Two mountains, two continents, two men - (Parramatta Advertiser)
1
38 PARRAMATTA ADVERTISER, Wednesday, February 17, 2010 MB MB PARRAMATTA ADVERTISER, Wednesday, February 17, 2010 83 ED: MB PUB: PAG DATE: 17/2/10 PAGES: 38 83 COLOUR: C MY K 83 Two mountains, two continents, two men Steven Deare Shane Pophfer and Darren Wise . . . high hopes. ■ MT ACONCAGUA: A snapshot ■ MT ELBRUS: A snapshot ASK Darren Wise what will be the most challenging aspect of climbing two of the world’s tallest mountains in five weeks . . . and he can’t tell you. Will it be the mechanics of scaling more than 12,600m? Will it be surviving temperatures as low as -30 degrees? Or simply the will to keep going to the summit? Darren can’t say. That is because the biggest challenge the 41-year-old and friend Shane Pophfer, 42, face is the unknown. The two are training daily for their March conquest of Mt Aconcagua in Argentina and Mt Elbrus in Russia. They hope to raise $20,000 for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Yet Wise knows there is plenty they can’t be sure of, like how their bodies will handle the 7000m elevation of Mt Aconcagua. ‘‘Six thousand metres is the highest we’ve been up,’’ he said of the duo’s previous climbs. ‘‘Is that extra 1000m going to tip us over the edge? ‘‘I can’t say.’’ Another unknown, of course, is mother nature. ‘‘There is a lot of uncertainty with the weather,’’ Wise said. ‘‘These are the things we have no control over.’’ The former army paratroopers are undergoing cardio training each day using breathing apparatus to prepare their lungs for high altitude. They expect to be climbing 10 to 12 hours each day. While an unknown foe is daunting, Wise and Pophfer say it fits with the patients’ battles at their chosen benefactor, The Children’s Hospital. They say their task pales in comparison to those of sick children who do not choose to face fear, pain and an uncertain future. Wise, in particular, knows from personal experience that not everyone gets the start to life that he did. His sister, aged 12, was knocked from her bike and killed by a drunk driver. ‘‘A lot of my young life was spent trying to understand that,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s definitely given me an insight into how quickly life can change. ‘‘There is no certainty, and that is a big driver.’’ ■ Sponsor Wise and Pophfer’s Children’s Hospital fundraiser via www.darrenwise.com.au NEWS www.parramattaadvertiser.com.au >> It is near the Argentinean / Chilean border. >> At 6962m (22,841 ft), it is not only the highest peak of the Andes and South America, but the highest point outside Asia. >> It has a very steep and massive face on its south, and a gentle slope on the north, which can be walked all the way without crampons. >> The steep 2.5km- high south face offers extreme mixed routes which are among the most difficult on earth. >> Aconcagua is often underestimated, which has resulted in serious injuries and death, mostly on the normal route. The extreme cold, stormy winds and altitude make this mountain a serious undertaking. >> Mount Elbrus is a peak located in the western Caucasus mountains, in Russia, near the border of Georgia. >> Elbrus has two summits, the west is the higher at 5642m (18,510ft), with the east summit just a bit lower at 5621m. >> Its permanent ice cap feeds 22 glaciers which, in turn, give rise to the Baksan, Kuban and Malka rivers. >> From 1959 through to 1976, a cable car system was built in stages. It can take visitors as high as 3800m. >> There is a wide variety of routes up the mountain but the normal route, which is free of crevasses, continues straight up the slope from the cable car. >> The climb is not technically difficult but it is physically arduous because of the elevations and frequent strong winds. www.thebestfurniture.com.au Free No Obligation Quote [email protected] RECOVER YOUR FAVOURITE Lounge Suites, Recliners, Sofas & Dining Chairs We come to you with FABRIC & LEATHER SAMPLES MOBILE SERVICE 1800 660 632 2031237i pag wk29 Metropolitan Built-in Wardrobes Pty Ltd FREE MEASURE & QUOTE SHOWROOM OPEN 6 DAYS Mon-Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm Sat 8.30am - 1pm T: 9763 5899, F: 9763 5877 www.metropolitanwardrobes.com.au Unit 6, 1-15 Wentworth Rd Nth, Homebush (off Bellona Ave) 15 YEARS GUARANTEED 2121304i pag wk31 Lic. 137155c CHOICES GLUTEN FREE FRESH BREAD BAKED DAILY www.choicesglutenfree.com.au Gourmet loaves Buns & Panini Baguette Pies & Sausage Rolls Hot Cross Buns Croissants Danish Pastries Ready to eat meals A wide range of our products are also DAIRY, EGG, SOY & NUT FREE Trading Hours Tues - Fri 8.30am - 3.30pm Sat 8.30am - 12.30pm Available from BELLA VISTA Shop F78 (behind ANZ Bank) 24-32 Lexington Drive 8883 2247 Available from TURRAMURRA 16 Princes Street 9440 7445 2163846i pag wk34 GLUTEN FREE
-
Upload
peak-potential-group -
Category
Sports
-
view
181 -
download
0
Transcript of Two mountains, two continents, two men - (Parramatta Advertiser)
38
PA
RR
AM
ATTA
AD
VE
RTIS
ER
,W
ed
nesd
ay,
Feb
ruary
17,
2010
MB
MB
PA
RR
AM
ATTA
AD
VE
RTIS
ER
,W
ed
nesd
ay,
Feb
ruary
17,
2010
83
ED:
MB
PUB:
PA
GD
ATE:
17
/2/1
0PA
GES:
38
83
CO
LOU
R:C
MY
K
83
Two mountains, two continents, two menSteven Deare
Shane Pophfer and Darren Wise . . . high hopes.
