Zigeiner live on Google Maps Hangout announcing “The World’s highest peak collection”

Woohoo!

Our imagery is finally online!

Â (And even the German
BILDÂ posted my pics:)

Last night we announcedÂ “The World’s highest peak collection” via a liveÂ Google Maps HangoutÂ â‡’

Within 24 hours after the official Google Blog Post “Explore Everest, Kilimanjaro and more with Google Maps” the news have garnered 400+ positive print & online pieces across more than 10 countries. Weâ€™ve also seen nearly 100 local and national broadcast clips (including CNN) appear in the U.S., reaching more than six million people.

SpiegelOnline:Â 360-Grad-Fotos: Google Street View zeigt Everest und Elbrus
Bildzeitung:Â Google bringt uns aufs Dach der Welt
WinFuture: Everest und Kilimandscharo per Street View erleben
derStandard.at: Google stÃ¼rmt den Mount Everest
TechCrunch:Â Google Maps Gets More Exploratory With Street View Access To Everest
Mashable:Â Google Maps Gets Adventurous With Mt. Everest, Kilimanjaro
WIRED: Â Behold: Googleâ€™s Stunning Street Views From the Top of the World
LA Times:Â Google Street View from 22,000 feet
TIME:Â Google Maps Explores Worldâ€™s Tallest Mountains
PC Mag:Â Google Street View Climbs World’s Highest Mountains
and many more…

Of course, Mr. Zigeiner sneaked himself into a few of the pictures:

“Mt. Elbrus” West Summit

“Mt. Elbrus”Â Diesel Huts

“Mt. Elbrus”Â Barrel Huts

Click here to check out theÂ full expedition report about Europe’s highest peakÂ ”Mt. Elbrus” (5642m) in the Russian Caucasus Range.

March 18, 2013 Tags: (Rock) Climbing, Google, Mt. Elbrus, Russia Posted in: Ireland 2011-13, Miscellaneous, On the road 2011-13 No Comments Views: 90

Ice-Climbing in Rjukan, Norway

Rjukan Ice Park is a true ice-climbers dream:

easy access
a whole valley full of 200+ frozen waterfalls
stable climate
long periods of cold weather

Accommodation: Rjukan Hytte
Guidebook: Heavy Water – Rjukan Ice

Norway is painfully expensive – it’s sick!

[Show as slideshow]

January 31, 2013 Tags: (Rock) Climbing, Norway, Oslo Posted in: On the road 2011-13 No Comments Views: 269

Skydiving AFF Course in Empuriabrava, Spain

Zigeiner is now a certified skydiver – bam – a dream became true!

Controlled/stable Exit
Circle of AwarenessÂ
Backloop
Circle of Awareness
360Â° Turn Left
Circle of Awareness
360Â° Turn Right
Circle of AwarenessÂ
180Â° Turn and Track 3 sec.
Circle of Awareness
Wait for jumpmaster “ok”
6000′ Wave Off
5000′ Arch, Reach, Throw
Check Canopy
Locate Landing Area
Fly Pattern to Landing Area

The tasks (see left hand side) I had to perform during my graduation jump are secondary – please pay your attention to the supergay jumpsuit:)

Skydive Empuriabrava is a dropzone I’d definitely recommend for first skydiving experiences:
	Amongst other deals, they offer a package consisting of AFF Course (Ground School & 8 Jumps) + 10 Consolidation Jumps including all gear hire + 7 Nights (Bunkhouse) + 50 â‚¬ Bar Voucher for Â 2075.00 â‚¬. Planes: Pilatus Porter, Twin Otter

The closest airport is Girona (GRO).Â A Taxi from the airport to the dropzone costs about 80 â‚¬ but if you bring time instead of money you can keep it around 10 â‚¬ with public transport.Â There is an airport bus to Girona city / train terminal every hour and the train schedule (from Girona to Figueres) can be found here.Â From Figueres train station to the dropzone I paid 27 bongos for the 10 minute taxi ride but there is also a bus (stop “Cruilla Empuriabrava“). Car hire (Pepecar, Carhire3000)Â & minibus group transfer options are listed on the Girona Tourist Guide.

[Show as slideshow]

October 27, 2012 Tags: Skydiving, Spain Posted in: On the road 2011-13 No Comments Views: 802

Rysy (2503m) – Highest peak of Poland

Rysy is a mountain in the crest of the High Tatras, lying on the border between Poland and Slovakia. Its middle peakÂ at 2,503 meters is the highest point of Poland. The other two peaks (at 2,499m & 2,473m)Â are on the Slovak side of the border, in the PreÅ¡ov Region.

Together with Maja & Monika – two Googlers from the Wroclaw office – I roadtrip across half the country only to…


To theÂ Morskie Oko lake it’s a 10 km hike	End of climbÂ @ around 2400m

…get sooooo close to Poland’s highest peak – but without crampons it is impossible to continue.
A couple of days ago it snowed so much that I am now stuck in fresh snow up to my balls.
In September… WTF!!

Â Click here for a map and a route calculator for the Tatry area.

[Show as slideshow]

September 25, 2012 Tags: (Rock) Climbing, Poland, Rysy, Summit Log Posted in: On the road 2011-13 No Comments Views: 749

Elbrus (5642m) – Highest mountain in all of Europe

Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain in the Caucasus mountain range, Russia & all of Europe.


5 more steps to the summit	From sea level to 5600m in just over 4 days left appreciableÂ traces

The standard route is classified as non-technical and the mountain can be climbedÂ with an ice-axe + crampons only. So leave your ropes at home but be prepared, you are pushing into extreme altitude and severe weather conditions & desperate cold claim lives every year. Wikipedia states that “the average annual death toll on Elbrus is 15â€“30, primarily due to many unorganized and poorly equipped attempts to summit the mountain.”


Click on topographical map toÂ enlarge	Â The view from space

Click (coming soon) to download the GPS placemarks for GoogleEarth.

Click here for: Elbrus Weather Forecast


Team Google: Dan (California), Zigeiner (Bavaria), Ed (Slovakia) & Jan (Czech Republic)…	…successfully setting up the highest ever shooting of Google StreetView imagery @ 5642m in -21Â°C

We decide to head for the South Face Route in a 9-day return trip from Dublin. Pilgrim Tours offers a Lite Package for independent climbers who prefer support only concerning invitation letters, climbing permits, visas and local transportation.

Day 1 & 2 Read the rest of this post »

August 27, 2012 Tags: (Rock) Climbing, Caucasus, Google, Mt. Elbrus, Russia, Summit Log Posted in: On the road 2011-13 One Comment Views: 1279

Ben Nevis (1344m) – Highest point of GB / Scotland

A packed weekend: Friday morning I fly into Edinburgh to check out its vibrant city and stunning Castle before heading into the Scottish Highlands. After a good four hour train/bus ride and short night @ the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel in Fort William I set off on my own to conquer Great Britain’s highest peak. As expected, the weather is cold and miserable and it takes me about six hours to scramble up â€œThe Ledge Routeâ€ ascending CÃ rn MÃ²r Dearg & along the CMD ArÃªte. I need two hours to descend the Normal Route. Early Sunday morning I take the bus to Glasgow from where I fly back to Dublin later in the afternoon.