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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 26, 2011 - 05:53pm PT
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[photoid=196175]Conner posting from Jello's computer in Switzerland... check this out!
Jeff Lowe's Backpack retreived from the Eiger after 20 years
From the Deck of the Hotel Bellevue des Alpes, Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland
Dear Metanoia Friends,
In 1991, after 9 harrowing days on the North Face of the Eiger, Jeff Lowe abandoned his backpack when he couldn't find any anchors at the end of the rope. Jeff untied and left the rope and his pack behind as he free soloed the last 50 feet to the summit ridge where he was plucked off the mountain by a helicopter, just hours before a big storm would engulf the great North Face.
Yesterday, Josh Wharton spent over 2 hours chopping Jeff's backpack out of the ice and snow, high up n the North Face of the Eiger. Lowe was anxious to see the condition of the pack after 20 years on the mountain. Josh delivered the frozen, weather worn pack to Jeff on the deck of the Bellevue Hotel at Kleine Scheidegg. Chris Alstrin filmed both the excavation and the heroic delivery. Getting the frozen pack onto the helicopter was quite precarious for everyone involved.
Jeff was relieved to have this bit of unfinished business taken care of after all these years. Leaving the pack was contrary to Jeff's Alpine Style ascents, but necessary for his own survival on that day. Josh also delivered a Jumar and a Gibbs Ascender, and bits of rope cut away with the pack.
The contents of the pack will be explored when it thaws...
Great progress has been made all this week on the filming for Jeff Lowe's Metanoia on the North Face of the Eiger in Switzerland. Josh Wharton got his first look at Jeff Lowe's route, Metanoia, where it comes close to the Hinterstoisser Traverse and then again from high up on the mountain. Chris Alstrin was filming on the face, while Jeff and Greg Lowe did fly by's in a helicopter.
Thank you for your continued support! We are very excited about the results of the helicopter shots and on the rock filming.
Only 2 days left to spread the word and help us get more support for helicopter time at http://kck.st/g7xjJb . Every contribution makes a big difference for this film.
Stay tuned for more videos from the Eiger!
To see the rest of the photos listed below please click here
All Photos by David Black.
Jeff and Greg Lowe on the train from Grindewald to Kleine Scheidegg
Jeff Lowe's Vau De backpack after 20 years frozen into the Eiger
Josh Wharton, Jeff Lowe, Connie Self, Chris Alstrin Toast the Return
Josh, Connie, Chris listen as Jeff tells stories from his 1991 climb
Connie tests the buckles as Jeff looks on
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Mar 26, 2011 - 06:24pm PT
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This post made my day. Good stuff!
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Mar 26, 2011 - 06:27pm PT
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Right on! Made my day too..
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John Mac
Trad climber
Littleton, CO
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Mar 26, 2011 - 07:09pm PT
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Amazing stuff.
Contributing to the project really makes you feel as though you're help too. That's a pretty neat feeling.
If you haven't contributed yet, do it now!
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Mar 26, 2011 - 07:44pm PT
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I love this kind of shit! (best I could do, I was gonna write what Cragman wrote, but he, wrote it first!)
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 26, 2011 - 07:48pm PT
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The thing is frozen!
It's been dormant for 20 years!
The minute it's thawed out somethings gonna crawl out of that thing ......
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Mar 26, 2011 - 07:55pm PT
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It is going to be a "must see" movie.
Only two days left to help out the project at Kick Starter.
http://kck.st/g7xjJb
No donation too small.
Hell, even I donated!
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go-B
climber
Sozo
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Mar 26, 2011 - 08:01pm PT
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The Holy Grail of mountaineering!
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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Mar 26, 2011 - 08:10pm PT
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Yeah, that's so cool! Love to see the insides.
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Brian
climber
California
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Mar 26, 2011 - 08:11pm PT
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Now that's a good find.
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Nohea
Trad climber
Sunny Aiea,Hi
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Mar 26, 2011 - 09:36pm PT
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I got the email just before lunch, chillin with the wife . I yelled out sweet sassy molassy, they got Jeffs pack off the Eiger! Yea let's give and see this film about non other than our own Jello.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Mar 26, 2011 - 11:20pm PT
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"The minute it's thawed out somethings gonna crawl out of that thing ......"
Boy I would pay $$$$ to that on video. I'm not sure what would be more intriguing, the creature itself, or the expressions of the faces of those present!
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 27, 2011 - 07:03am PT
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Thanks for the comments. Jeff is pretty maxed so all his energy and time is focused on filming right now but he sends his thanks and kudos for the support! (Conner here again).
The pack is thawing on the deck of the Chalet. It will take a few more days. We plan to film opening it up and Jeff going through the contents... stay tuned!
And thanks for the help on kickstarter... every little bit gets us more footage of Josh Wharton on the Eiger and more...
Supertaco is the best!
Connie
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Mar 27, 2011 - 10:47am PT
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Is the pack big enough to hold Jimmy Hoffa?
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Johnny K.
climber
Southern,California
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Mar 27, 2011 - 10:53am PT
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ron ahahaa,that is amazing Connie! Best wishes for Jeff and everyone working so hard on the eiger effort.
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BrentA
Gym climber
Roca Rojo
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Mar 27, 2011 - 12:11pm PT
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Josh is a beast!
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 27, 2011 - 04:36pm PT
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I thought I'd gotten away with the perfect murder. I confess it's my partner's torso in the pack, just about the size of Jimmy Hoffa, minus appendages. The meat is probably still fresh, having been frozen all these years. Right now he's thawing out on the deck of the Chalet.
Click here to see a video of Josh chopping out the pack and delivering it to me.
All the Best to my supertaco friends. More to come.
-EigerJello
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Johnny K.
climber
Southern,California
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Mar 27, 2011 - 04:50pm PT
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Jeff!WOW.That is AMAZING!
So awesome to see you look at your pack from so many years ago.
Thanks for sharing this with all of us so quickly,looking forward to other videos and updates!
Kind regards and utmost respect to everyone involved!
Johnny
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Mar 27, 2011 - 04:58pm PT
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OMG!
I just realized how Jeff pulled off all those "solos"!
Midget belayer hiding in the pack!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Mar 27, 2011 - 05:01pm PT
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What a time capsule!
Make sure to get those signatures to me when you get home Jeff!
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