The Ethics of Travel/Adventure Journalism

For one of my journalism courses this semester, I completed a case study concerning the ethics of travel/adventure journalism. For this research project, I read the following nonfiction books (P.S.--They are all GREAT reads!):

New Movie Based on Aron Ralston's Book "Between a Rock & a Hard Place"

The movie came out at the beginning of November. Unfortunately, it is not playing in Oxford, Miss. I will definitely will renting the DVD when it becomes available. What do you think? Will you be checking out this movie?

Eating Organically in Oxford, Mississippi

Since one of the main aspects of traveling is experiencing local foods, I decided to include this post on my travel blog. A colleague (Dani Ligato) and I have been constructing a website that is dedicated to raising awareness of & educating residents on organic efforts in the Oxford area. The site is still in the works, but has some interesting info. Click the following link to be redirected to the site: Organic Oxford. Let me know what you think! Feedback is much appreciated!

My Turkey Day Travels

Every year for Thanksgiving, I head back to my hometown of Brandon, Miss. to celebrate Turkey Day with my wonderful friends and family. This year turned out to be particularly special, as my family had much to be thankful for.

A couple of month's ago, my father was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Anomalous Coronary Artery. Most babies born with such a defect don't live past the first year of life. However, the diagnosis allowed my father to correct the problem via a bypass, and now he is recovering slowly but stronly. God is Good!

The following are a couple family photos snapped at my Mimi's house during our Thanksgiving Feast last night :)


Brian (Dad), Chelsey & Julianne (Sisters, Me, and Aryne (Mom)



Dad & Mom

I need your opinion...

I'm considering choosing Hunter S. Thompson's "Hell's Angels" as my final read for my research study concerning the ethics of travel/adventure journalism.

So far, I've read: Lincoln Hall's "Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest"; Aron Ralston's "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"; Richard Halliburton's "The Royal Road to Romance"; Carl Hoffman's "The Lunatic Express: Discovering the World...Via its Most Dangerous Buses, Boats, Trains, and Planes"; and Eric Weiner's "Geography of Bliss."

What do y'all think? Could Thompson's book be a good fit?

A Self-Proclaimed Grump's Search for Happy Places

In "The Geography of Bliss," Eric Weiner, a former foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, decides to embark on a journey that will allow him to discover the happiest people and places on earth. He begins his travels in the Netherlands at the World Database of Happiness--yes, such a place does exist!--where he dives into piles of revelatory quantitative happiness studies.

From the Netherlands he travels to Switzerland, Bhutan, Qatar, Iceland, Moldova, Thailand, Great Britain, and finally back to America. A couple of these destinations turn out to be blatantly unhappy places, but he has reasons for including them in his study. Overall, this book provides the reader with an introspective look into Weiner's personality, as his writing undoubtedly includes a strong subjective element.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think? What place do you believe to be the happiest on earth?

My Latest Read

I just finished reading "Travel Writing: The Self and the World" by Casey Blanton. This book was really interesting, and extremely beneficial to the project I'm working on for one of my journalism classes. I'm in the process of researching the ethical questions that travel journalists are faced with, and one prevalent theme (not necessarily ethical) I've found is that many writers insert themselves into their stories.
"Travel Writing" examines the role of the author in his or her book in a very in-depth manner. It also provides a historical context of the evolution of travel writing from Herodotus to Marco Polo to Christopher Columbus to 20th century writers. Extremely thought-provoking read for those interested in travel journalism.

Organic Oxford

The picture to the left was taken at Yokna Bottoms Farm, North Mississippi's first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). It is located eight miles south of Oxford, Miss.

Organic Oxford is a blog that Dani Ligato and I are working on for our new media class. It's in the beginning stages, but eventually it will be rich with content about organic and sustainable living options in and around the Oxford, Miss. area. The goal of this project is to raise awareness of organic living options and educate community members about its benefits. Stay tuned for updates about our exciting farm travels! Check out the blog here: Organic Oxford.

