**Update 6/15/10: Chad is back in Seattle, home safe from his expedition. His final interview with Fitz recaps what he has taken from this trip. Though he didn’t step across the summit, the trip was still a huge achievement and success. Listen in below. For details on his summit attempt, read his last post.
This spring, Chad Kellogg is on an incredible journey to the Himalaya. His goal: set a new speed record ascent of colossal, 29,029-foot Mt. Everest without the aid of oxygen or Sherpas.
“The speed ascent on Everest…there’s different categories…you have your speed ascent, which has been done by the sherpas with oxygen. And then you have the other ascents that have been done without oxygen. What I’m trying to do is establish an ascent from basecamp to the summit and back to basecamp without oxygen. That’s the dream.” – Chad Kellogg
To attempt something this epic, – with the hopeful and expected outcome of incredible success but also potential of extreme consequences, – requires iron-strong will, drive and focus. Chad’s line to the top will not be easy.
A film is in the works to document Chad’s story. Catch a glimpse into his recent trip to Aconcagua while training for Everest and his plans for this expedition. Follow Chad’s journey here on VertiCulture – including an interview with Fitz Cahall of the Dirtbag Diaries.
6/15/10 Chad has returned from Everest. Though his attempt to set a new, unassisted speed record was not achieved this season, he has come back with knowledge of the mountain and what it takes to get there. While summiting is typically the measure of success, he came back satisfied having climbed without sacrificing the style that defined his trip. Listen in to his recap interview with Fitz.
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6/15/10 Chad’s recap of the climb; an early misstep into a puddle and extra expenditure of energy, crowds, and the realities of climbing as an ever-evolving, always changing and unexpected endeavor.
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4/26/10 The weight of risk can be heavy. And Chad is facing huge challenges on this expedition; the Khumbu Ice Fall, avalanches, keeping his body’s energy up, the cold. How does someone prepare for this? How do you judge your limits? And where does inspiration for dreams this big come from?
Here’s the fourth of Fitz Cahall’s interviews with Chad. The next interview will be after Chad’s trip – stay tuned for that report and his blog updates throughout the rest of this journey.
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4/20/10 This Everest expedition was originally planned for the 2009 season. But an intense storm and white out conditions during training on Mt. Rainier changed Chad’s plans. An accident on the Muir snowfield resulted in a shattered arm and an overnight trapped by an avalanche.
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4/13/10 Chad’s training for Everest has been an incredible journey in and of itself. Here’s his second interview with Fitz Cahall shedding light into his training regime.
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3/29/10 Chad Kellogg is headed to the Himalaya to set a new speed record of colossal, 29,029-foot Mt. Everest, without the aid of oxygen or Sherpas. Here is Chad’s first interview in a series with Fitz Cahall of the Dirtbag Diaries.
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