Jerzy Michalski (left) was born September 3, 1931. He was 14 at the end of the world war II. In fact - Jerzy was 22 years old when Ed and Tenzing stood on the summit of Everest for the first time! This fall he and son Pawel (right) hope to climb Everest from the Tibetan side. (Click to enlarge). Image of Jerzy and Pawel, at the summit of La Malinche Volcano, Mexico.
Jerzy and Pawel, Carstensz Pyramid, Irian Jaya. The guys will arrive Kathmandu by end of August, hoping to become the first two generation team to scale the Seven Summits. (Click to enlarge).
Pawel, El Pico de Orizaba Volcano, Mexico. (Click to enlarge). His father's son, Pawel represented Poland in the European elimination of Camel Trophy 1996, and took part in the Lion Expedition 1997 elimination.
Jerzy in Mt. Vinson Base Camp, Antarctica. (Click to enlarge). Jerzy's entire life has been devoted to the mountains. He has climbed many of the most difficult faces in the Tatras, including first ascents. Jerczy is an all season climber, and was a precursor of winter climbing in the Alps. His first winter ascents include the south-east spur of Les Droites, the east face of Aiguille Verte, and the north face of Aiguille Blanche du Peuterey. All images courtesy of the team.
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The 2005 Everest 2 Generations Challenge
Posted: Jun 28, 2005 01:49 pm EST
Remember Polish Jerzy Michalski and his son Pawel who hope to climb Everest from the Tibetan side, between September and November this year? A challenge for Pawel, 32, but more so for his father, 74! Here are some more details on the expedition:
Jerzy Michalski was born September 3, 1931. He was 14 at the end of the World War II. In fact - Jerzy was 22 years old when Ed and Tenzing stood on the summit of Everest for the first time!
Keeping up the mind and the body
Jerzy has a Masters in Science, and is fluent in English, Spanish, French, Russian and German. Now retired, Jerzy enjoys life in the fast lane with wife Beata, and his three scholar sons: Mateusz – archeologist and English philologist, Pawel – M. Sc. El. Eng, and Tymoteusz – M. A. in geography.
Jerzy is in perfect shape, thanks to a lifetime of jogging, swimming, playing volleyball in the Polish League, skiing, playing lawn tennis, cycling, skating, gymnastics and - climbing, his life passion.
All season climbing
Jerzy's entire life has been devoted to the mountains. He has climbed many of the most difficult faces in the Tatras, including first ascents. Jerzy is an all season climber, and was a precursor of winter climbing in the Alps. His first winter ascents include the south-east spur of Les Droites, the east face of Aiguille Verte, and the north face of Aiguille Blanche du Peuterey.
In summer he climbed the Freney Spur of Mount Blanc (second ascent) and in Caucasus his best achievements were a first ascent on the Mizirgy-Tau (best ascent of the season according to Russian Authorities), first ascent of north face on Kosztan-Tau, Dych-Tau Spur and others.
A gold medal for Jerzy, said the government
As for the world, Jerzy has climbed in the Dolomites, the Rocky Mountains (Colorado), Zagros (Iran), the volcanoes of Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile and a Winter expedition to Atlas. In Himalaya, he took part in and organized expeditions on Kunyang Chhish (Karakorum), and Annapurna II.
Jerzy was a member of the Polish Mountaineering National Team for many years and Governmental sports authorities gave him a gold medal for outstanding achievements for the Himalaya-Karakoram Expedition and a silver medal for outstanding achievements for winter Alps activities (Les Droites).
The written words
He wrote a chapter for the book: “Last attack on Kunyang Chhish” and can be found in guide books and mountaineering magazines in Poland, France, Italy, Switzerland, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Morocco, and Pakistan, with special notes in the PWN Encyclopedia and in the Great Tatra Mountain Encyclopedia. He also translated “World Mountaineering" from English to Polish.
Pawel his father's son: Scientist and athlete
Pawel Michalski was born on March 11, 1973. He has a Master in Science, with a PhD in dissertation studies. He speaks English, French, and basic Spanish - and hey girls - Pawel is single! His father's son, Pawel was brought up marathon running, sprint running, athletic decathlon, skiing, lawn tennis, swimming, basketball, windsurfing and climbing. He represented Poland in the European elimination of Camel Trophy 1996, took part in the Lion Expedition 1997 elimination.
He has climbed the Tatras, the Alps, the Atlas, Rocky Mountains, volcanoes of Mexico and Guatemala, and all seven summits except for Everest together with dad. The guys will arrive Kathmandu by end of August, hoping to become the first two generation team to scale the Seven Summits.
If they make it, Jerzy will become the oldest climber to summit Everest. The current record holder is Japanese Yuichiro Miura, who summited in May 2003, at 70 years old.
Lately, Everest is rarely climbed after the monsoon. In the fall of 2004, only one team attempted the mountain - and they didn’t get very far, mainly due to logistic problems.
Everest is a tougher, more demanding mountain in fall, without the big guided expeditions and legions of Sherpas present in spring. But the weather can be good, and the climb recovers the essence of the old times' of explorations. If you really want to get to know Everest intimately, not just summit it, fall is the time to go.
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