■ MT ACONCAGUA: A snapshot ■ MT ELBRUS:A snapshot
ASK Darren Wise what will bethe most challenging aspect ofclimbing two of the world’stallest mountains in five weeks. . . and he can’t tell you.
Will it be the mechanics ofscaling more than 12,600m?
Will it be survivingtemperatures as low as -30degrees? Or simply the will tokeep going to the summit?
Darren can’t say.That is because the biggest
challenge the 41-year-old andfriend Shane Pophfer, 42, face isthe unknown.
The two are training daily fortheir March conquest of MtAconcagua in Argentina andMt Elbrus in Russia.
They hope to raise $20,000 forThe Children’s Hospital atWestmead.
Yet Wise knows there isplenty they can’t be sure of, likehow their bodies will handlethe 7000m elevation of MtAconcagua.
‘‘Six thousand metres is thehighest we’ve been up,’’ he saidof the duo’s previous climbs.
‘‘Is that extra 1000m going totip us over the edge?
‘‘I can’t say.’’Another unknown, of course,
is mother nature.
‘‘There is a lot of uncertaintywith the weather,’’ Wise said.
‘‘These are the things wehave no control over.’’
The former armyparatroopers are undergoingcardio training each day usingbreathing apparatus to preparetheir lungs for high altitude.
They expect to be climbing 10to 12 hours each day.
While an unknown foe isdaunting, Wise and Pophfer sayit fits with the patients’ battlesat their chosen benefactor, TheChildren’s Hospital.
They say their task pales incomparison to those of sickchildren who do not choose to
face fear, pain and an uncertainfuture.
Wise, in particular, knowsfrom personal experience thatnot everyone gets the start tolife that he did. His sister, aged12, was knocked from her bikeand killed by a drunk driver.
‘‘A lot of my young life wasspent trying to understandthat,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s definitely given me aninsight into how quickly lifecan change.
‘‘There is no certainty, andthat is a big driver.’’
■ Sponsor Wise and Pophfer’sChildren’s Hospital fundraiservia www.darrenwise.com.au
NEWS www.parramattaadvertiser.com.au
>> It is near theArgentinean / Chileanborder.
>> At 6962m(22,841 ft), it is not onlythe highest peak of theAndes and SouthAmerica, but thehighest point outsideAsia.
>> It has a very steepand massive face onits south, and a gentleslope on the north,which can be walkedall the way withoutcrampons.
>> The steep 2.5km-high south face offersextreme mixed routeswhich are among themost difficult on earth.
>> Aconcagua is oftenunderestimated,which has resulted inserious injuries anddeath, mostly on thenormal route. Theextreme cold, stormywinds and altitudemake this mountain aserious undertaking.
>> Mount Elbrus is a peaklocated in the westernCaucasus mountains, inRussia, near the border ofGeorgia.
>> Elbrus has twosummits, the west is thehigher at 5642m (18,510ft),with the east summit just abit lower at 5621m.
>> Its permanent ice capfeeds 22 glaciers which, inturn, give rise to theBaksan, Kuban and Malkarivers.
>> From 1959 through to1976, a cable car systemwas built in stages. It cantake visitors as high as3800m.
>> There is a wide varietyof routes up the mountainbut the normal route,which is free of crevasses,continues straight up theslope from the cable car.
>> The climb is nottechnically difficult but it isphysically arduousbecause of the elevationsand frequent strong winds.
www.thebestfurniture.com.au
FreeNo Obligation
RECOVER YOUR FAVOURITE
Lounge Suites, Recliners,Sofas & Dining Chairs
We come to you withFABRIC & LEATHER
SAMPLES
MOBILE SERVICE1800 660 632
2031
237i
pag
wk2
9
MetropolitanBuilt-in Wardrobes Pty Ltd
FREE MEASURE & QUOTESHOWROOM OPEN 6 DAYS
Mon-Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm Sat 8.30am - 1pm
T: 9763 5899, F: 9763 5877www.metropolitanwardrobes.com.au
Unit 6, 1-15 Wentworth Rd Nth, Homebush(off Bellona Ave)
15 YEARS
GUARANTEED
2121
304i
pag
wk3
1
Lic. 137155c
CHOICES GLUTEN FREEFRESH BREAD BAKED DAILY
www.choicesglutenfree.com.au
Gourmet loaves Buns & Panini Baguette Pies & Sausage Rolls
Hot Cross Buns Croissants Danish Pastries Ready to eat meals
A wide range of our products are alsoDAIRY, EGG, SOY & NUT FREE
Trading Hours Tues - Fri 8.30am - 3.30pm Sat 8.30am - 12.30pm
Available fromBELLA VISTAShop F78 (behind ANZ Bank)24-32 Lexington Drive 8883 2247
Available fromTURRAMURRA16 Princes Street9440 7445
2163
846i
pag
wk3
4
GLUTENFREE
