Metanoia Update - Backpack retrieved from Eiger

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Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 26, 2011 - 05:53pm PT
[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
Mtnmun

Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
Mar 26, 2011 - 06:24pm PT
This post made my day. Good stuff!
John Moosie

climber
Beautiful California
Mar 26, 2011 - 06:27pm PT
Right on! Made my day too..
John Mac

Trad climber
Littleton, CO
Mar 26, 2011 - 07:09pm PT
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!


Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Mar 26, 2011 - 07:44pm PT
I love this kind of shit! (best I could do, I was gonna write what Cragman wrote, but he, wrote it first!)
WBraun

climber
Mar 26, 2011 - 07:48pm PT
The thing is frozen!

It's been dormant for 20 years!

The minute it's thawed out somethings gonna crawl out of that thing ......

Fritz

Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
Mar 26, 2011 - 07:55pm PT
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!

go-B

climber
Sozo
Mar 26, 2011 - 08:01pm PT
The Holy Grail of mountaineering!
couchmaster

climber
pdx
Mar 26, 2011 - 08:10pm PT
Yeah, that's so cool! Love to see the insides.
Brian

climber
California
Mar 26, 2011 - 08:11pm PT
Now that's a good find.
Nohea

Trad climber
Sunny Aiea,Hi
Mar 26, 2011 - 09:36pm PT
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.
rlf

Trad climber
Josh, CA
Mar 26, 2011 - 11:20pm PT
"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!
Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 27, 2011 - 07:03am PT
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
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 27, 2011 - 10:47am PT
Is the pack big enough to hold Jimmy Hoffa?
Johnny K.

climber
Southern,California
Mar 27, 2011 - 10:53am PT
ron ahahaa,that is amazing Connie! Best wishes for Jeff and everyone working so hard on the eiger effort.
BrentA

Gym climber
Roca Rojo
Mar 27, 2011 - 12:11pm PT
Josh is a beast!
Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 27, 2011 - 04:36pm PT
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
Johnny K.

climber
Southern,California
Mar 27, 2011 - 04:50pm PT
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
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 27, 2011 - 04:58pm PT
OMG!

I just realized how Jeff pulled off all those "solos"!



Midget belayer hiding in the pack!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Mar 27, 2011 - 05:01pm PT
What a time capsule!

Make sure to get those signatures to me when you get home Jeff!
Jobee

Social climber
El Portal Ca.
Mar 27, 2011 - 05:08pm PT
-Fortune favors the brave.

Congratulations on the retrieval; pack happily reunited with owner!
Josh looked fabulous up there.

Super cool stuff, made my day.

All the best to you, and your own Jeff.



Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
WA, & NC & Idaho
Mar 27, 2011 - 05:31pm PT
Can't wait to see the movie Jello,

You are a inspiration to us all!
Best
-Ezra
aguacaliente

climber
Mar 28, 2011 - 02:20am PT
Like.

Can't wait to see the ebay ad: "One yellow jumar. Good condition. Has been stored untouched for last twenty years. Recommend replacing the sling."
wildone

climber
Troy, MT
Mar 28, 2011 - 03:19am PT
This is great. Can't wait to see the film! That snippet was very well shot.
pvalchev

Social climber
Mountain View, CA / Calgary, AB
Mar 30, 2011 - 06:49pm PT
Can't wait!

The site is open for 7 more hours, it looks like:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jefflowesmetanoia/jeff-lowes-metanoia-jon-krakauer-narrates-a-true-s
scuffy b

climber
dissected alluvial deposits, late Pleistocene
Mar 30, 2011 - 09:23pm PT
That's great to get the pack back, but Man O Man that website is one
Inspirational Trip!!
Barbarian

Trad climber
The great white north, eh?
Mar 30, 2011 - 09:29pm PT
You gonna put that pack on ebay? I need a "new" one. I can see it now: "slightly used alpine pack"....
Gene

climber
Mar 31, 2011 - 02:16pm PT
Improbable Jello gear retrieval bump
drlin

Trad climber
friggin florida
Apr 5, 2011 - 11:22pm PT
Best wishes to you Jeff. Long journeys have made our lives infinitely rich. And you are still discovering buried treasures.

Virginia Savage
marv

Mountain climber
Bay Area
Apr 5, 2011 - 11:29pm PT
for F's sake, what was found when you gutted the pack??
jfs

Trad climber
Upper Leftish
Apr 5, 2011 - 11:44pm PT
the Taste the Paine thread bump and this together.... = mega stoke.

woot!
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Apr 6, 2011 - 11:05am PT
He's not talking because I figured out about the midget,.. uh,.. little person.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Apr 10, 2013 - 10:25pm PT
Eiger Bump...
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 10, 2013 - 10:32pm PT
Metanoia bump...

Messages 1 - 34 of total 34 in this topic
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