'Meg Berte' tagged blog posts in Alison Levine's Blog

An unspeakable crime was committed at BC a few weeks ago (unspeakable, but not untype-able), and the perpetrator has still not been apprehended. Spike, the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ mascot was being carried up the mountain by one of my teammates, John Rudolph. Needless to say, JR is a big big BIG Gonzaga basketball fan (the team actually spends time at his lake house in Idaho). There is an athletic center on the...

I know. That’s a horrible thing to say and I am expecting nastygrams from the AARP. But before you get all undone about how politically incorrect this blog title is, let me say this: Sometimes 65 is the new 45. Just not in the case of one of our teammates that left the expedition early and is now headed home. She was 65 years old and a veteran of multiple Himalayan...

Dear Kate -

You and I have not met, but we have much in common. I know that for years people have scrutinized your eating habits and have criticized your weight. Well, I know just how you feel because after so many weeks at altitude I am also really having trouble getting my food down and keeping it down. I realize that the difference between your situation and mine is that you...

Best surprise EVER 2 days ago when my friend Leon Watts from Tampa, FL stopped by our camp to say hello. It’s always nice to get a visit from an old friend at 17,600’. Leon was leading a group on a trek to BC and managed to wander around long enough to find our digs (not easy, as it takes over an hour to walk all the way through base camp)....

Yesterday was our first foray into the dreaded Khumbu Icefall, which is 2000 vertical feet of massive ice chunks that can be as large as school busses or apartment buildings. The terrain is nonstop unevenness and just about every step you take has to be carefully positioned. What makes this area so dangerous is not only the challenging terrain, but also the fact that the icefall is in constant motion and...

I am really enjoying our time at base camp (BC). One big reason is that we have an awesome team of Sherpas cooking for us, and another is that we all get our own tents while we are here. We will be sharing tents at the higher camps as we move up the mountain, but for the nights we spend here we get to sleep solo which is nice because it...

Today is April 3rd, and it is day 3 of our trek in to base camp. 9 more to go. We are currently in Namche, which actually does resemble a typical little town (in a 3rd world country). This place has been built up quite a bit since I was last here 8 years ago. There are trinket shops, bookstores and internet cafes. But of course with more capital, infrastructure...

This article was created on March 28, 2010.

As I boarded the plane from SFO, I had a lot on my mind — did I pack everything I needed? Did I pack too much? Will there be enough sun to power my solar charger so that my satellite phone will work? Does my sunscreen block both UVA and UVB and which kind is worse anyway??? Did I remember to pack toilet paper?...

Part of Everest preparation/training is obviously to be in tip top physical condition, because the human body deteriorates quickly at altitude, especially above 18,000' of elevation (more detail in a future posting). There are things that have to be added to a normal cardiovascular and weight training regimen that wouldn’t come into play when training for any other type endurance event. Two months at altitude is a whole different animal. One...

I am taking 85 Broads with me to Base Camp. And you might think that makes 86 of us, but actually it makes 20,000+. 85 Broads is a global network of 20,000 trailblazing women who are inspired, empowered, and connected. Janet Hanson, the founder of 85 Broads , worked for Goldman Sachs at 85 Broad Street -- the investment banking firm's NYC headquarters. In 1986, she became the first...