THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY – HONG KONG

 presents  “Axe on Everest”  by Grant Rawlinson

 on Thursday, 31 January 2013 at  1/F, The Hong Kong Club, Jackson Road, Central 

6.30 Drinks Reception; 7.30 Lecture

 (please note that no denim, T-shirts or sportswear are permitted at the HK Club)

The Royal Geographical Society is pleased to welcome to Hong Kong Grant “Axe” Rawlinson, a former international rugby player, now well known as a mountaineer and speaker.  In this lecture, Mr Rawlinson intoduces his mountaineering career, starting with an overview of his climbs all over the world, including three first ascents in Kazakstan.  He then tells the exciting tale of his 2012 ascent of the North Ridge of Everest from the Tibetan side, with a commentary on the present state of the mountain in the Diamond Jubilee year of its first ascent.  This includes the good aspects, that most of the accumulated discarded debris has been removed from the mountain’s principal routes, contrasted with the “queues” on the mountain caused by the sometimes unprepared clients of commercial mountaineering companies.

Mr Rawlinson’s principal climbing style is lightweight, two man, independent expeditions.  He developed his skills initially in the rugged Southern Alps mountains of New Zealand, where he climbs each year.  These proved an ideal training ground, given their remote nature, steep, glaciated routes and extreme weather patterns, with Mr. Mr Rawlinson having achieved many important ascents.
 
Since 2000, Mr Rawlinson has climbed independently all over the world, from the Andes of South America to the Alborz of Iran and from the Caucasus in Russia to the Yosemite Valley in the USA.  In 2009, together with a lightweight three man team, Mr Rawlinson made three ascents of unclimbed peaks in the Tien Shan mountain range located in Kazakstan.  
 
In 2011, Mr Rawlinson attempted a climb of the North Ridge of Mt Everest, located in Tibet.  On that expedition Mr Rawlinson suffered a severe attack of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, leading to an emergency descent.  Undaunted, Mr Rawlinson attempted the North Ridge in 2012, and successfully reached the summit of Mt Everest on 19 May, the principal topic of his lecture.
 
Grant ‘Axe’ Rawlinson is a New Zealand mountaineer, resident in Singapore.   After breaking his leg playing for Singapore in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, Mr Rawlinson decided to become a mountaineer.  An expert on oceanography, his profession is the marketing of sonar systems to map the deepest oceans, which he balances with his mountaineering career.  Mr Rawlinson speaks regularly on his climbing adventures and is well known for his down to earth, engaging and witty presentation style.

Members, guests and others are most welcome to attend this lecture, which is HK$150 for Members and HK$200 for guests and others.  

Fax: (852) 2140 6000

Email: events@rgshk.org.hk
Website: www.rgshk.org.hk
Tel: (852) 2583 9700