5 dead in Mayon eruption

By AARON B. RECUENCO Five people reportedly died while at least seven others were injured when the famous Mayon Volcano in Albay erupted yesterday morning, a local official said. Raffy Alejandro, director of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol region, said they are now focusing on the retrieval of the fatalities who were still trapped near Camp 2 as of yesterday morning. Incoming search... 

Nepal avalanche

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) – Mountaineers who survived a pre-dawn avalanche high on the world’s eighth-tallest peak say they waited an hour for sunlight, and then saw pieces of tents and bodies of victims strewn around them on the snow.  Read More »

Climbers die in mountain accident

GENEVA (AP) – Five foreign climbers died Tuesday in a mountain accident in Switzerland near the Italian border. The mountaineers successfully reached the 4,010-meter (13,155-foot) high Lagginhorn summit, but then plunged several hundred meters (yards) to their deaths after beginning to descend.  Read More »

Vertical catwalk

A group of models have taken park in a catwalk show with a difference… the catwalk was suspended vertically down the outside of a Boston hotel. Each had to be strapped into harnesses while wearing their Ted Baker outfits before rappelling down the 24-storey catwalk in the vertigo-inducing show. The models — actually climbers from Boston Rock Gym — also showed off Revere... 

Mount Everest (2)

Mount Everest is notorious for its harsh climbing conditions, and the treacherous weather that faces climbers. Everest summit is not only the highest but also among the coldest places on earth to humans. Any exposed skin at high altitudes is prone to frost bite. Above 8,000 meters is called “death zone” on Mount Everest due to the low oxygen levels. Most climbers use supplementary... 

Mount Everest (1)

LUKLA is a town in the Khumbu area in Nepal at 2,860 m above sea level, where the Tenzing-Hillary Airport is located. From Lukla to the Base Camp of Mount Everest is about a 7day trek, ascending more than 2,500 meters. The Base Camp at an elevation of 5,500 m is already higher than the highest peaks in Europe. Here, it is just the starting point. Not far above the Base Camp is Khumbu... 

Garduce to preach mountain climbing

By NICK GIONGCO Manila, Philippines – For all his achievements and extraordinary exploits, Filipino mountaineer Romi Garduce admits he is just “a tadpole” swimming in the company of heavweights in comparison with the world’s greatest climbers. Fresh from reaching the summit of the 16,067-feet Vinson Massif in Antarctica three weeks ago to become the first Filipino to conquer... 

Gold medal winner: Try wall-climbing

By REY BANCOD PALEMBANG ­- Ina Flores is hoping that her gold medal win in the 26th Southeast Asian Games will spark interest in wall climbing, an obscure sport that counts only 80 serious competitors back home. “Sana nga,“ Flores quipped. “We’re hoping that wall climbing will get popular so we can get more people trying the sport.“ Flores is 27 years old, single and manages...