Expeditions

Everest - 2005

At 29,035 feet (8850 meters), Mount Everest is the highest point on the globe. Rising high out of the great range of the Himalaya, Mount Everest is still one of climbing's great accomplishments for a mountaineer to attempt. Its danger and extreme altitude presents our current climbing team with the ultimate challenge in terms of team and individual commitment and safety. To learn more about this expedition, visit the expedition profile on ClimbingForACure.com.


Denali - 2004

In the Spring of 2004, CFAC set its sights on the "High One", or Denali, located in Alaska. Denali, standing at 20,320 feet, is known as one of the crowning jewels in North American mountaineering. Heavy gear hauling, extreme arctic weather and thin air made this peak a great challenge for two expedition attempts in 2004 back-to-back.


Imja Tse - Lobuche East 2003

In the Spring of 2003, CFAC garnered the interest and support of over 15 climbers and trekkers interested in climbing and trekking in the Nepal Himalaya. CFAC decided to attempt a two-peak expedition goal, climbing Lobuche East first and then the venerable Imja Tse. Though both are trekking peaks, Lobuche East definitively is a true mountaineering peak with difficulty climbing terrain high above 19.000 feet. The support trek team laid the foundation for both a fun and close expedition experience.


Imja Tse 2001

In the Fall of 2001, Climbing For A Cure (CFAC) was founded. Imja Tse, or Island Peak was the first peak to be attempted for CFAC. It is called a "trekking peak" in the Nepal Himalaya keeping the price of a permit to a minimum. Founder Robert Chang and a small group of 5 of his friend departed 17 days after the September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York City. Standing at 20,30 feet, Imja Tse is still a fine peak to climb and the team's success was a first true tribute to Robert's sister, Marie.

Seven Summit Challenge-Expedition Inspire

In the spring of 2005, Robert Chang began the seven-summit challenge. The first ascent was on the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. Not only is this still considered to be one of the most difficult human powered challenges in history, but the goal was also compounded by Robert's discipline in managing the accompanying challenges of Graves' Disease. He successfully stood on top of the world on May 31, 2005.

Only slightly over 100 human beings have stood atop all "seven summits" of the world each averaging more than a decade to complete the feat. Robert Chang's goal in completing this monumental task in 24 months makes this a global event and ultimate challenge in terms of climbing skills, expedition organization and world promotion.

Rob will now focus upon the 6 remaining highest points on each of their respective continents. The focus of the seven-summit challenge involve the following peaks:

North American Continent - Denali - 20,320 feet, located in the rugged Alaskan range, known by experienced climbers to be as difficult as a 23,000 foot Himalayan peak due to its close proximity the frigid Arctic Circle.

European Continent - Mount Elbrus - 18,541 feet, located in the Russian Caucasaus mountain range, whose dominant range stretches 750 miles between the Black and Caspian seas-- roughly the size of the Alps and twice the length of the Sierra Nevada.

African Continent - Kilimanjaro - 19,340 feet, located on the Shira Plateau, a mountain the offers the extreme ascended high above the open plains of Africa.

Oceania Continent - Carstensz Pyramid -16,023 feet, located in the central highland of New Guinea, the second largest island after Greenland.

South American Continent - Aconcagua - 22,841 feet, known as the Stone Sentinel, is the highest peak in the world outside of Asia.

Antarctic Continent - Mount Vinson - 16,067 feet, located in the Antarctic Circle, this peak is know for its extreme remoteness and cold.

Asian Continent - Mount Everest - 29,035 feet, located in Central Asia, in the Kingdom of Nepal, this is the highest peak in the world and needs no introduction in terms of being the crowning jewel of mountaineering.