| Picture | : |  |
|
|
Ranking in 7summits list, either CP or K | : | 16 |
|
|
Ranking in Carstensz Pyramid list | : | 0 |
|
|
Ranking in Kosciuszko list | : | 13 |
|
|
First name | : | Vernon |
|
|
Family name | : | Tejas |
|
|
Gender | : | male |
|
|
Country of origin | : | USA |
|
|
Date of Birth | : | 1953-03-16 |
|
|
Name of first summit | : | Aconcagua |
|
|
Date of climbing the first summit | : | 1988-01-28 |
|
|
Name of final summit in Carstensz list | : | xxx |
|
|
Date of final summit in Carstensz list | : | 0000-00-00 |
|
|
Name of final summit in Kosciuszko list | : | Everest |
|
|
Date of final summit in Kosciuszko list | : | 1992-05-12 |
|
|
Date of climbing Kilimanjaro | : | 1992-02-18 |
|
|
Date of climbing Elbrus | : | 1990-10-02 |
|
|
Date of climbing Aconcagua | : | 1988-01-28 |
|
|
Date of climbing Denali | : | 1988-03-07 |
|
|
Date of climbing Vinson | : | 1988-12-07 |
|
|
Date of climbing Everest | : | 1992-05-12 |
|
|
Date of climbing Carstensz Pyramid | : | 0000-00-00 |
|
|
Date of climbing Kosciuszko | : | 1991-03-19 |
|
|
Climbed Carstensz Pyramid? | : | No |
|
|
Climbed Kosciuszko? | : | Yes |
|
|
Total time including Carstensz Pyramid | : | xxx |
|
|
Total time including Kosciuszko | : | 00y,187d |
|
|
Age when finished with CP | : | xxx |
|
|
Age when finished with K | : | 39y,058d |
|
|
Website | : | www.alpineascents.com/guides.asp |
|
|
Additional Info | : | (update March 2006:)
Vern has so far climbed all 7 summits 5 times!
He is until now also the fastest climber for the Kosciuszko version, though his orginal, first, series took him 04 years & 105 days, the latest version only took him 187 days!
Here are the details of that record race:
DateOfBirth: 03/16/53
Kilimanjaro date: 09/12/05
kilimanjaro route: Umbwe/Mweka
Vern Tejas/leader/guide, Rodrick Mtui/guide
Kilimanjaro remarks: Roderick and I made the round trip in less than 16 hours. The toughest part was getting the permit.
Elbrus date: 07/23/05
Elbrus route: standard
Elbrus_partners: Vern Tejas/leader/guide, Nikolay Cherny/guide
Elbrus remarks: All of our team made the summit despite inclement conditions.
Aconcagua date: 10/31/05
Aconcagua route: Normal
Aconcagua partners: Vern Tejas (solo)
permit #00050504
I was the first person on the mountain for the season.
Aconcagua remarks: This was an unsupported unacclimatized preseason "speed" ascent. Lots a snow and penitentes barred mules from carring loads to basecamp. 17 hours round trip from Plaza de mulas to summit in a lenticular.
Denali date: 06/29/05
Denali route: Washburn
Denali partners: Vern Tejas/leader/guide, Brennan Brunner/guide
Denali remarks: Excellent weatherconditions on summit day made for great photos of Suzanne and Dana on the summit ridge.
Vinson date: 12/03/05
Vinson route: Normal/Branscom
Vinson_partners: Vern Tejas/leader/guide, Erik Murphy/guide
Vinson remarks: 100% of our climbers summited on all 5 of our Vinson expeditions this season.
Everest date: 05/30/05
Everest route: South Col
Everest partners: Vern Tejas/leader/guide
Dave Liano/client/friend
Chwang Sherpa
Topkay Sherpa
Everest remarks: The lenticular melted away for the first time in weeks so we went up. It was breezy but doable. David was real strong.
Carstensz remarks: This is not one of the original "Seven Summits" that Dick Bass wrote the book about.
I believe Australia is a continent.
