|
New Jersey kids going to Everest This Article about Joe was featured at ExplorersWeb.com on 01:48 p.m. EST Mar 9, 2004  Over
two thousand school children will head to Everest’s summit this spring. Ok,
maybe not, but they will be following the progress of two local climbers.
Joe Hughes and his partner, Liz Pace, are going to Everest this month and
the New Jersey grade-schoolers will follow their every move via downloadable
audio dispatches from audible.com. Joe was born and raised just across the river from ExplorersWeb, in New Jersey. As a child he spent more time reading about Sir Edmund Hillary and Jacque Cousteau than playing catch with his classmates. In this society that can make for a tough childhood, but Joe knew what he wanted and stuck with it. His passion for adventure led him to SCUBA diving around the world and trekking in Pennsylvania and Germany. Joe has now set his sights on Everest; he’s been below the waves why not to the top of the world. Joe has been training for the South-East ridge assault on Everest and will be at BC around April 7th. Last year Joe reached the summit of Aconcagua, his prior ascents include Rainier, Washington (winter ascent), and Katahdin to name a few. After Everest he plans to tackle Denali and then the rest of the Seven Summits. When asked about how his family and friends are reacting, Joe said that his mother has been “calm but ambivalent” supportive and trying not to display the fear all mother’s have when their children go off to climb Everest. Even Hillary’s mother quietly whispered “come home”, holding back tears, when he left for that historic event. Joe’s friends are supportive too, but can’t help laughing at the memory of Joe packing in lawn chairs and a chainsaw on their back-country treks together. Joe would like to inspire the next generation of climbers as his predecessors inspired him. His charity, Sedona Cares, teaches children the benefits of non-traditional athletics. Many children play baseball or football, many do neither and most grow up being a “used-to-be”, as in they used to play baseball in high school but now do nothing. Joe wants to show kids that they can ‘achieve their dream’. |
 |