Local mountain climbing guide services planning to lead expeditions on Mount Everest this year got bad news this morning from the Chinese government.

The government announced it will not permit non-Chinese climbers from climbing the world's tallest peak this spring. The primary concern seems to be possible protests during a planned attempt to take the Olympic torch to the summit. China hosts the summer games this year.

"Mountaineers worldwide are in a state of uproar (including us)," said Erin Simonson of International Mountain Guides, an Ashford-based guide service that leads expeditions on Everest each year. Erin is the wife of IMG co-owner Eric Simonson.

IMG and many other guide services have already collected fees for Everest climbs and has already spent much of that money on preparations for climbs, Erin Simonson said.

IMG, Alpine Ascents International and Mountain Madness are all local guide companies who lead expeditions on Everest.

"The climbing community is looking to American diplomacy to persuade China to relax its concerns and heavy-handed approach," Erin Simonson said.

Read more at everestnews.net

Just got an e-mail from Dave Ludwig, the Tacoma man who started the cancer fundraiser Hope on the Slopes. Ludwig says the event at Stevens Pass last weekend raised $87,000 for the American Cancer Society.

More than 400 people participated in the event where they tried to see how many vertical feet they could ski or snowboard in 24 hours. Some competed as individuals and some competed as teams.

White Pass holds its Hope on the Slopes Saturday. Ludwig started the event at White Pass but there are now events held nationwide.

Here's a link to a news story done recently by a New York TV station.

I competed in the 2006 event, when it was called the Vertical Challenge, and have to say it's one of the coolest events I've ever been around. I went for the skiing challenge but quickly learned it was about much, much more. Here's the story I filed after skiing 120,000 vertical feet in 24 hours:

A BROTHER'S LOVE ENDURES
By Craig Hill The News Tribune, 2006

When Derek LaFramboise greeted me in the White Pass lift line at 2:30 a.m. on March 12, I thought I knew plenty about endurance.

I was 14 1/2 hours into a 24-hour ski competition called the Vertical Challenge, and I was fighting leg cramps, fatigue and numb toes from the 15-degree cold, with no intention of slowing down.

A six-minute lift ride later, I realized I was about to get an endurance lesson from Derek's 14-year-old son.

"Why are you doing this?" Derek asked.

I just wanted to know what it was like to ski for 24 hours, I replied.

"Well, let me tell you why my son is doing this," Derek said.

=> Read more!