Literature review of travel journalism research

INTRO
The concept of travel writing has been around since man was able to record his journeys. As our ancestors ventured to faraway lands, it was only natural they record the details of their exotic expeditions. Even the writings of Daniel Defoe, "The Father of Journalism," were influenced by travel. But what exactly is travel journalism?
TRAVEL JOURNALISM DEFINED
Travel journalism is an extremely broad genre, and therefore many literary works may fall into this category. Travel journalism may serve to inform, educate, or entertain, and as more and more people are traveling, this profession is booming.
METHODS OF TRAVEL JOURNALISM
Although this profession is a difficult one to break into, it is possible to do so. Wendy Hoke has this advice for emerging travel writers: stay on top of trends; get your work published in smaller publications before you submit to larger magazines; remember that freelancing is a business and you do have deadlines; inquire about specific info from experts in the field; and establish strong relationships with editors.
ETHICS OF TRAVEL JOURNALISM
As with any type of journalism, the practice of travel writing has the potential to evoke many ethical questions and concerns. The North American Travel Journalist Association encourages the upholding of these six ethical standards: truth, honesty, fairness, accuracy, integrity, and professional conduct.
RISKS OF TRAVEL JOURNALISM
The profession of journalism is inherently risky in and of itself, and travel and adventure journalism pose even more risks. The News Security Group, which was set up in 2000, stresses that "safety is paramount, dangerous assignments are voluntary, and unwarranted risks in pursuit of a story is unacceptable.
CONCLUSION
Martin Hintz says, "Despite the bugs inherent in international travel writing, the rush, the adventure, and the thrill of chasing the story keep us all coming back. Sure, this line of work has its rewards. Making friends around the world is probably the most important, because the writer is out there interviewing really interesting people. In addition, travel writing is truly creatively multi-faceted, a genre that includes writing about the arts, business, environmental issues, and politics.

Full Moon Kirtan

One of the greatest things about being a travel writer is that sometimes you venture no farther than your front door to find a truly interesting story. Last night, this was the case for me as I attended a Full Moon Kirtan yoga session near my house.

For the past few months I have been practicing yoga at Southern Star Yoga, a studio only a couple minutes away from my Oxford home. Although I still consider myself a beginner, the classes I’ve taken so far have been extremely beneficial for my mind, soul, and body. Most of the classes offered at Southern Star fall under the category of Raja yoga, a form of yoga that uses meditation to bring the mind and emotions into balance.

Kirtan yoga, the yoga of love, is a bit different from Raja. It involves the chanting of Hindu Sanskrit to evoke emotion, joy, and insight into one’s spirituality. Every now and then, the yogis at Southern Star offer different classes, workshops, or special events, and I received an email earlier last week detailing this two-hour Full Moon Kirtan session. No experience necessary, the email read—all one needed to bring was an open heart and mind, and vegetarian dish to share for a potluck. This was right up my alley.

I walked into the studio yesterday evening a few minutes before 6 p.m., with my fresh veggie lasagna in tow, having no idea what to expect. I was one of the first to arrive. The room was dimly lit, and yoga blankets and mats were arranged in a semi-circle around Stevi Self, a co-owner of the studio, and a man clad in white linen seated behind a large Sitar, a Hindustani classical stringed instrument.

Participants continued to arrive, and soon the chanting began.

The first chant was “Ganesha Sharanam,” and we recited the line “Ganesha Sharanam Sharanam Ganesha” over and over in musical harmony. Our handout offered up info about each chant and explained that, “Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles and is invoked at the beginning of any endeavor. He also bestows wisdom and knowledge.” This chant came first so that any obstacles among the group could be removed to allow for a successful Kirtan session.

Chanting continued with “Om Namo Shivaya.” This chant was “Salutation to Shiva,” the destroyer of the Hindu Trinity. It was important in destroying each of our egos. Next came “Baba Hanuman,” a chant of devotion, followed by “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudeva,” “Babanam Kevalum,” and we commenced our chanting with the recitation of “Gayatri Mantra.”

When the musical celebration came to an end, I felt extremely light and happy. During every chant, I imagined different people or aspects of my life that applied to the meaning behind the chant. This helped in keeping my mind present during the session—which can prove quite challenging for me sometimes.

