FOLLOW AUSTRIAN TWINS HORST AND GERNOT TURNOWSKY AS THEY ATTEMPT TO BIKE AND CLIMB EACH OF THE WORLD'S SEVEN HIGHEST PEAKS NONSTOP ON SEVEN CONTINENTS:



Mt.Kilimanjaro, Africa 19,341' (5,895 m)
(completed - see YouTube below)

Mt.Elbrus, Europe 18,510' (5,642 m)
(completed - see photos below)

Mt.Aconcagua, South America 22,841' (6,962 m)
(Goal) January, 2014

Mt.McKinley, North America 20,328' (6,196 m)

Mt.Vinson, Antarctica 16,050' (4,892 m)

Mt.Everest, Asia 29,029' (8,848 m)

Carstenz Pyramid, Australia/Oceana 16,024' (4,884 m)


Wednesday, September 16, 2009

New You Tube! Watch Horst and Gernot on conquering their first of seven summits: Kilimanjaro

Translation from the German:
Gernot: "We started in Tanga in Tanzania directly on the coast of the Indian Ocean and rode up to Morogoro. It was 230 miles with the bikes and over 2-1/2 miles and 22hours on foot straight up to the summit. The biggest difficulties were certainly at the start at Tanga where we encountered 104 degree temperatures. For me what was psychologically difficult was riding through the night in pitch darkness. You see absolutely nothing. It was almost like being in a prison, in an isolation chamber."
Horst: "There was no ambient light, no cars passing, almost spooky. A new experience for us, really."
Gernot: "The first small problem was after 18 hours riding, we had arranged for a hearty meal to regain our energy, but received only a little soup with a few pieces of bread."
Horst: "That's when we began to experience the beginning of a deficit due to too little food. In addition we experienced the onset of dangerous wildfires 6 1/2 feet high."
Gernot: "The flames cames exactly from the worst possible direction for us."
Horst: "We determined we'd have to run to avoid the flames which could block the path ahead of us. Our second night, after 27 hours, once again we did not receive the planned hot meal, rather just leftovers. I started to notice muscular problems, Gernot even more than I."
Gernot: "But when we reached the hut, we finally did receive a huge warm meal. The problem was, by that time my body was so depleted I could not eat the amount I should have to build up my energy again. It was very difficult for me. Physically and emotionally I had hit the wall. But I made it. We achieved the summit and the wonderful thing was, the sun was there again, the dark, dark night was gone and everything looked bright again."
Horst: "With the help of everyone, we were able in the sunshine to reach the top. With great effort, obviously, but the main thing is we achieved our goal"

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