Inspirational Motivational of the Day

The annual Everest climbing season is in full swing, and a National Geographic team is live-updating online its quest to recreate the first American ascent -- the 1963 National Geographic-sponsored American Mount Everest Expedition. From the blog:

Since we're at the beginning of our expedition, our current dread is the Khumbu. It was once thought to be one of the most dangerous places on Everest, but statistical research by Professor Ray Huey at the University of Washington has shown that passing through the Icefall is far, far less dangerous than going for the summit. But that's not how it feels when you're inside the maw of the Khumbu!

Read the blog, visit the photo gallery, and follow the expedition on Twitter. Meanwhile, the second casualty of the season was recorded today: Tshering Sherpa tripped on a ladder on his way to Camp 2 and fell 150 feet to his death in a crevasse. [neatorama]