Our Kirtan session worked up quite the appetite among our group, so we promptly hit up the vegetarian buffet of quiche, tofu pasta, pimento cheese sandwiches, cookies, black bean hummus, lasagna, and much more. It was delicious. I walked out of the studio with a happy belly, happy heart, and a new and exciting experience under my belt.

For their next Kirtan session, Stevi hopes to marry the event with a Full Moon drum circle that is hosted every month by the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group in Oxford. I am very much looking forward to it!

Life on the Ocoee River

For the past two summers, I've had the privilege of working as a photographer for the Nantahala Outdoor Center on the Ocoee River. The NOC is a world-renown outfitter that specializes, among many other things, in whitewater rafting. Click here to view a slideshow of some of my rafting adventures!

Carl Hoffman feels lonely and isolated while traveling the most overcrowded conveyances known to man

In his 2010 novel The Lunatic Express, Carl Hoffman details his five-month journey traveling the world “via its most dangerous buses, boats, trains, and planes.” His desire to embark on such a risky expedition stemmed from the realization that most travel writing focuses on tourism and omits the largest sector of travel: travel as a necessity. Hoffman is an award-winning travel writer, as well as a husband and father. However, at the time of his departure, his home life has begun to unravel.

“For twenty years I had been a stable husband and father, and then I’d snapped. My life suddenly didn’t seem to fit anymore. I was middle-aged with a wife and three children whom I loved but hadn’t been living with for almost a year. A long journey seemed the best solution. The classic move was to leave the world for the exotic to be born anew.”

At first, it seems extremely selfish that Hoffman has decided to put his life on the line to take part in a seemingly careless journey because his life doesn’t seem to “fit” anymore. After all, when you are a father, shouldn’t your first priority be your children? Of course, it’s easy as an outsider to make these judgments. As his story continues, however, one begins to appreciate Hoffman, and maybe even feel emotionally connected to him.

As a travel writer, Hoffman does an extraordinary job of respecting the different cultures in which he is submerged, and in turn he is embraced time and time again by these foreign peoples. “And the more I shed my American reserves, phobias, disgusts, the more they embraced me. In the weeks ahead I would do whatever my fellow travelers and hosts did. If they drank the tap water of Mumbai and Kolkata and Bangladesh, so would I. If they bought tea from street-corner vendors, so would I. If they ate with their fingers, even if I was given utensils, I ate with my fingers.”

On the various overcrowded buses, ferries, trains, planes, etc. Hoffman is constantly shoulder-to-shoulder and hip-to-hip with other human beings. He quickly notices the deep connection that most of the people in other cultures have with one another, and this makes him feel more alone and isolated than ever before—especially from his family.

“He looked at me; people were always fascinated that I was traveling alone, without family; it was inconceivable to them. They lived with multiple generations, slept crowded into beds and on floors in tiny apartments or houses, and they would do so their entire lives…I envied that, even as it repelled me—the idea was a central conflict in my life. I had a family, after all, and five of us had lived in a one-bathroom, three-bedroom house—but somehow I’d ended up in my own little apartment. I’d always found crowds compelling, I always liked feeling part of something, so why was I always running?”

Pics from San Antonio

Art and music in the King William District on "First Friday"

















Riley and I in front of the Alamo

















Prickly Pear Margaritas at the top of the Tower of the Americas

















Boat tour on the famous Riverwalk






















Roller coaster at Six Flags

My Latest Read

The Lunatic Express--by, Carl Hoffman
Click here to purchase your own copy from Amazon.com

Richard Halliburton was sometimes dishonest to advance his travels. How far would you go to reach your ideal destination?

In his autobiography, The Royal Road to Romance, Richard Halliburton, a famous 20^th Century adventurer and travel writer, recounts the world travels in which he embarked upon after graduating from Princeton in 1921. This book is made up of a collection of mini-stories that Halliburton reveals to the reader in the order in which they happen. Through his writings, one truly gets a sense of Halliburton’s adventurous, romantic, and sometimes arrogant character. On his road to romance, Halliburton experiences several ethical conflicts, but brings many upon himself by lying to advance himself and his travels.

