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BAHAMIAN CLIMBS HIGHEST PEAK IN ANTARCTICA . . . NEXT STOP EVEREST

Richard Beek unfurls the Bahamian flag at the top of Mount Vinson, the highest mountain in Antarctica, becoming the first Bahamian to climb the 16,067ft peak, which is 600 miles from the South Pole.

Richard Beek unfurls the Bahamian flag at the top of Mount Vinson, the highest mountain in Antarctica, becoming the first Bahamian to climb the 16,067ft peak, which is 600 miles from the South Pole.

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AMID temperatures that dipped blow zero, Richard Beek, 44, completed one of the world’s most gruelling tasks when he became the first Bahamian to reach the summit of Vinson Massif, the highest peak on Antarctica, earlier this month.

Now, he will set his sights on something higher: reaching the top of Mount Everest and hoisting the Bahamian flag there.

The mountain climber works at Deltec Bank and has ascended to the highest peaks of six of the world’s seven continents, climbing atop Aconcagua in South America, Mount McKinley in North America, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe and Puncak Jaya in Australia.

If he reaches the summit of Mount Everest next spring, he could be the first Bahamian ever to accomplish the feat.

His love of climbing grew after reading a book about Mount Everest as a child, he said. A climber for 14 years, he said he finds the activity most would scoff at doing “therapeutic”.

“I find it therapeutic because it’s all about thinking about the basics,” he said. “Are you warm enough? Are you hungry? Do you have enough energy? You have to focus on what is important and not be preoccupied with work related issues. You take it one day at a time and can’t look at the whole project because then you’ll be overwhelmed.”

“It’s great to be at places rarely visited, to see the world from that altitude and to test yourself against the elements.”

Mr Beek trained for six months - running upstairs, doing cardio exercises, swimming and gym workouts before attempting to climb Mount Vinson, which he scaled on January 6.

“The temperature was very cold and that’s always a bit of a concern,” he said. “We slept on the ice for two weeks as the temperature got down to -10 degrees.”

His preparation to climb Mount Everest will begin a year before he makes his attempt, he said.

While mountain climbing, Mr Beek is no stranger to life threatening encounters.

A group of 11 people successfully climbed Mount Vinson with him, but not everyone has been so lucky during past climbing attempts.

“While climbing a remote mountain on Alaska a person died from a heart attack during the summit,” he said. “And the day we summited, the group behind had a person who died from HACE, which is altitude related issues.”

Comments

GrassRoot 8 years, 11 months ago

I doubt that Mr. Beek is Bahamian, by Nationality. He is one of the persons helping our country making great headlines.. Mr. Beek is an achiever and I congratulate him for this super performance and I thank him to share his personal fame with the Bahamas by putting up a Bahamian flag. I would also ask Mr. Beek to be nice and courteous to all of his subordinates at Deltec Bank (not that he is not), particularly the Bahamian ones, to give a lot of money to the local Church (not that he would not), never drink, never say a bad word about this Government (Not that he is or would), never to smile at the wrong person, to breath the Bahamian air with respect, kiss the ground whenever he lands in our Bahamalands. If not, he may be the next foreigner with a target on his back being sent home by the self-proclaimed "Ethical Business Practice Policy" run by Hon. Mr. of Immigration.

Abaconian 8 years, 11 months ago

What in the world are you rambling on about?

TruePeople 8 years, 11 months ago

Grassroot is being sarcastic. He's touching on the fact that when you see Bahamians accomplishing things like this they are often white Bahamians, who to many black Bahamians are automatically not Bahamian just because they are white. He is also touching on the fact that many Non-Bahamians do great things to try to promote and further our country, but are treated like crap by the ignoramuses in power, and the ignorant who support them blindly.

I'm Sure Mr. Beek is a Bahamian, and congratulate him for still loving our country despite all our short comings as a nation.

It is fantastic of Mr. Beek to provide a positive headline in days afflicted with such alarming and frustrating news

prayingforpeace 8 years, 11 months ago

I agree with you Abaconian... what is the world????

Well done Mr. Beek; keep doing your thing... wishing you great success in your endeavours

Baha10 8 years, 11 months ago

Well done Shackleton! You are an inspiration to us all to not only get out there and see the World, including those places not so readily accessible and easy to explore. Again, well done and on behalf of all Bahamians we thank you for recognizing your "adopted" Country and regarding it as now your own!

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