The lack of guidance showed in deteriorating group morale. Accidentally walking into a guide taking a whiz behind a small wall, Betsy said apologetically, "Whoops, sorry. I'm not looking! Some time after her rest in the snow Brice reportedly showed up, and summoned Betsy to talk in his tent set up at Base Camp with three video cameras in her face. Someone is lying On camera, Russell reportedly accused Betsy of misrepresenting her experience.
Betsy had climbed with Alan Burgess on lesser summits in the Annapurna range before. He even used a picture of me learning to use the ropes in his Camp 5 catalog for the next five years. I had such an amazing journey with Alan; I thought my expedition with Russell Brice would be just as rewarding," Betsy said. Countering Brice's accusation, Betsy published her intro letter to him, where she recounted her various adventure experience and clearly wrote, "I believe the highest Al took us was around 20, feet.
When a Sherpa offered Betsy to help carry her gear, "Russell had a temper tantrum and threw my bag across the ground," Betsy wrote. Betsy's full recount Posting on the Adventurist Himex outfit was involved in the David Sharp tragedy, when guides and clients reported they were told by Russell Brice to step over a dying independent climber. Watching this video of Betsy Huelskamp discussing her wardrobe — loves fringe, the color brown and customizing everything in sight — we are struck by her utter self-possession.
The root of this seems to be that she fully owns who she is, with all of the imperfections, and thus is seemingly fearless.
As we have written in the past, aesthetics are cultural, and even tribal. On the other end of the spectrum there is the all-natural no-interventions school: the Patty Smith Tribe. Of course, there is a vast range in between.
The important point is that one should be able to feel empowered within themselves, whatever that may mean to each individual. Those who figure out what that means for them, and who own it, seem to be most happy. Betsy Huelskamp, at home on the road. Beauty can be power. It really all depends on how we feel about ourselves. As Huelskamp vividly points out, there is allure and sexiness in self-possession and self-acceptance.
There is something strikingly audacious about radical self-acceptance. Not narcissism, which is actually quite fragile, but a robust feeling of being the best one can be. This is something we have heard time and time again from countless interviews at AGEIST — a sense of being the person they were meant to be, and thus the very best version of themselves.
Most people tell us this is the result of age, that it took them a long time to come to a place of being this person they were meant to be. There was that time she climbed to 25, ft on Everest. When I ride the canyons, I like to lean so far that I can smell the pavement.
And perhaps my last day on earth shall be doing one of my crazy activities. What I do fear is unrealized dreams. No one ever promised that we could be or have anything we desired. But you get to TRY! And sometimes the trying IS the journey, the lesson, and the experience. So enjoy the journey! As a side note, I once met and photographed Ivo Pitanguy in Rio. Ivo was the inventor of plastic surgery, which he developed to help childhood burn victims.
I asked him about his thoughts about modification on himself. Here was a man with the technology and the means to do whatever invasive procedure one could imagine, but he did nothing. I was kind of waiting to see how things were going to go. I will email you first. It is not new news that Russell is a prick and has treated clients before as dirt.
Russell will get what is coming to him someday for his lack of kindness, integrity and compassion for others. His record on his own climbs is said to be sketchy and that he may not have the great resume that he states. I am with Betsy on this one. And I hate The Discovery Channel. They manipulate there stories based on what outcome serves them. If it was National Geographic doing this show, I would feel more complled that it all is truth. Just my thoughts.
Those allegations have been swirling around for a long time. I also agree that Discovery can edit things to tell the story the way they want, and to make things appear in a way that may not be completely accurate. However, in this case, there was some pretty solid footage of Betsy struggling or saying things that were a little off.
I was never on her side. Great insights. I fully understand about the great importance of making sure that those that are on the team need to be able to mentally and physically capable of achieving the goals that are before them. My wife and I are both NY State hicking and climbing guides and are very upfront about our clients being completely honest about ability both physically and mentally. It is always good proof to look at their gear before seting off.
If crampons look new, if they do not have an ice ax, or another piece of gear that is standard for what they say they have done before and do now then we have respectful conversations with them. She can stretch the truth, say she is up to the task but I truly believe that it is the responsibility of the company, that being Russell to confirm that completely. He is responsible for all these people and neds to make that what his clients say is true.
Whay would Russell take him the mountian and jepordize the whole team, because this reels in more viewers, just like Mogens with his asthma problem and trying to climb withot oxygen. I believe Russell new full well, if it is the case that Betsy was not going to be able to make it. I am sure that the Discovery Channel bit hard on this one. If all were able and seasoned on the mountain would the show be as popular?
But this needs to be remembered, there is no reason in the world that a person should be treated the way Betsy was supposedly treated. I agree with you on both accounts Lawrence. Russell needs to take responsibility for allowing her to join the team in the first place, and probably Discovery as well, although they may bow to his decisions on this. No client deserves that. It seems to me there is her side of the story, his side of the story, and the truth somewhere in the middle.
How do I treat people, namely adventurist types. Some that are fun loving I treat nicely and I let my guard down. Others, well, I treat them very delicately. They never got over there invincibility complex of their youth and they are like some species of animal that fights to the death — even alone.
Just curious.. Is this issue really so big that people are afraid to speak out? I have shifted in my approach to this issue, as Kraig has mentioned. I have talked at length to him about my thoughts.. To me, those are the main two questions that we will probably not have answers too.
I do have more to this story—including some comments by another well-known Himex and Everest: Beyond the Limit member.. I am waiting to see how this all goes down before I jump in with much more—you can be sure though, there is more to this story. By the way, Lawrence, keep in mind that what Russell supposedly done is being put out by Betsy..
This has not been confirmed by anyone else at this time. Spoiler alerts?! Would you want to know who wins Survivor for instance, or who is voted off two or three weeks before it happens? Arrogance and ego get a lot of us in trouble sometimes. She probably truly thought she could do it. As for Brice, I mentioned in my very first post on this topic way back in August that he took her on at half-price.
Way to go Betsy.
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