Two Racers to Everest
Rob Howard / 31.03.2005
Britain’s best known explorer and regular adventure racer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, is now travelling to Tibet aiming to climb Mount Everest via the North Ridge. And at the same time Adrian Crane, perhaps the most accomplished British adventure racer ever, is leaving his home in California to attempt the same thing.Fiennes is known best as a Polar Explorer and one the world’s most in-demand motivational speakers, and at the age of 61 he still seeks new adventures and challenges. He competes with the best in UK adventure racing, his team recently won the veterans trophy in the High Peak Marathon, and he was in the team in 5th place in the Rat Race in Edinburgh.
Last year, only 4 months after a life threatening heart attack and a double by-pass operation he ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, and for the past 6 months has committed himself to the challenge of climbing Everest. This is despite the understandable misgivings of medical experts, and the fact he only remarried two weeks ago. His new wife, Louise Millington, will be honeymooning in Tibet, and on their departure was concerned Fiennes was suffering from Bronchitis, with doctors saying his lungs were only working at 81% capacity.
The couple are travelling to join a commercial expedition run by Jagged Globe, and lead by David Hamilton. Fiennes’ climbing partner will be Sibusiso Vilane, a South African who became the first black African to climb Everest in 2003, when he reached the top via the South Col. The route on the North Ridge will expose Fiennes to a longer period in the ‘death zone’ than the ascent from the South Col would, and the climb is expected to take 2 months in total.
It’s the same route Crane will be taking, and like Fiennes the ex-patriot Briton is looking to cap a lifetime of adventure. Crane, who is actively involved in organising races in the US, is no stranger to the Himalaya, he ran the length of the range with his brother in 101 days in 1983. Since then he has competed in every Eco-Challenge, and many other international races, and combined this with an accomplished climbing record. He has climbed Mount McKinley (20,320) in Alaska three times, Mount Aconcagua (22,850) in Argentina twice and Mount Chimborazo (20,561) in Ecuador. Crane will be climbing on the The Monterosa 2005 expedition and is also hoping to summit in mid-May.
SleepMonsters wishes them both well, and we will follow news of their progress.