Kosciuszko date: 10/12/05
Kosciuszkoroute: Standard w/ direct finish
Kosciuszko partners: Vern Tejas/leader solo
Kosciuszko remarks: 3 hours and 20min RT
Climbing bio:
Fortunately I have been able to complete the "Seven Summits" five times and I am currently striving for six. I began climbing high altitude peaks 28 years ago because I loved it....Still do.
Personal bio:
Barely suviving high school I hit the road hitchiking all around North America until I saw Denali and fell in love. I had to become a guide to be close to her.....she's still my favorite.
See a picture of Vern with 7summits.com's Harry taken at Vinson BC here:
http://7summits.com/info/stats2/img/harry-vern-Vinson-BC-crop.jpg
****************
From an interview with him (on this site: http://classic.mountainzone.com/climbing/tejas/index.html)
"He Climbs, He Soars, He Rocks
Fortitude and enthusiasm define Vernon Tejas, whose life as a mountaineer reflects his inherently adventurous personality. Working as a guide for Alpine Ascents International since 1992 and doing legendary climbs all over the world, Tejas' achievement of the first solo winter ascent of Denali not only stands as one of the greatest endurance and mountaineering feats, but will forever stir the imaginations of climbers and wilderness enthusiasts. The mere thought of embracing such a climb, full of darkness, danger and lethal cold prods the imagination and sends shivers down one's spine even on the most comfortable of days.
Vernon Tejas' poise and overtly gentle nature seem incongruous with the challenges he presents himself. From riding his bike up Aconcagua (the site of Vernon barreling down 22,835' of the highest mountain in the Americas must have caused quite a stir) to paragliding off Mt. Elbrus, Europe's highest point, he takes his ventures very seriously and with calculated risk.
"Fortunately I still have all twenty of my digits. Twenty-one actually, if you count my nose as well as my toes..."
Vernon's other classic exploits include the first solo ascent of Antarctica's Mt. Vinson, a testament to his interest in extreme, solo weather climbs.
"Vernon is a unique individual, even in our world," says famed Everest climber and fellow seven summitteer Todd Burleson. "He's one of a kind and of a select few that can climb mountains and guide others with equal expertise. Vernon is an cautious climber, wonderful partner and true professional."
Charismatic and charming, Vernon is most well-known and loved in Alaska, where his 20+ summits of Denali are legendary. He has scaled Mt. Everest and the rest of the seven summits, being the 13th person to accomplish the feat. With over twenty-five years of guiding under his belt, he continually returns to guide great mountains and to push himself to new challenges.
Most recently, Vernon served as lead guide for Col. Norman Vaughn's ascent of Mt. Vaughn in Antarctica and he shows no signs of slowing down. In upcoming months, he will be guiding for Alpine Ascents International in Russia, Iran and Africa. On a personal note, Vernon is mid-way through his quest for the Seven Plummets — hang gliding from the summit of the highest points on each continent! To date, Vernon has plummeted from the top of Mounts Anconcagua and Elbrus."
from the Alpine Ascents site:
"Vernon Tejas: Mountain Guide, Climbing Legend, High Altitude Fiddler"
VERNON TEJAS
SENIOR GUIDE, INTERNATIONAL & MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL
One of the world's most famed mountaineers, Vernon has summited the highest mountain on each continent and has guided well over thirty climbs on Denali.
A charismatic leader, he is legendary for Denali's first solo winter ascent, the first solo ascent of Mt. Vinson and as a lead guide for Col. Norman Vaughn's ascent of Mt. Vaughn.
In addition to his fame and expertise in the extreme environments of Alaska, Antarctica, and the Caucasus, Vernon's success in guiding people to the summit is simply remarkable. Along with numerous highly successful guided expeditions of Elbrus, Vern has 100% success on Kilimanjaro.
Vern's guided ascents are an extremely unique blend of his dynamic spirit, climbing expertise and guiding savvy, and are renowned in the guiding community. Vernon led the expedition to Iran's Mt. Damavand (one of the first American guided climbs).
Most recently Vern had outstanding success with two trips to Mt. Vinson, Denali and Elbrus, guided our 2000 Everest expedition and in his free time, completed a winter ascent of Aconcagua and a top 10 finish in the 1999 Eco-Challenge.
With a fiddle in his hand and a smile on his face, Vernon treats everyone to the remarkable experience of life!" |
