The North Face athlete Romi Garduce attains new Philippine altitude record (8,201 meters)

Barely a month after the 1st Philippine Mount Everest Expedition Team member Leo Oracion reached the peak of Muztag Ata (7546 meters/24,902 ft) in China, another Filipino climber, Romi Garduce, summited Cho-Oyu in Nepal. At 8,201 meters (approximately 27,063 feet), Cho-Oyu, “The Turquoise Goddess”, is the sixth-highest peak in the world. It is the highest recorded altitude reached by a Filipino climber, and his second Alpine peak after climbing previously climbing Aconcagua (6,962 meters/22,841 feet) in Argentina earlier this year.

Following a few weeks of acclimatization around Nepal, Romi joined an expedition in Kathmandu that included climbers from Germany, Australia and South Africa. Blessed with mostly good weather, the team climbed the mountain in stages, from Advanced Base Camp, set at 5,700 m (18,810 ft), Camp 1 (6,400 m/21,120 ft), Camp 2 (7,000 m/23,100 ft) and Camp 3 (7,500 m/24,750 ft). The attempt to the summit was made on September 26. Leaving Camp 3 at 1 am. Respecting the dangers of the so-called “Death Zone” (the thin air altitudes above 25,000 feet), Romi and another companion climbed on bottled oxygen. He and his fellow climbers climbed the final 700 meters to the summit, passing the technical rock and ice section known as the “Yellow Band” on fixed ropes. The entire trip to the summit took a grueling 9 hours, even with bottled oxygen, although he was urged on by the fact that each step higher set a new climbing record for the Philippines. He finally reached the summit at around 10:30 am, before returning back to the relative safety of Camp 2 by 5:00 pm. The pride of his accomplishment was similarly felt by his Nepali guides and fellow climbers, who were quite happy to be with him during this climb as well.

Romi Garduce’s long term goal is to climb the world’s “Seven Summits”, or the highest peaks of the worlds seven continents. These include Kilamanjaro in Africa (5,895 m/19,453 ft), Denali in North America (6,194 m/20,440 ft), Elbrus in Europe (5,642 m/18,619 ft), Aconcagua in South America (6,962 m/22,975 ft), Carstansz in Oceania (4,884 m/16,117 ft), Vinson in Antartica (4,897 m/16,160 ft), and Everest in Asia (8,850 m/29,205 ft). Of these, Romi has already reached Kilamanjaro, Aconcagua. Having climbed Cho Oyu, the next logical challenge, is Mt. Everest. “I was walking the last few meters of the summit plateau, towards the real summit, towards East, and then there it was, looming in the distance -- the greatest mountain of all - Everest (8848m). The summit of Cho Oyu seems to be just a doorstep, and standing on its top, I was hypnotized by the sight of the mountain next to it, it's bigger, it's higher - and it made me wonder, how it's like to climb the next 600 meters -- how it's like to climb... the top of Mt. Everest..."

With a little luck and perseverance, Romi may soon be able to tell us himself. Only time will tell. Both Romi Garduce and the 1st Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team are supported by and use equipment provided by The North Face (http://www.thenorthface.com). Romi Garduce and The North Face also support the Climb for A Cause Foundation, hoping to raise funds for the Cartwheel Foundation. The Cartwheel Foundation hopes to bring education to the children of Sitio Abel, Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon. Go to http://cartwheelinc.tripod.com/ for more details.

About The North Face
The North Face was founded in San Francisco, California in 1966 and is distributed in the Philippines by Uniglobe Travelware Co., Inc., The North Face offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers and explorers. The North Face stores are located at PowerPlant Mall - Makati, Shangri-la Mall – Mandaluyong and SM City Davao. The North Face is also available at Bratpack shops, Tobys Sports, Royal Sporting House and Olympic Village stores. www.thenorthface.com.

About Cartwheel Foundation
Cartwheel Foundation, Inc. is a non-religious, non-stock, non-profit organization that provides educational assistance to indigeneous peoples (IPs). B Considered to be the most marginalized of the underprivileged, IPSs do not have access to basic services such as health and education. Indigenous children are among the most neglected children in the country. To support the Cartwheel Foundation through the “Climb for a Cause” project visit /a>.