When the month of May rolled around, and his studies at Princeton were commencing, Halliburton was itching for adventure—a romantic adventure. He wrote, “I hungered for the romance of the sea, and foreign ports, and foreign smiles. I wanted to follow the prow of a ship, any ship, and sail away, perhaps to China, perhaps to Spain, perhaps to the South Sea Isles, there to do nothing all day but lie on a surf-swept beach and fling monkeys at the coconuts.” If it was romance Halliburton wanted, it was romance he would seek. After turning down a “luxe trip” around the world offered by their parents as a graduation gift, he and his former Princeton roommate, Irvine, opted instead for a more adventurous means of venturing abroad: they found work on a freighter and sailed out of New York, heading for Hamburg.

Halliburton’s first big adventure overseas consisted of climbing the Matterhorn, a 14,692-foot mountain located along the border of Italy and Switzerland. Having no prior mountaineering experience, or viable gear, this could have been an extremely dangerous feat, especially since climbing season was coming to a close. However, after blatantly lying about their extensive climbing background, Halliburton and Irvine convinced two guides to accompany them on their expedition. This was not Halliburton’s only brush with dishonesty during his travels. He went to pretty much any length to get what he wanted, or go where he wanted.

His dishonesty got him into some serious trouble while visiting Gibraltar. Of his beloved destination, Halliburton wrote, “Were this a guide-book, which it is not, or were it a travel book, which it is only incidentally, the author would state that any one traveling in Spain who did not visit Gibraltar would miss the last word in interesting places.” During his stay, Halliburton had a “sudden and intense desire” to summit the “majestic rock” that existed on Gibraltar and photograph the city from its vantage point. Halliburton snuck past two warning signs, a spiked fence, and a sentry box with a guard to reach the summit. Although photography on the rock was strictly forbidden, as Halliburton was made aware a number of times, he began furiously snapping pictures. He was caught in the middle of his illegal photography session and was consequently arrested and sentenced to a short stint in a Gibraltar jail. However, Halliburton still managed to leave the country with a roll of film, taken from the summit, which had not been confiscated.

Halliburton’s habit of dishonesty did not stop there. When funds were low he skipped out on a tea bill in Monte Carlo, snuck into the garden of the Taj Mahal after closing hours, shorted a hotel bill in Punjab, and jumped numerous trains. He also used his title as a journalist in an attempt to secure discounted prices for travel. When learning that a visit to Ladakh would cost him and a travel companion 75 dollars each, he said, “We are journalists and wish to take this trip in search of copy. Our accounts will be published in several newspapers so that we are in a position to advertise ‘Civil and Military Agency’ to a large number of readers in America—that is, if it were worth our while.”

All this is not to say that Halliburton was completely dishonest all of the time. He lied when he felt there was no other way to achieve his romantic adventure, although this sometimes meant disrespecting foreign cultures. When funds were available to him, he happily paid for meals and transportation. He even revisited restaurants and railways to pay back bills he had previously skipped out on.

Several of Halliburton’s writings were published in various newspapers and magazines, so he did not use his journalistic title in a blatantly deceitful manner. Halliburton was simply a youthful, adventurous, intelligent man who did whatever it took to keep himself on the winding, unpredictable, sometimes-dangerous-but-always-exciting road to romance.

Location-Based Social Media

Gowalla is a location-based social media outlet that lets you keep in touch with friends and family (through facebook and twitter) by sharing with people the places you visit. Check out the website here.

Gowalla also allows you to create "trips," and by doing so you can share your favorite "spots" in different cities. Trips can be based on art, historical spots, bars, restaurants, etc. Recently, I created two trips: one consisting of five of Oxford, Mississippi's (my current town) best restaurants, and one including several of the places I visited while in San Antonio.

