24 May 2010 Pirates and peak baggers


http://us.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/05/24/somalia.pirates/index.html?hpt=T2



U.S. destroyer frees ship from 50 pirates

By the CNN Wire Staff

May 24, 2010 10:02 a.m. EDT



The destroyer USS McFaul rescued a Panamanian-flagged vessel from pirates last week.

• Destroyer USS McFaul intercepted Panamanian vessel as it headed toward Somalia

• M/V Iceberg and crew of 24 were held by 50 pirates

• Warship followed vessel for 26 hours before interception

(CNN) -- A U.S. destroyer rescued a ship off the coast of Somalia after it was taken over by 50 pirates, authorities said.

Well done! This is one major reason why we have a navy.

Notice that the article does not indicate what happened to the pirates, only that the crew and shipped were free from captivity by pirates. I’m certain that there will be a long line of critics eager to sue the Navy on behalf of the pirates for some charge concerning failure to Mirandize, failure to warn the pirates in a timely and non-threatening manner, or some real or imagined insult to one or more minorities, religions, ethnicities, etc. If the 50 pirates, reportedly heavily armed, were deprived of liberty &/or life by action of our Navy, I can applaud their action and suggest that they carry on in a similar manner. We’ve too many pirates as it is. Removing a few from the gene pool is appropriate.



http://us.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/22/teen.mount.everest/index.html?hpt=Sbin

American boy, 13, breaks Everest record

By the CNN Wire Staff May 22, 2010 8:06 p.m. EDT



Jordan Romero has climbed six of the seven highest peaks on seven continents, known as the Seven Summits.

• "Their dreams have now come true," a statement on climber's blog said

• Jordan Romero, 13, has climbed six of the seven highest peaks on seven continents

• Jordan next will tackle Vinson Massif in Antarctica; a trip is planned for December

• CNN -- A 13-year-old American became the youngest climber to ever summit Mount Everest on Saturday.

• Jordan Romero's journey was tracked through GPS coordinates on his blog, logging his team's ascent up Everest, which is 29,028 feet (8,847 meters) above sea level.

This is, in many ways, a problem for me.

I first read about Everest attempts and Hillary’s/Norgay’s first ascent at about the age of 10. Living in central MO, there was not a lot of opportunity for a ten year old to take up mountaineering and rock climbing. The idea of climbing Everest never went away but it was only a distant dream. Expeditions to the Karakorum and Himalaya ranges were generally military style in organization. Membership was dependent upon who you knew and who you had impressed. By the time someone was invited to attempt an 8000 meter peak, they had usually built up a very extensive climbing resume. They often made their living as a guide, an instructor, some parallel career field that kept them active and on the mountains. They lived with the risks of mountaineering and often fell prey to their goals. There is reportedly a 10% chance of dying every time a climber sets foot into the Khumbu Ice Fall at the base of Everest. Before I met Gloria, I’d have happily taken that chance just to become part of a team.

With the growth of adventure tourism it was only a matter of time until commercial assents were organized in the Himalayas. Peak baggers could pay their $50,000 or so and be dragged up the mountains by teams of guides and Sherpas without really ever having trained as a mountaineer. Lots of deaths began to occur due to poorly prepared clients, congestion on the route, and just plain bad weather and poor preparation.

What was once available only to a lucky and dedicated few is now available to anyone with a large enough bank account. Temba Tsheri of Nepal, the previous youngest person to summit Everest did so while he was 16. However, he was working as a porter/guide rather than peak-bagging.



Jordan Romero has, apparently, worked hard to gain sponsors and “partners for his team, his father, his father’s girl friend and three Sherpa guides. He gets a lot of applause from me for being that focused and determined. He’s fortunate in having parents who can support someone attempting to conquer the 7 Summits. Most parents can’t buy the dream and even fewer can help fund it or become a partner on the climbs.

This summit attempt was made from the Chinese side of Everest. Nepal, wisely, has an age limit for Everest permits. China doesn’t.

Recently the summit of Everest has been reached by a 76 year old climber, a double amputee, a blind climber, by Apa Sherpa 20 times now. A helicopter has reportedly landed on and then flown off the summit.

Jordan Romero will have his name in the records of ascent and his age will be noted. In many ways, I’m sorry for him. He is too young to fully understand what it took to put the first people on the summit, what it cost climbers in terms of health, families, and careers. He put out immense effort on the climb; no one summits Everest without doing so. But he’s 13 and has been handed trips to all of the highest peaks/continent. After Vinson Massif in Antarctica, what will he find to challenge him? And at some time, he’s going to age sufficiently that his appearance and age will no longer make it easy for him to find sponsors.