Everest 2006: The British Army West Ridge Expedition

Jude Humphries

She joined the British Army in 1989 as a Physical Training Instructor and her rank is Warrant Officer Class 2.  She is a member of the Army Physical Training Corps and therefore her job is the management of fitness instructors and outdoor adventure sports within the Army. She started climbing and mountaineering when she joined the Army, although her Father (now deceased) introduced her at a young age to walking in the mountains and enjoying the outdoors.  She have climbed all over the UK from the Scottish Highlands to the Isle of Lundy and Cornwall.  But North Wales is probably her favourite rock climbing area in the UK.

She told EverestNews.com, "Within the Army and on personal  holidays and expeditions I have managed to climb in Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Majorca, Africa,  Equador, Alaska,  Canada and the Himalayas.

I enjoy skiing too… I have raced in both Alpine skiing and more recently Nordic and Biathlon competitions.  Oh I have also raced in Adventure Races all over Europe and the hardest one being The Raid Gauloises in 1998.  I’ll pretty much have a go at all outdoor adventure sports.

My aims and ambitions from now on would be to keep mountaineering, to combine ski touring with the mountains and hopefully get a place on the next Military expedition in 2007 where they are skiing up Shisha Pangma post monsoon.  I would also love to be the first British Woman up and safely down K2… J"

Much more on the expedition and Jude in the coming days...

Everest 2006: The British Army West Ridge Expedition Dispatches

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

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