Check out my trips, and Gowalla, here:

Oxford Eats
San Antonio First-Timer

my first time in San Antonio

This past weekend I flew out to San Antonio to visit my boyfriend, Riley. He recently took a job as a Graduate Assistant for UTSA's Outdoor Pursuits program. It was my first time in San Antonio, and luckily I had a personal tour-guide who put together an amazing weekend itinerary. Even though I was only there for four nights, I really feel as if I got a true feel of the city. If you ever decide to visit San Antonio, even for a couple of days, here are my suggestions for must-see downtown attractions:

1. The Alamo, of course. This historical sight is definitely a must-see. Don't forget to stick around for reenactments put on by local actors. Also, check out the historic Menger Hotel--located right across the street.
   
2. Blanco Cafe for breakfast. This Mexican cafe serves breakfast all day, and it is delicious. I recommend ordering the Chilaquiles with Beans & Papas. This dish is served with fried tortilla chips, eggs, tomatoes, onions, peppers, potatoes, and topped with melted cheese.
3. "First Friday" in the King William District. If you happen to be in San Antonio during the first Friday of any month, head down to this artsy part of town to enjoy live music, local brews, and unique art exhibits. While I was in town, I enjoyed First Friday by noshing on bar food and sipping local brews at Blue Star Brewing Company, while listening to some great Reggae music by Carlton Pride & Zion.
4. Tower of the Americas. Take the elevator to the top of this 750-foot-tall tower and order a Prickly Pear Margarita at the Chart House Restaurant while enjoying breathtaking views of the entire city.
5. Happy Hour at Casa Rio. This Mexican restaurant, located on the famous Riverwalk, offers $2.50 margaritas during happy hour. Drinks are served with complimentary chips and salsa, of course.
6. Appetizers or dessert at the Iron Cactus. I recommend enjoying this riverside restaurant Al Fresco style. My top menu picks include the Lobster Tacos, Strawberry Margarita Tres Leche, and Mexican Chocolate Mousse.
7. Riverboat Tour along the Riverwalk. Don't miss out on this fun and informational tour of the famous Riverwalk. Riverboat guides will be sure to keep you entertained with their inside scoop, historical knowledge, and all-too-often bad jokes.
   

2010 Park City Ski Trip with Ole Miss Outdoors

During his senior year at Ole Miss, my boyfriend Riley Kurtts was a trip leader for Ole Miss Outdoors. In the early weeks of December 2009 he led a small group of Ole Miss students, including myself, across the country for an awesome ski adventure in Park City, Utah. With his flipcam in hand the majority of the time, he was able to capture some pretty sweet footage. Once home, he put together this homemade video. Pretty good, if I do say so myself! Check it out.

ohh how i would love to do this is the next couple of years...

"WWOOF New Zealand provides experiences in sustainable living from large organic farms to family gardens, organic orchards and vineyards, biodynamics, permaculture, urban organics, alternative building/energy etc. WWOOF also provides an intercultural eco-experience that promotes understanding and tolerance."

Check out the website here.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

In his 2004 autobiography, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, adventurer Aron Ralston details the story of his 2003 canyoneering trip to Blue John Canyon, during which time he amputated his right arm after being trapped by a 200-pound chockstone boulder for five days without food and water. This memoir recounts his 28 years of outdoors and life experiences that led him to his now-famous decision to cut off his own arm to save his life.

Ralston compiled his life story into a collection of mini-stories that he presents through a series of flash-blacks while he is pinned in the canyon. An extreme mountain-biker, mountaineer, canyoneer, rock and ice climber, Ralston quit his job as a mechanical engineer for Intel in 2002 so he could channel all of his time and energy into a new, remarkable feat: attempting to be the first person to solo-climb all fifty-nine of Colorado’s fourteeners. From reading this book, one quickly realizes that a recurring theme exists within all of Ralston’s voyages. He has spent the majority of his life seeking out the most outrageous adventures, and in doing so he has had several close brushes with death—this canyoneering trip being the closest brush yet.

