Think he'll make it? (C&P)
Dutch "Iceman" to climb Everest in shorts
KATHMANDU (AFP) - A Dutch daredevil is to tackle the world's highest peak wearing just boots, shorts, gloves and a cap, the expedition leader told AFP Wednesday.
Wim Hof, known as the "Iceman," holds nine endurance records and recently ran 21 kilometres (13 miles) barefoot above the Arctic circle in Finland.
Hof claims to have special abilities to withstand freezing temperatures.
His website innerfire.nl shows him cross-legged and semi-naked, meditating on ice.
"He will not climb all the way in shorts, only in sections, but we plan to set many new world records," said expedition leader Werner de Jong by telephone from the Netherlands.
For the attempt on the 8,848-metre (29,014 feet) peak, Hof will strip off for climbing, but don clothes while resting, de Jong said.
"He has four extra Sherpas (high altitude mountain guides)," the team leader said. "Overnight and during tea breaks he will wear clothes."
Last May, Lakpa Tharke Sherpa caused a media furore when he claimed to have briefly stripped off on the summit of Everest, considered a holy mountain by Tibetans.
The main season on Everest gets underway in late April and May when a small window between the spring and summer monsoon make climbing Everest most feasible.
Temperatures on the summit during spring range between minus 25 and minus 30 Centigrade. The upper reaches are littered with corpses of climbers who have been killed.
The expedition, which includes four clothed climbers, leaves the Netherlands on April 1 and hopes to make a summit attempt on May 16th, de Jong's website says.
Ten mountaineers died last year trying to reach the roof of the world, first summitted by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
But De Jong is sure that the ascent can be undertaken safely.
"I am the one who will decide when he can continue, and I have enough mountaineering experience," he said.
Hof claims an unexplained ability to control his skin temperature from within and resist frostbite.
"He has trained for years and I am sure that he is the only man in the world who will be able to do this," de Jong said.
KATHMANDU (AFP) - A Dutch daredevil is to tackle the world's highest peak wearing just boots, shorts, gloves and a cap, the expedition leader told AFP Wednesday.
Wim Hof, known as the "Iceman," holds nine endurance records and recently ran 21 kilometres (13 miles) barefoot above the Arctic circle in Finland.
Hof claims to have special abilities to withstand freezing temperatures.
His website innerfire.nl shows him cross-legged and semi-naked, meditating on ice.
"He will not climb all the way in shorts, only in sections, but we plan to set many new world records," said expedition leader Werner de Jong by telephone from the Netherlands.
For the attempt on the 8,848-metre (29,014 feet) peak, Hof will strip off for climbing, but don clothes while resting, de Jong said.
"He has four extra Sherpas (high altitude mountain guides)," the team leader said. "Overnight and during tea breaks he will wear clothes."
Last May, Lakpa Tharke Sherpa caused a media furore when he claimed to have briefly stripped off on the summit of Everest, considered a holy mountain by Tibetans.
The main season on Everest gets underway in late April and May when a small window between the spring and summer monsoon make climbing Everest most feasible.
Temperatures on the summit during spring range between minus 25 and minus 30 Centigrade. The upper reaches are littered with corpses of climbers who have been killed.
The expedition, which includes four clothed climbers, leaves the Netherlands on April 1 and hopes to make a summit attempt on May 16th, de Jong's website says.
Ten mountaineers died last year trying to reach the roof of the world, first summitted by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
But De Jong is sure that the ascent can be undertaken safely.
"I am the one who will decide when he can continue, and I have enough mountaineering experience," he said.
Hof claims an unexplained ability to control his skin temperature from within and resist frostbite.
"He has trained for years and I am sure that he is the only man in the world who will be able to do this," de Jong said.
0
-
Betcha he is just trying to escape "global warming".
D.0 -
I recently read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.
It turns out that climbing Everest isn't something one does in a day or even a week. It is a lengthy process involving becoming acclimated to the lower levels of oxygen.
I'm guessing this guy won't fully succeed in his quest.0 -
0 -
I would care to bet he is about one brick shy of a full load [;)] 0 -
He will last about 15 minutes or less before he gets frostbite. 0 -
I think we can have some fun with this.....
Anyone want to start a pool on how far he gets?0 -
A new meaning to the term 'Taking it in the shorts!'[:D] 0 -
I have a feeling that he's going to get frostbite on his nads and loose the ability to pollute the rest of the world with idiocy. 0 -
no way! people get frostbit all the time wearing full gear 0 -
the funeral will not be lengthy....& he will keep even if it is summer 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
10 comments