Cho-Oyu 2012 Guide Team
Cho-Oyu Guiding Team (based on 6 climber Team)
We are pleased to announce that Lakpa Rita Sherpa and Brien Sheedy again will be leading Alpine Ascents 2012 Cho-Oyu Expedition.
Lakpa with over 10 ascents of Cho Oyu - 15 ascents of Everest, has served to lead many of Alpine Ascents Himalayan expeditions. Lakpa has been lives in the US with his family and leads many of our international climbs such as Aconcagua and Vinson as well as in Washington State. Brien and Lakpa successfully led our 2011 Cho-Oyu Expedition.
Brien has a unique and truly vast knowledge of mountaineering; has completed a residency in Nepal and works as a college teacher and mountain guide. He is an exceptionally gifted leader and guides for us worldwide and we are excited to have him on our Cho-Oyu expedition this season.
LAKPA RITA SHERPA 
SENIOR GUIDE, INTERNATIONAL & MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL
Lakpa's climbing and guiding achievements are significant, with 15 summits of Mt. Everest on over 21 expeditions (a record 213 climbers on the summit under his leadership) seven guided summits of Cho-Oyu and numerous other peaks in Nepal. He also been our high camp manager and guide on Aconcagua and Denali and has guided numerous peaks in the Cascades including Mount Baker and Rainier. Currently, Lakpa and his family reside in Seattle. He is a guide, leader and friend of the highest quality. Lakpa summited Mount Vinson twice as a leader of our 2003-2004 Vinson Team. He also is known as "The Best Sirdar in the Khumbu", and has been working with us for the past sixteen years. His legendary strength is veiled by his charm and humility. As Sirdar (Sherpa captain) he directs and organizes our team of Sherpa for every Himalayan expedition. Possessing unparalleled expertise in the mountains, Lakpa is one of the only Sherpa working as a full-time Mountain Guide around the world. In February 2009, Lakpa became the first Sherpa, and first Nepali to climb the Seven Summits. Here he is on the summit of Kilimanjaro.
[ Article about Lakpa]
Significant Ascents
Everest 15 summits over 21 expeditions.
Cho-Oyu 11 summits
Shishapangma 1 summit
Pumori 1 summit
Elbrus 1 summit
Baruntse 2 summit
Aconcagua 26 summits
Vinson 2 summits
Kilimanjaro 1 summit
Denali 2 summits
Guide on K2 and Broad Peak, Annapurna South Face, Manaslu, Dhaulagri and Maklu.
Rainier 30 summits.
First Sherpa to climb the seven summits.
Certifications
Wilderness First Responder
BRIEN SHEEDYGUIDE, INTERNATIONAL, DENALI, ACONCAGUA, MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL
Brien brings a wealth of climbing, teaching and international experience to Alpine Ascents International. Brien has climbed the highest peak on every continent and has guided all over the world. He is proficient in rock, ice, big walls and high altitude climbing. He loves leading expeditions to remote hard to reach locations and helping people push their limits and succeed at difficult challenges.
In addition to guiding for Alpine Ascents, Brien has been the Director of Outdoor Programs at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA since 2001 and is a Senior Instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School where he started in 1991 and worked for over a decade, accumulating over 200 field weeks. He led courses and expeditions all over the western US and Canada and worked roughly four years out of the country between Kenya, India, Chile and Mexico. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from SUNY ESF at Syracuse and a Master’s Degree in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied Nepali for two years and conducted his thesis research on ecotourism in Nepal.
Certifications
Wilderness First Responder
Avalanche Level II
Leave No Trace Master Trainer
AMGA CWI Course Instructor
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
AMGA Alpine Guide Course
AMGA Rock Instructor Course
Significant Ascents
Everest
Vinson
Cho-Oyu (1 guided)
Carstensz Pyramid
Denali (1 personal + 5 guided)
Aconcagua (1 personal + 5 guided)
Elbrus
Kilimanjaro
Mt. Kenya (10+ guided)
Himachel Pradesh, India (2 guided)
Ixtaciuatl
Popocatepetl
Rainier (30+)
Baker (North Ridge 1, Coleman 2)
Hood
Adams
Glacier Peak
Logan (Cascades)
Mera Peak