Accustomed to embarking on adventurous, and relatively dangerous, trips alone, this trip was no exception for Ralston. He had a few days off from his sales job at the Ute Mountaineer in Aspen, Colorado, so he hastily packed up his car with all of his go-to gear: mountain bike, skis, climbing equipment, etc. On a whim, Ralston decided to travel to Moab, Utah for some canyoneering. For such an experienced climber, this trip should have proven relatively simple. Therefore, Ralston did not bother with leaving an itinerary with anyone—which made his impending search all the more difficult.

His excursion was going perfectly. The canyoneering was technical, but reasonably easy and enjoyable. During a descent, Ralston used a wedged boulder as support to lower himself. However, his weight shifted the boulder and it came crashing down, pinning him against the canyon wall.

During the third morning of his entrapment, Ralston seemed to come to terms with his fateful death as he powered on his video camera to record goodbyes to friends and family. As he tearfully reminisced over his most memorable moments spent with friends and family, Ralston had an ironic self-realization.

“Laughing a laugh of utter exhaustion, I recall the irony of the memories that involved a close brush with death. I’ve listed several times when I almost died as some of my favorite memories, times when I had fun via the intensity of the experience. Regardless of the psychological implications, I find a certain comedic relief for my current situation, wondering if I’ll ever feel the same way if I survive my entrapment in Blue John.”

This passage is important because it raises one of the ethical questions intertwined in adventure journalism: Where does one draw the line? Adventure journalism can be dangerous, even deadly. Still, many extremists risk their lives to attain an experience that is “worth” retelling to others. Ralston seemed to push the envelope even farther by embarking on these trips alone. At times it seemed as if he chose to partake in solo instead of group trips so that he would be the only one with the bragging rights.

Ralston’s career choice put a huge burden on his friends and family, as they were the ones who were called upon to save him when things took a deadly turn. One can only imagine how physically and mentally draining his rescue efforts must have been, and this makes adventure journalism seem somewhat selfish. In the hospital shortly after his rescue, his mother said, “Sue and I were joking that if it wasn’t a broken leg that had kept you from coming home, you were going to have two broken ones by the time we got done with you.”

Ralston’s story immediately generated much media attention. CNN boasted a headline that read, “Colorado climber who amputated own arm in critical care.” Print and broadcast journalists swarmed the hospital grounds in the hopes of catching a glimpse of this extreme climber. Ralston’s mother expected this massive media response, as she had this request for Ranger Steve Swanke, “You’ll probably have to file a report or talk to the media about Aron. Please don’t be judgmental.” Even Aron’s mother was award of the ethical questions and concerns that would be raised concerning his situation.

my current read

Get it here.

Ultimate Base Jump

Dean Potter--2009 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year

Honoree

Best Adventure Gear of 2010

NatGeo Adventure's Steve Casimiro discusses some of 2010's sweetest adventure gear.

Dead Lucky--Part Dos

In his autobiography Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest, Australian mountaineer and journalist Lincoln Hall recounts the journey that led him to, and got him down, a near-fatal trek to Mount Everest’s summit in May of 2006. In this heart-wrenching tale, Hall carries the reader step-by-step through his emotionally and physically draining expedition. In the end, Hall survives by choosing family over death. Hall states in his author’s notes that Dead Lucky was the most difficult book he’s ever written, not because of the traumatizing memories he had to recall, but because of eight severely frostbitten fingers. But like any good journalist, Hall found a way to tell his story.

In 2006, Hall and his family had just returned from a three-year stint living in Singapore and were back in the Blue Mountain area of Australia. Hall reclaimed his editing job at Outdoor Australia magazine in Sydney, and was busy in the throws of work, family, and book writing. Then came the call from Michael Dillon, an adventure cameraman who had been on Everest with Hall in 1984 when he was forced to retreat just shy of the summit due to frostbite. Dillon was putting together a team to accompany Christopher Harris, a 14-year-old Australian climber who was attempting to be the youngest person to summit Everest. Dillon asked Hall to come along and film the journey.

