Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

I was inspired by Alex's calender idea to think of other ways to shatter the

"vegans are weak, frail, and wimpy" myth and the concomitant "you need meat to be big and strong" myth.

And, more importantly, to get media attention on this message.

I have a mountain of an idea (if we could pull this off).

I think that a whole bunch of us should train for and soon after climb, Mount Everest as the first group of vegans to ever to do so with a specific message.

The logistics of it is simply that we would have to train to climb for a few months to a year and then comes the big week or two where we actually climb!! What a great way to shatter the myth yet again and to get the message on international news stations and evening local news / tv stations.

Plus, I have always wanted to climb a mountain! I am scared to death of heights so this will be great for that little fear of mine.

I think that this would definitely garner news coverage, from your 6:00 evening news to newspapers, etc.

SO, who's in?????

I will start planning this next year for a target date of 2007.

For the animals, always,
Compash

A great idea!!!!!

From me you get a big maybe. It takes most people years of training, including dozens of small ascents to reach the Everest goal.

I'll go ahead and volunteer Jonathan, he climbs anything he is near anyway and Everest is only a few feet higher than his head.

yeah yeah yeah!! you are only a few inches shorter!


everest is not possible unless you are very rich. the nepalese goverment charges $40,000 per person for the permit to climb everest. it is accepted that it is not especially hard to climb, with there being a well defined route for people to take. however, 3 out of every 100 people who go up do not come back. there is 33% of the oxygen above 8000m that we take for granted down here at sea-level.
also the expedition takes many months (unless you are a very experienced alpine style climber). this involves 2weeks in each direction of treking to get there. then, in order to become aclimatised to the altitude, you need to do short accents every couple of days, each time increasing the height you go to. unless you are extremely fit, there is no chance you would survive an alpine style accent.

also, the guides that take you up will not take you unless you have serious experience climbing the highest peaks in the alps, rockies etc.

sorry to shoot the idea down, but we would be far better sticking to lower, less dangerous peaks, like kilamanjaro in tanzania, or some of the trekking peaks in nepal ( these are peaks up to a maximum of 21,000ft, where you usually [though not always] need some ice climbing experience, but they are not too challenging. plus the permit is only about $400 for up to 12people).

jonathan

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I think it's a neat idea to do some kind of extreme note-worthy activity which would attract attention, and as vegans. Everest sounds intense to me though! That is really really serious stuff

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DAMN governments!!! Like they arent rich enough.


Okay, thanks for all that amazing and detailed info Jon. So Everest is out.

But I still want to make this project a reality because I think it is a great idea that will help the animal rights/vegan cause tremendously and garner some much needed international spotlight on the message which we are trying to convey by the fit vegan calender.

So, I am up for just about anything. I just need help with bouncing some ideas around as to which mountain we can climb (but something challenging so it makes it into the news. I.e. Nobody is going to report on a bunch of vegans who climbed to the top of a moehill to proclaim a "fit and strong" message.). Will the Tanzania mountains be formidable enough and news worthy? I have always heard on the news when people make it to the top of Everest, but never have I heard reporting on any other peak.

Jonathan, you seem to be very knowledgeable about this. Please help me make this vision into a reality.

Also, we dont need a wholebunch of people. I think even 10 of us adventure and thrill seeking determined ones would be enough to qualify as a "group of vegans out to proclaim a message from a high peak/natural wonder". But, dont get me wrong, the more the merrier!!

So so far it seems like those who wish to be involved with this are:

me
jonathan
(may I assume Kathryn's involvement too?)
maybe Michael Hobson (thanks Michael for being so excited about this idea)
EDITTED TO ADD: Richard, does that mean that you are in, so long as it isnt Everest?

That is four. How about a few others??

Come on guys, help me change the world, one mountain at a time!!!

Seriously, it would be awesome if we could get 10 fit vegans to climb this journey which I am sure will be rewarding for us, but more importantly, will help animals.

It seems everyone who posts here has to go climb a mountain with CG...

Damn, that includes me now!

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No one said it would be easy.

Awww whats the matter Alex, afraid maybe I will kick your ass for a change all the way to the top of the mountain?

Stop making excuses and climb a mountain with me for the animals so we can plant our vegan flag right at its peak!


Seriously - this is something that we, as the "vegan fitness team" should try and plan for in 2007.

C"mon friends, I expected more responses from 55 reviews.

Where are the hardcore, fit, strong and adventurous vegans besides the ones that have responded.

It looks like only Jonathan, myself and Kathryn ?? are the three that will be climbing a mountain for the animals.

(P.S. patience was never my strong suit).

chick you are crazy i read Into Thin Air, everest is a man eating monster....But Mt. Kilimanjaro in tanzania...i want to tackle that baby on a day trip.

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okay so that means you are in if so long as the mountain isnt everest? seriously, ash, are you in?

Even if I weren't horribly acrophobic, I've seen Touching the Void.

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I love cilmbing trees and mountains. I hike all the time. Im poor but count me in. and keep me informed as to exactly what we're doing

I not sure if that's entirely true at all of the government of Nepal!

This sounds like fun, but I have never climbed anything and I couldn't afford the trip anywhere! I will be cheering you on.

eh! that isnt my quote!!!! goddamn it, i spent 2months in nepal, they are far from rich!

anyway, regarding the mountain climbing, im not really a very good person to go with. i hate going slowly, and in nepal i was very quick (did a 6hour trek, with 1350m total accent, in 3.5hours). im rather impatient
plus i would lose weight if i started to train to climb mountains. i cant do that as gaining is so hard.
and im not all in favour of publicity high media events like this. peta does it alot and it gets on my nerves. i would like to climb a mountain with you lot, but not with the primary aim for it to be a media event. sure, it can be reported, but i dont want to go all out to grab attention. id just do it for fun, and to hang out with cool people.

i am also uncomfortable with the idea of a 'vegan team'. i sometimes see sports teams all walking round in the same tops, and think it looks a bit sad. i prefer an individuals perogative to express themselves. i dont want people to think that being vegan is being part of a team, or club. to me, its just a simple thing to do to reduce suffering.

jonathan

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sorry to sound so negative, but its better im honest

jonathan

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