Mount Everest and English Channel

The Adventure

Definition: The challenge is to climb Mount Everest and swim the English Channel.
*Few have climbed either Mount Everest (3050 people).
*Fewer have swum the English Channel (675 people).
*Fewer still have done both (3 people).

Three adventurers have accomplished this:
*Eric Blakeley (Jersey). Everest summit 1997. Channel swim 2006.
*Hugo Rodriguez Barroso (Mexico). Everest summit 1997. Channel swim 1986.
*Giorgios Tsianos (Greece). Everest summit 2004. Channel swim 2000.

At least one adventurer met hardship trying to complete the adventure:
*Khoo Swee Chiow

One reason the "Peak and Pond" is so difficult for adventurers to complete is that the physiology and anatomy required for each event is diametric. High altitude mountaineers benefit from low body mass, which reduces oxygen needs at a high elevation and typically leads to increased strength-to-weight ratios. English Channel swimmers benefit from high body mass, which adds bouyancy and allows the swimmer to maintain core body temperature for long periods in cold water. Everest climbers also benefit from shorter limbs, which ease circulation, reducing stress on the heart and lungs. English Channel swimmers benefit from long limbs, which increase propulsion.

Recent Goings On
Two men are currently training to be the first American to accomplish this feat. Both have climbed Everest and are scheduled to swim the English Channel in the summer of 2008. These adventurers are:
*Neal Mueller of Minnesota
*Charlie Wittmack of Iowa . Grandson of former Iowa Governor Norman A. Erbe

Facts about Everest and the Channel
A list of Everest climbers and Channel Swimmers is on the web:
*CSA List of Channel Swimmers. Note: This list erroneously omits the CS&PF swimmers, such as Eric Blakeley.
*Complete list of Channel Swims by Julian Critchlow.
*List of Everest Climbers.

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
*Mount Everest is 29,032 feet and is located in Nepal.
*3050 people have climbed Mount Everest.

The English Channel is considered the Mount Everest of distance swims and spans the busiest shipping channel in the world.
*The Channel is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point and is located between England and France.
*675 people have swum the English Channel.

See Also: Other Adventure Prizes
*The Seven Summits
*The Seven Second Summits
*The Volcanic Seven Summits
*The Three Poles Challenge
*The Explorers Grand Slam, also known as The Adventurers Grand Slam
*The Eight-thousander

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