2 K2 & Everest Climbers Swap Mountain Stories

2 K2 & Everest Climbers Swap Mountain Stories

Author: Francis Tapon October 4, 2024 Duration: 19:06

Everyone loves coincidences. During my month in Estonia, I bumbled into Krisli Melesk, who bumbled into Eric Gilbertson on K2. Eric & I were scheduled to record a podcast a few days after I met Krisli, so I invited her to join the show as a surprise guest! 


Eric Gilbertson is in the process of climbing to the highest point in every country. He's done 143 out of 193!


This is first of a two-part series, featuring Eric & Krisli. Subscribe to get next week's episode where we will discuss Eric kite surfing across Greenland!


You must listen to my first two interviews with Eric Gilbertson!


Krisli Melesk is also remarkable. She deserves her own episode and book! Her list of adventures is long and mind-blowing.


We only delved into a couple of her countless adventures in this episode.


In this episode, we focus on K2 and Everest, especially their joint experience on K2. Although they didn't climb K2 on the same team, they met on K2 and summitted a few days apart.


We end the show by talking about Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain, with an elevation of 28,169 feet (8,586 metres). It is situated in the eastern Himalayas on the border between Sikkim state, northeastern India, and eastern Nepal, 46 miles (74 km) north-northwest of Darjiling, Sikkim.


We discuss why Eric was able to summit Kanchenjunga and Krisli was not.


Note: In the show, I refer to Krisli as "Kris," but the automatic subtitle generator on the video transcribed her name as "Chris." Also, I apologize for the mediocre audio quality. We had tech issues.


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There's a certain kind of travel that changes you, not just your location. It’s the slow, immersive kind where the journey itself becomes the teacher. In WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life, Francis Tapon acts as your guide into this world, exploring how leaving familiar ground can fundamentally reshape your perspective. This isn't about quick tips or itineraries; it's about the deeper conversations that happen at the crossroads of culture, society, and personal growth. Each episode delves into how we engage with places and people, often weaving in discussions about the role of modern technology in both enabling and complicating these profound experiences. You'll hear stories and insights that challenge the conventional tourist mindset, pushing toward a more thoughtful, engaged way of moving through the world. Francis draws from a wealth of experience to discuss concepts like vagabonding and deep travel, making the case that the greatest souvenirs aren't trinkets, but transformed thoughts. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who understands that the real destination is often a shift within yourself. It’s for anyone who believes that travel, at its best, is a powerful catalyst for learning and living differently.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
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