See some year 7 students (and a special guest) wish Kenton good luck at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPvB_iUjwlc  

 

Kenton Cool, who attended JHGS between 1985 and 1991 and who features in our prospectus, is attempting to climb Everest for a record 10th time. This expedition is particularly special as he is aiming to fulfil a near century old Pledge made directly to Baron Pierre de Coubertin at the Closing Ceremony of the 1924 Olympics.

On the 5th February, 1924 Lt Col Edward Strutt pledged to take one of the Olympic Gold Medals won by Great Britain for Alpinisme to the summit of Mount Everest. This Pledge, officially recognised as 'The Olympic Games Pledge' by the IOC, has never been fulfilled. More information about the pledge can be found here.

 

 

Latest news ....

 

 

FROM THE EXPEDITION TEAM: KENTON IS NOW PREPARING FOR THE SUMMIT ATTEMPT

After 90 years 'the Pledge' made between Baron Pierre de Coubertin and Great Britain at the Closing Ceremony of the 1924 Winter Olympics is entering its final stage. Kenton is now making his final preparations, along with Keith Partridge and Dorje Gylgen, to carry one of the 1924 Olympic Gold Medals awarded to Great Britain for Alpinisme to the summit of Mount Everest.

 

If Mount Everest permits it, this will be the final act of the 1922 Everest expedition team and we hope that it will be a fitting tribute to the 21 men who won Olympic medals that year.

 

Some names are better known than others but all will be honoured equally if Kenton succeeds, just as the International Olympic Committee honoured each equally in 1924.

Charles G Bruce, Edward Lisle Strutt, George Mallory, George Ingle Finch, Edward F Norton, Henry Morshead, Howard Somervell, Arthur Wakefield, John Noel, Tom Longstaff, Geoffrey Bruce, John Morris, Colin Crawford, Tejbir Bura, Narbu, Lhakpa, Pasang, Pembra, Antarge, Temba and Sange. 

 

The timeline to the summit will unfold as follows:-

S 20th May: Depart Base Camp and climb to Camp 2. Sleep at Camp 2.

M 21st May: Rest day at Camp 2. Sleep at Camp 2.

T 22nd May: Climb to Camp 3. Sleep at Camp 3.

W 23rd May: Climb to Camp 4. Sleep at Camp 4.

T 24th May: Rest day and final preparations at Camp 4. Sleep at Camp 4.

F 25th May: Summit day (expected between 04h00 - 06h00 LDN). Descend to Camp 4. Sleep at Camp 4.

S 26th May: Return to Base Camp.

 

As next week unfolds Samsung will release a series of films to support Kenton's summit attempt to ensure that, if successful, the moment is shared "not just with your country, but with all humanity" just as Baron Pierre de Coubertin originally asked of Edward Lisle Strutt and Great Britain. We hope you like them and share them.

 

To help Kenton's morale Samsung have also just launched a new "APP" that will enable everyone and anyone to tweet their support direct to him on Everest. He's reading them all at his end, and what we hope is that we can get the whole world, quite literally, willing the boys on as they make their way to the top. It might sound far-fetched, but I'm sure it'll be easier to do than the task Kenton has ahead of him.

Please click on this link to tweet your messages through: http://on.fb.me/JiKp9V (and share as much as possible!).

 
If and when Kenton reaches the summit he will attempt the first-ever live broadcast direct into the BBC. More details will be given as the week develops, but this will be a huge moment for Kenton as it will also represent his tenth summit of Mount Everest.

 

Many people and many organisations have helped Kenton and the team get to where we are today. Its been two years in development but what we have learnt throughout is that the people who deserve the greatest thanks of all are the members of the 1922 Expedition team. They are often overlooked by modern society, but their achievement with limited resources and in poor conditions stand out for us as one of the finest examples of human endeavour ever witnessed. We hope that when our moment comes we can live up to their standards and do justice to the incredible promise they made to Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the IOC on the 5th February, 1924 at the foot of Mont Blanc.

 

 

The latest information from his team can be read here Latest news from Kenton Cool.pdf 

 

His latest video taken in the Khumbu icefall can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1Nb2SPVe1DI

 

We are also hoping that Kenton will be able to visit us on his return!

 

Read an article from the BMC about the expedition here