establish a healthier relationship between risk and reward? Important questions, indeed, but you don’t have to climb Lhotse to find the answers.
This is a great short film about adventure and pushing limits, but for me, it’s the humble Phortse Sherpas at the end who steal the show with the final, casual sign off:
“Everest 10 time summit, Lhotse 4 time summit, Manaslu 1 time summit, Cho Oyu 2 time summit, Ama Dablam 3 time summit, Annapurna I 1 time summit. And you?''
Enjoy!
Adrian