Mt. Everest: for some people, it still represents the holy grail of adventure. For others, it conjures up images of long queues, lots of trash, and a tourism industry that has gotten out of hand. So what is the truth about Everest, and why does it generate such strong feelings for so many of us? Our guest today is Adrian Ballinger, a climber, skier, mountain guide, and the founder and CEO of Alpenglow Expeditions. Adrian does an outstanding job of explaining the multiple sides of Everest, and the many different ways to approach it. RELATED LINKS: BLISTER+ Get Yourself Covered Blister Summit 2025 TOPICS & TIMES: First Love: Skiing, Climbing, Or Mountaineering (6:53) Progression in Skiing High Peaks (13:46) Your Season on Everest (15:47) North Side vs South Side of Everest (24:06) How Accessible Should Everest Be? (34:57) Supplemental Oxygen (38:27) Alpenglow Expeditions’ “Rapid Ascent” (47:32) Other Mountains that Deserve More Attention? (56:13) Fixing High-Altitude Mountaineering & Outdoor Sports Culture (1:01:20) The Need for more Female Guides (1:05:25) Adrian’s Duffel Shuffle Podcast (1:10:41) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.