Some people have the courage to carry on
A trip to Everest base camp to help people with mobility disabilities realize their dreams
Erik's Biography
As both a North Vancouver Fire Fighter and a support member of the North Shore Search and Rescue Team (Vancouver, BC) for just under two decades, Erik has used these opportunities to hone his skills as a mountaineer and team leader. For three months each year he follows his dreams to adventure. In traversing the globe seeking out challenges while diving, trekking and climbing, he began to envision possibilities for those less physically able to do the same.
A Brief History
In 1988, Erik quits a job he hates. He buys a mountain bike and rides from Vancouver across the United States, to Tijuana. The adventures have begun!
- 1989 - First trip to India; trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal in October and November
- 1990 - First trip hitchhiking around central Europe
- 1991-92 - Six months in South America, climbing Cotopaxi in Ecuador, trekking the Inca trail in Peru, sailing and diving around the Galapagos Islands and visiting ancient sites, remote tribes, and living on the beaches in Colombia
1993 - First experience of Africa. Kilimanjaro and safaris, travelling Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda using public transport (what was he thinking??!!) with the highlight being Zaire and a stay at Dian Fossey's Mountain Gorilla Camp- 1994 - Thailand and Myanmar, riding elephants through the jungle and diving off Koh Phi Phi Islands
- 1995 - Fun in Scotland and England
- 1996 - Climbed the three highest peaks in Bolivia (with future Mt. Logan team member Gord Ferguson)
- 1997 - Climbed the highest peak (1st of 7 personal summit goals) in North America, Mt McKinley (with future Mt. Logan member Don Jardine). Oops! Stuck in a storm for 11 days at 17000 ft. before obtaining the peak!
1998 - First attempt climbing Argentina's Cerro Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas (forced to abandon due to storms); volunteered in the Inti Wara Yassi Animal Refuge in Bolivia, walking the mountain lion (confiscated from a circus where her legs had been beaten when forced to jump through a burning hoop) - 1999 - Exploring the Amazon River from the highest mountain in Bolivia to the Atlantic Ocean; lived with varying river tribes living along the Amazon; trekked jungle trails visiting villages along the way
- 2000 - Trekked Nepal's Mount Mera, the highest of Nepal's designated 'trekking peaks' (21246ft.) with future Mt Logan members Ferguson and Jardine, as well as Alish Ponec; therafter, r & r in Cambodia and Laos
- 2001 - Returned to Brazil; explored Costa Rica
In October of 2001 made the first of two sad trips to New York to stand in at Fire Fighters' funerals. - 2002 - One month dogsled trip from Resolute Bay, Nunuvut, towards the magnetic North Pole; lead the first expedition for a spinal cord injured person over the saddle of Mt. Kilimanjaro (the 2nd goal summits) on the Rongai route in Tanzania
- 2003 - Mountain biked Guatemala from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans and into Belize
- 2004 - Mountain biked across Argentina (a storm quashed his solo attempt of Mt. Aconcagua; played for 40+ minutes with mother and calf previously endangered Southern Right Whale (baleen whale) while diving in Peninsula Valdes
- 2005 - Yukon Mt Logan expedition mounted. North Shore Rescue http://www.northshorerescue.com has the most accurate account and pictures of the climb and subsequent rescue; lost 9 fingers due to frostbite
- 2006 - Cycled across Cuba 4 months after the last operation on fingers; on Canada day climbed Russia's Mt Elbrus (highest European mountain 18510ft), 3rd of the 7 summits, 13 months after the Mt Logan rescue
- 2007 - Diving in the Andaman Sea near Thailand to search for Whale Sharks (no luck!) though found giant Manta Rays; returned to Cuba for more cycling to get into shape for Everest
- 2008 - Mt. Everest through Nepal and Tibet, a dream to be realized and shared
As you can see Erik has spent a lifetime looking for adventure and now wants to share his experience with you.
If any of these trips are something you would like to do contact him and he will do everything possible to help. Logan proved that not all travel is without danger so be warned. We are dealing with third world countries and anything is possible even the negative, but nothing ventured nothing gained.
The world is fantastic. Start exploring it!