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Extreme Mountaineering or Extreme BS? I think the latter...

Original Post
NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60
youtube.com/watch?feature=p…

It is difficult for me to express adequately how objectionable I find this endeavor to be. I am FAR from an expert on alpine climbing. However, I know enough to recognize that the sheer size of this expedition is appalling. With the same level of support, I would bet that there are literally thousands of outdoor athletes that could walk out the door today and complete this "expedition." If this ass-hat was really concerned about stopping child trafficking, he would take the $5.6 mil and the massive amount of time he is wasting on this boondoggle and get involved in directly supporting a charity that is doing something to help the children. This whole thing is just a waste of resources to inflate this dudes ego.

Your thoughts?
Nate K · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 240

I agree completely, it sounds like a publicity stunt for underarmour. These guys are rich wannabes and i feel bad for the guides who are gonna be hauling them up the mountain

LRL · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 0

3,780 porters!

NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60
mission14.org

facebook.com/14Summits

Interesting to look at the web site and FB page. He has the balls to ask for donations after spending $5.6 Mil on this farce. Due to their sponsorship of this "expedition," I can guarantee that I will NEVER buy anything from UnderArmour.
Christian RodaoBack · · Tucson, AZ · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 1,486

Three whole days to do K2?!

Didn't the guys in "Vertical Limit" already do it in one?

Siberia · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 30

"I'm doing this with only sherpa support"

"Doing Everest in 8 hours"

"God save the Queen"

"I'm not doing this from an ego perspective"

"Think of the children"

"My faith powers me out of the crevasses"

My douchery is rivaled only by my narcicissim. Fin. UNDERARMOUUUUUUURRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

SavageMarmot · · Nederland, CO · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 190

His wife would be totally hotter if he was that good.

en.r · · Ojai, Ca · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 55

Spend a fortune, kill some Sherpas, possibly save lives in Nicaragua?

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180

When they fail you'll never hear about their "expedition" again.

NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60
Ben Beckerich wrote:if he pulls it off, he's the stud of the fucking century.
I totally disagree. He is just a well funded, egotistical self-promoter. Others may feel differently, but I think that there are literally 1000s of outdoor athletes that could successfully complete this "expedition" with all the support he is putting in place. What he is doing has little to do with alpine climbing or mountaineering, and everything to do with excessive support through extravagant spending.
NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60

No worries, Ben. You probably have a TON more experience doing alpine stuff than I do and are more qualified to comment on how tough this is. From my seat on the couch, this just seems like a "stunt" more than a climb, and like he is buying the summits. The reason no one else is doing this is that there are not too many climbers with $5.6 mil to spend on a 14 day "expedition." This on its own does not bother me. Trying to position this boondoggle as benefitting underprivileged and exploited children just rubs me the wrong way.

Clint Helander · · Anchorage, AK · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 612

It's pretty simple.

Under Armor wants to get in to the outdoor market. They have a huge budget to spend on marketing. They don't know anything about mountaineering. This guy has climbed in the Himalaya. His teams of sherpas are going to fully fix every route he climbs prior to him being on them. That way, in theory, he can helicopter from one base camp (or higher) to another base camp (again, or higher) and claim a summit when he has done none of the logistical leg work himself.

What about weather? Conditions? Will he succeed. No.

This guy talks about saving the children or human traffiking...like he gives a fuck. Awareness climbs are bullshit. Whether for cancer or children or human traffiking or whatever bogus cause people claim to be trying to raise money for. Most expeditions use most of the funds to benefit their climb...far more than goes to the organization in the end.

If this guy wants to do this project and claim a speed record...fine. I mean...I think he's a douche-puddle but don't list some stupid cause that you are trying to raise awareness for. It's so transparent. No one buys it. And if they do they are dumber than he is.

He won't have the respect of anyone in the climbing community either way. He's doing it for the wrong reasons. That is the one thing that is clear.

Clint Helander · · Anchorage, AK · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 612

Oh and there are no right reasons to do this series of climbs. Speed records of established trade routes on 8000m peaks is lame. If you really want to gain respect, do it without oxygen or sherpa support. That would give the project a lot of cred.

Kip Kasper · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 200
clint helander wrote:It's pretty simple. Awareness climbs are bullshit.
+1
David B · · Denver, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 205

what a goober

Brian Croce · · san diego, CA · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 60

"To ensure speed and safety as Mission 14™ strives for a 100% success rate, Nick’s team will climb the ‘normal’ routes on all 14 peaks, and will use supplemental oxygen above 23,000 feet."

