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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2018)
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 11 What lies beyond the heart of man — Part hhree By Eileen M. Chambers Correspondent This is the third of a three- part, behind-the-scenes series about mountaineer Warren Thompson, Sisters resident who has gone on two expe- ditions to Everest, one to Denali and many more to world-class mountains. After the 1984 expedi- tion, determined to return to Everest, Warren Thompson heard then-President Reagan call the Soviet Union “The Evil Empire.” Frustrated, he decided to do something for world peace. In 1990, he was back on Everest. “There is this old saying, ‘You can light a candle or curse the darkness.’ I thought about the fact that Everest had never been climbed as an international peace climb but, if we could get the Chinese, Russians and Americans to climb together, we could light a candle. So, I asked my friend, Jim Whittaker, who was the first American to summit Everest in 1963, to lead the team. We discovered quickly that this was going to be very tough to pull off given the cultural animosities among these nations.” Once again, the point per- son on logistics, Thompson, after six years of preparation, arrived at Base Camp with the international teams. Soon after arriving, Jim Whitaker injured his calf, sending him off the mountain for six weeks. Warren was soon knee-deep in bickering over differences in high-altitude climbing and the unflinching competition among the teams. “I was dealing with every idiotic squabble,” he said. “The only good thing was that none of the climbers could understand what the other person was saying. The Russian theory of climbing is that you sleep as high as you can and as soon as you can. The American theory is that you climb high and sleep low, meaning you climb to the next camp, drop supplies and then sleep at a lower camp to allow your body to adjust. So, the Russians would climb to the higher camp, carry- ing light loads. There, they would use up all the sup- plies that the Americans had hauled up there and, then, head back down. As far as the Russians were concerned, the Americans were the donkeys. Then you had the Chinese who refused to be outdone by either team.” Because the 1990 climb coincided with the 20th anni- versary of Earth Day, the expedition took the initia- tive to clean up garbage on Everest, some of it dating back to 1921. “The moun- tain is a garbage dump. Nothing deteriorates at that altitude. The American and Tibetan teams (representing China) were cool with clean- ing up the mountain, but the Russians, who are treated like rock-stars in their own country, well, let’s say that you should have seen the look on their faces when I handed them 50-gallon gar- bage bags.” What made the climb worth all the challenges? “I am very proud to say that we put 21 people on the summit without any casual- ties. Two of them, a Chinese and a Russian, were women. Also, Ed Viesturs was the first American to summit Starts Friday Fri., March 30 – Thurs., April 5 Ready Player One (PG-13) Fri-Sun 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 Mon-Thurs 4:00, 7:00 All the Queen’s Horses (N/R) Fri-Sun 1:45, 5:30 Mon-Thurs 5:30 Leaning into the Wind (PG) Fri-Sun 3:00, 5:15, 7:30 Mon-Thurs 5:15, 7:30 Goldstone (R) Fri-Sun 3:15, 7:15 Mon 7:15 Wed-Thurs 7:15 Sherlock Gnomes (PG) Fri-Sun 2:30, 4:30, 6:45 Mon-Thurs 4:30, 6:45 Hitler vs Picasso and the Others (N/R) -LUCKY NUMBER 7- Tues 7:15 Saturday, y , APRIL 7 Movie times and titles are bsite subject to change. Visit we on. or call for latest informati Itʻs our Annual Anniversary Bash! Celebrating with Food and Drink Specials All Day Long! WWW.SISTERS And LIVE MUSIC at 9PM MOVIEHOUSE.COM THE HWY. 97 BAND 541-549-8800 175 N. Larch St. 17 1 t. 541-549-6114 5 4 hardtailsoregon.com Everest solo and without oxy- gen. Initially, I was against him doing it, believing he was risking his life. But Jim differed with me. ‘Warren, I want Ed to know I have abso- lute faith in him. If he wants to climb that mountain solo and without oxygen, I am going to tell Ed: Go for it. But get going early. Start by 2 a.m.’ “Not only did Ed follow Jim’s advice. He skipped Camp 7 doing it. He started from Camp 6, skipped Camp 7 and was on the summit by noon. Then he made it all the way back down to Camp 5. That’s an amazing accom- plishment. Through that experience, I learned that being a leader means letting others accomplish things beyond your own expecta- tions and what you think they can do.” Sidelined from climbing due to injury, Warren loves living in the shadow of the Three Sisters now and prom- ises to record his stories for his grandchildren and, hope- fully, for those who can only imagine what it is like to touch the face of heaven. To learn more: The docu- mentary “Three Flags Over Everest,” narrated by Robert Redford, tells the story of Warren Thompson’s 1990 Everest expedition. PHOTO PROVIDED Warren Thompson now lives in the shadow of the Three Sisters. entertainment & EVENTS WED...MAR. 28 MON...APR. 2 Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. Hardtails Bar & Grill Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m. Every Monday, no cover! For info call 541-549-6114 or go online to hardtailsoregon.com. Sisters Saloon Painting Party 6 to 8 p.m. $35, every Monday! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. THURS..MAR. 29 Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. FRI...MAR. 30 Sisters Fire Hall Author Reading with J.A. Jance 6 p.m. Paulina Springs Books and Roundabout Bookshop present the New York Times bestselling author! Jance will read from her latest novel, “Duel to the Death.” 541-549- 0866 or paulinasprings.com. Chops Bistro Live Music! 6 to 8 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-6015. Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every Friday (if no live music is scheduled), no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go online to hardtailsoregon.com. SAT...MAR. 31 April 20 / Fri / 8 PM Bend Burlesque and Company Grand “All 70s Revue” is a celebration of the music, culture, and fashion of the era. Eclectic and vibrant Central Oregon group includes a 9-piece funk rock band, comedians, and dancers. May 18 / Fri / 8 PM Sisters Saloon Live Music with the Eric Leadbetter Duo 7 to 10 p.m. No cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. Cork Cellars Live Music with the Allan Byer Project 7 to 9 p.m. No cover! For info call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. Chops Bistro Live Music! 6 to 8 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-6015. Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every Saturday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go online to hardtailsoregon.com. SUN...APR. 1 Dirty Revival Sisters Saloon Open Mic Night 8 to 10 p.m. Free, every fi rst and third Sunday! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. PUB OPENS 1 HR PRIOR TO SHOWS Events listings free to advertisers. Submit by 5 p.m. Fridays to teresa@nuggetnews.com Soulful sounds and energetic beats enrapture any audience. BelfryEvents.com 541-815-9122 TUES..APR. 3 Sisters Saloon Trivia Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at 6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday! For info call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. WED...APR. 4 Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. THURS..APR. 5 Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For info call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. FRI...APR. 6 Chops Bistro Live Music! 6 to 8 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-6015. Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every Friday (if no live music is scheduled), no cover! For info call 541-549-6114 or go online to hardtailsoregon.com. SAT...APR. 7 Hardtails Bar & Grill 7th Anniversary Party & Live Music with The HWY. 97 Band 11 a.m. starts the celebration with food and drink specials all day! And live music begins at 9 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. Sisters Saloon Live Music with the Bobby Lindstrom Band 7 to 10 p.m. No cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. Cork Cellars Live Music with Eric Leadbetter 7 to 9 p.m. No cover! For additional information call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. Chops Bistro Live Music! 6 to 8 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-6015.
