Chris Warner, the expedition leader, has been on more than
140 international mountaineering expeditions, including 13 trips on 8000-meter
peaks. He has guided the North Ridge of Everest three times, soloed the South
Face of Shisha Pangma, summited K2, Lhotse and Cho Oyu and has made strong and
bold attempts on Nanga Parbat and Broad
Peak. Chris has also
pioneered new, technical routes on Shivling and Ama Dablam (in winter). Chris
is the owner of Earth Treks, Inc, which operates three of the largest and best-known
climbing gyms in the US,
an international mountaineering guide service, and a rock and ice climbing
school. Every year, Chris and his team guide Wharton MBA students on leadership
development expeditions to the Andes and
Kilimanjaro. Recognized as an educator, entrepreneur and mountaineer, Chris is
also a published author and photographer. Chris and Don Schmincke's new book,
High Altitude Leadership, will be published this October. His mountaineering
film footage has appeared on numerous networks including the Travel Channel and
National Geographic. Chris lead the 2007 Shared Summits K2 Expedition, which
was the subject of an Emmy Nominated NBC Documentary. Each year Chris gives
motivational talks to corporate groups, most often focusing on leadership
issues. Chris has appeared on dozens of news programs and TV programs,
including as host of a History Channel show and as the Everest guide on the Global
Extremes series (OLN and ABC). Chris lives in Annapolis, MD,
with his wife Melinda and daughter Wendy (2.5 yrs). More...
Nelson Laur has been climbing big mountains internationally
since 1997 with his first summit on Yala
Peak in the Himalaya.
Since then he has participated in more than 40 international expeditions. This
will be Nelson's 6th Expedition to the Himalaya, where he has previously summited
on Cho Oyu and Ama Dablam. Nelson has been a
professional mountain guide since 2001. He also spent time as an Outward Bound
instructor in Colorado, volunteered as a Back
Country Ranger in the Grand Canyon, and guided on the Snake River in Wyoming. Currently
Nelson splits his time between expeditions as a part time mountain guide for
Earth Treks, working as a carpenter in Baltimore,
MD, and being a good husband
(trying) to his wife Cece and father to his two children Anna Marie (3yrs) and
Joshua (1yr).
Annamaria Cherubin has been on 5 international
mountaineering expeditions, including summits of the highest peaks in Europe,
South America, and Africa. When not pursuing her passions for
international travel and outdoor adventures, Anna works as a management
consultant with Deloitte Consulting's Strategy & Operations group advising
financial services institutions. Anna
holds an engineering degree from MIT and an MBA from Wharton. She currently resides in New York City.
Dan Jenkins has been climbing internationally since the
early 80s. Since then he's climbed the highest peaks in North and South
America, Africa and Europe. In 1987 Dan and
Chris Warner spent the summer climbing in Peru; since then they've pioneered
a new route on Shivling and guided dozens of expeditions together. When Dan
isn't in the mountains, he is leading Earth Treks' climbing instructors. A
seasoned educator Dan has been teaching groups in the outdoors since 1985.
Evan Horst is Earth Treks Outdoor Climbing School Director.
When he isn't guiding rock or ice climbing courses, he is running expeditions
in South America and Africa. Evan is a
graduate of Western State College in Gunnison Colorado, where he was a member of the
mountain rescue team. Evan and Dan are coming to Nanga
Parbat directly from Kilimanjaro, carrying all sorts of smelly
clothes with them.
Eric Kapitulik is a former Marine Corps Captain. He graduated
from the US Naval Academy and then became a Force Recon officer. Eric has completed
seven IronMan triatholons, raising funds for the children of Marines who lost
their lives in service to the United
States. Eric's mountaineering expeditions
include Denali, Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro.
After Eric's career as a Marine, he attended the University of Chicago,
earning an MBA.
Ashley Gateless gained a love for the outdoors growing up in
the mountains of West Virginia.
Ashley is the Assistant Director of Earth Treks Rockville. She earned a degree
in communications from Muskingum
College. This will be her
first Himalayan Expedition; she will be acting as base camp manager and
director of photography for the team's film project.
Expedition Partner: Wilderness Rewards There is a reason the word “great” precedes the word “outdoors”. After all, you never hear people talk about the “great indoors”. As an outdoor enthusiast, you can’t wait to escape four walls and embrace the four elements – which is why the Wilderness Rewards credit card program is for you. You can turn your everyday purchases into your greatest outdoor adventures. Click here to learn more .