HAHAHAHAHAHA

so how do you manage

"This small, agile team of expert climbers is a key factor in Mission 14™’s ability to break multiple high-altitude records. "

to do ^^ by using standard routes and supplmental oxygen?

Zach Myers · · Durango, CO · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 50

8,000 meters is nothing if you've got a good sports training montage to back you up

Allen Sanderson · · On the road to perdition · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 1,203

Enjoy the letter I wrote to Kevin Plank and Jeff Bowman the respective CEOs of Under Amour and Cocona.

To: kplank@underarmour.com, jbowman@cocona.com, bowman@cocona.com
Cc: info@cocona.com

Dear Mr. Plank and Mr. Bowman,

I recently learned of the "Mission 14" and the sponsorship of Under Armour and Cocona. After reading through Mr & Mrs. Cienski's website I have to say I am aghast. Quite simply it is nothing more than someone wanting to take two years off from working and go on a paid vacation. Paid for by your company and other suckers. Their desire to raise awareness of children in poverty while laudable is just smoke and mirrors to give legitimacy to their vacation. The self promotion comments from their website mission14.org are utter nonsense:

"The significant challenges of the expedition will mirror the challenges that face families living in poverty across the world: in places like La Chureca, a garbage dump community in Nicaragua,"

Is Mr. Ciensk going to be walking to Asia in his bare feet, living under a rock while scrounging old food caches for something to eat? The answer is not only no but hell no. Mr. Ciensk will be surrounded by hundreds of porters and sherpas carrying his gear backed by a budget of over 5 million dollars. He is not even trying to do something bold but will be climbing the normal routes fixed with thousands of feet of rope while using O2 on every climb. His attempt is nothing but the some old song with a different verse. Instead of the seven summits it the highest fourteen. Newsflash - it has all been done before and in better style.

Your company can choose to spend your marketing money how you wish, similarly I can choose to spend my money on products and companies who in turn are really make a difference. If your companies were really interested in helping families living in poverty I would suggest that sponsoring trips to Nicaragua where factory second garments are given to children while doing teaching service projects would help reduce poverty far more than the money being spent on Mr. Ciensk "expedition."

In the mean time I am planning the first nude snow board circumnavigation of the south pole while singing "God Save the Queen" would Under Amour or Cocona be interested in sponsoring me? I will not need clothing just hard cold cash for my endeavor.

Allen Sanderson
Salt Lake City

Tommy Layback · · Sheridan, WY · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 85

In one sense, this expedition is just an EXTREMELY magnified version of what we all do ... spend disposable income to achieve climbing objectives. BUT...While accomplishing their goal with the ridiculous amount of human and capital resources they are employing (e.g., over 3000 porters!@#$%) is still by no means a gimme, I think many of us would agree their planned style is grotesque in its excesses. Not my preferred style, but whatever.

Also, the criticism is not necessarily 'hating'. The point of the main post was just to call them out for claiming to do this for charity. And that is totally appropriate because they are trying to us this ruse to raise money. If you want to help the cause - do your homework and donate directly to a low overhead org. that addresses said cause.

Better to be honest about your intents and motivations...and along those lines - I will now be accepting your donations to fund my 'expedition 2013/2014' which will consist of sending all the classic moderate lines within the major climbing destinations of Wyoming. This will be a truly multi-disciplinary affair with a good mix of alpine climbing, sport and trad cragging, and winter waterfall ice climbing. I will accomplish this without supplementary oxygen and porters, and a small DIY team. This will also be conducted whilst daftly balancing job, wife, and parental duties. I am motivated by a clean and pure hedonistic desire to soak up as much varied gnar as possible. Your donations will also benefit numerous Wyoming small businesses and 'big oil' - unless someone wants to donate a greener vehicle to replace my Chevy.

David B · · Denver, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 205
Allen Sanderson wrote:"The significant challenges of the expedition will mirror the challenges that face families living in poverty across the world: in places like La Chureca, a garbage dump community in Nicaragua"
holy shit. hahaha

great letter
Tommy Layback · · Sheridan, WY · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 85

+1 Allen's letter

Allen Sanderson wrote:In the mean time I am planning the first nude snow board circumnavigation of the south pole while singing "God Save the Queen" would Under Amour or Cocona be interested in sponsoring me? I will not need clothing just hard cold cash for my endeavor.
I think "No Feelings" would be a more appropriate Pistols song for the occasion.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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