Sharing the adventure

Ciprian “Chip” Popoviciu, an engineer at Cisco Systems in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, climbs high-altitude mountains for fun and adventure. As he planned an attempt at climbing Mount Everest in 2008, he approached Martin GT Magnet Middle School in Raleigh with a proposition: Chip wanted to collaborate with the school to make his journey an interactive one for the students.

Mount Everest — the world’s highest mountain at 29,029 feet — presents a tremendous challenge. In addition to the physical demands of mountain climbing, climbers must endure high winds, extreme cold, and altitudes so high they can cause illness. By bringing his climb to the students at Martin Middle School, Chip’s expedition would teach them about those challenges, as well as about the cultural experience of traveling in Nepal and the traditions that have become an inseparable part of climbing Mount Everest.

On March 25, 2008, Chip arrived in Kathmandu. He was joined by his climbing partner, Vance Cook, and they began their journey to Base Camp where they met with their sherpas, Pemba and Jamling, who would serve as guides on their expedition. With the support of Cisco Systems and ArchRock Corporation, Chip was able to communicate with the students throughout his climb.

While Chip climbed, the students studied the culture of Nepal, the geology of the Himalayas, the history of climbing Mount Everest, and the effects of high altitude on the human body. They created a blog on the WRAL website, using correspondence from Chip to tell the story as it was unfolding. In addition, the students sold awareness bracelets and made $1,573.85 to donate to a school in Nepal.

By sharing in the highs and lows of the journey, the students gave Chip an extra measure of support and motivation.

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