In looking back at my life and career, I would not be where
I am today without the support of the outdoor adventure community. In this
spirit, I take advantage of any opportunity to give back to an industry that
has given me so much. Everyday I see evidence that this sentiment is one of the
greatest qualities of our tribe.
It is this spirit of giving back that led mountaineer Conrad
Anker to establish the Khumbu Climbing School, part of the Alex Lowe Charitable
Foundation. The school provides essential training to Sherpas in Nepal who are
currently, or hope to be working along the world’s mountaineers in their effort
to reach the high peaks of the Himalaya.
In conjunction with the 2010 Outdoor Retailer Summer Show,
The North Face has organized a print auction with proceeds going to the Khumbu
Climbing School. I have gladly donated two of my signed prints, which will be
available alongside works by fellow adventure photographers Jimmy Chin, Tim
Kemple and Kristoffer Erickson. My donated images are posted below.
For more information and to find out how you
can help, please visit the Khumbu Climbing School website.
Our intention was to be
three pitches higher at sunrise, but despite our midnight start we were running
late. We were caught two thirds of the way up the wall while the sun was
rising. While I leaned into the anchors, disappointed, waiting for my
turn to ascend the fixed lines, I noticed it was getting brighter. I
turned around to witness one of the most spectacular light shows of my
lifetime. I instinctively raised the camera to my eye and depressed the shutter
only 3 times before the moment passed. From there, Kevin Gallagher continued
jumaring up the fixed lines while I worked to load a new roll of film.
Now, over ten years later, I realize this turned out to be not only one
of the best photographs from the trip and a fantastic offering of light. Thanks
Jeff Jackson and Keven Gallager for allowing me to be a part of that great
adventure!
Several years ago, I accompanied Stephen Koch to Indonesia
on his quest to be the first human to snowboard down the seven summits. This
photograph typified the weather in the region. As I remember, it seemed to rain
almost 18 hours a day, making the travel across the lichen covered rocks
absolutely miserable. With every fifth step or so, you’d slide off the boulder,
often times onto your back. Through much trial and error, we all eventually
found a way to walk safely. This photograph shows Stephen’s partner, Rob Milne,
mastering his technique. Shortly after this trip, Rob tragically died high on
another mountain. Rob is certainly missed greatly, though his spirit and love
for adventure lives on.