After talking it over with his wife and family, Hall accepted the invitation. The fact that he never reached the summit some 22 years ago still haunted him. If he failed to reach the summit this time, he would humbly accept defeat. Hall also assured himself that his intentions were pure. He had a job to do. “As a cameraman, my role was to record our climb of Everest, a far safer motivation that an obsession with the summit. My own dreams of summiting remained a shadow in the wings, but if Christopher Harris succeeded in his attempt to be the youngest person to climb to the peak, I hoped to be beside him, filming history.”

The group soon set out to make history, and Hall’s dream of summiting this harrowing mountain did not remain a shadow in the wings for long. This is where one of the major themes in the book breaks through the surface: What limits do you set on personal ambitions when you are on the job? After weeks of acclimatization and hiking from Base Camp to Intermediate Camp to Advance Base Camp, they were ready to set out for the North Col, which lies at 23,200 ft. But fate dealt an unfortunate hand that morning, as Christopher suffered a “collapse,” or severe drop in blood pressure, and was forced to retreat. Richard and Mike chose to stay back with Christopher, but encouraged Hall to keep trekking.

After debating his decision, and literally writing out the pros and cons of continuing to the summit, Hall decided to move forward, claiming he owed it to Barbara, himself, and his boys. His job as Christopher’s cameraman was over, but his personal need to reach the summit was unrelenting. Another theme emerges with this decision: How far will adventure journalists go to get their story? Where do you draw the line? Hall was knowingly risking his life. But to him, there was no other choice.

Hall reached the summit around 9 a.m. on May 25, 2006. He remembers, “The weather was perfect, with only a few harmless clouds in the around the lower peaks and some more solid cover to the west. Everything was good. Everything was going according to plan.” Hall and four accompanying Sherpas began to descend Everest. Hall quickly began to unravel. The extreme lack of Oxygen at such a high altitude began to take a toll on his mind and body. He began to exhibit symptoms of cerebral edema, a potentially fatal fluid accumulation in the brain. The Sherpas tried to help him down, but his hallucinations got the best of him, and he refused their help. With only a few hours of sunlight left, the Sherpas were ordered to leave Hall, as they would likely die if they spent a night on the summit. Hall was pronounced dead that night.

The next morning a few climbers stumbled upon Hall sitting on the edge of the summit. He had done the absolute impossible. He survived a night alone on the summit. His vivid hallucinations began to subside, and he was able to make it down the mountain with the assistance of various climbers and Sherpas.

Hall’s story reveals a common theme among many adventure journalists. They are so passionate about their adventure, that living to tell their story is not their first priority. They risk their lives to reach the unreachable, defeat the undefeatable. His story immediately drew multitudes of media attention from all over the globe. As a journalist, he knew what to expect: media outlets portraying the best story, not necessarily the true story. So Hall decided that he—frostbitten and all—would tell the story himself.

Lincoln Hall is Dead Lucky

"I was tired but content and wasted no mental energy on anything superfluous. I was doing what I needed to do at each particular moment, until I reached the point where there were no moments, only the continuum of my passage along the rubble-strewn trail. I made no attempts to put myself in this state; I just found myself there. It felt like the landscape was including me--as if the barrier between the living and the nonliving, between life and death, had dissolved. My enjoyment was no longer of the magnificent day or of the mountains but of an altered sense of reality, a disconnection from the flow of thoughts that normally had me planning, thinking, analyzing. I had stepped into a simpler state of being."

In this passage from Lincoln Hall's 2007 book, Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest, Hall describes the sense of peace that can come along with mountaineering, one of the aspects of this dangerous sport that won his heart over 30 years ago.

A New Class...A New Journey

A new semester is upon us, and with this new semester comes new classes and new learning experiences.  I am enrolled in one of Dr. Wickham's graduate journalism classes, which is basically like a big ole book club.  Each student will choose a journalism topic to study throughout the semester.  I am extremely passionate about two things:  journalism and travel.  So what better topic to study than travel journalism?  I will be delving into the works of some of the most famous travel writers known to man.  From Richard Halliburton, a renown adventurer who explored some of Mother Nature's most exciting offerings, to Hunter S. Thompson, who explored a not-s0-natural world of drugs and alcohol.  Stay tuned to see where my travels through these books take me.  It should be an interesting journey!