Weekly Recap: Climbing, Biking, and Retro?

Filed in archive Outdoor News on May 27, 2007

Here's the best of the news I missed last week:

Elite Female Sherpa Falls to Death

Pemba Doma Sherpa fell at about 8,000m while descending Lhotse south of Mount Everest, officials at the trekking firm where she was a director told the BBC. She was Nepal's first woman to climb Mount Everest by its north face. Two years after that 2000 climb, she again conquered the world's tallest peak from its south side. The 32-year-old was believed to be one of only six women who had scaled the mountain twice, most recently as part of the 2002 Nepalese women's expedition.

Tour de France Winner Admits to Doping

Bjarne Riis today became the first Tour de France winner to admit using performance-enhancing drugs to win the race. The retired Danish cyclist said Friday he used the blood-booster EPO between 1993 to 1998, including during his 1996 Tour victory, confirming years of speculation that he benefited from banned substances. He also admitted taking cortisone and human growth hormone, but didn't say when.

Going Retro on Everest

A team of climbers is planning to conquer Everest in 1920s-style clothing. The climbers, led by American Conrad Anker, are trying to retrace the steps of Brit George Mallory, who died close to the summit in 1924.

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