Newswise — For Tashi Tenzing, following in his grandfather's footsteps meant climbing 29,035 feet. Tenzing is the grandson of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa mountaineer who, along with Edmund Hillary, was the first to scale Mt. Everest. Tenzing will speak at the Wilderness Medical Society's annual conference in Snowmass Village, Colo., near Aspen on July 26. The public is welcome to attend. Registration details can be found in a link below.

Tenzing reflected on his grandfather's feat in his book, Tenzing Norgay and the Sherpas of Everest. In it, he tells of some of mountaineering's best achievements through the Sherpa perspective. Not only does this include stories and pictures of his grandfather's famous ascent, but also of the sudden celebrity Norgay never claimed. Tenzing also examines the impact of the popular wave of mountaineering. In some ways, he says it's been a boon for the Sherpa economy and way of life. But in other areas, increased traffic has led to environmental concerns and increased drug use.

Tenzing, a well-known mountaineering guide in his own right, has successfully scaled Mt. Everest twice. For the 40th anniversary of his grandfather's historical ascent, Tenzing helped a group climb Mt. Everest, though he didn't reach the summit himself. Tenzing's own expeditions have led him to the far reaches of Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, Kashmir, and the Indian Himalayas.

Another notable event at the Society's meeting is a screening of the documentary film Farther Than the Eye Can See. The film recorded another historical ascent, that of blind climber Erik Weihenmayer, who reached the summit of Mt. Everest in 2001. Weihenmayer and filmmaker, Michael Brown, will both be on hand at the screening. All proceeds from the July 25 screening are tax deductible and will benefit the Wilderness Medical Society.

For meeting information, visit: http://wms.allenmm.com

The Wilderness Medical Society is an organization where physicians and allied health professionals combine their profession with their passion for wilderness. The Society's purpose is to present educational programs and publications that inform its members and the public about preventing, recognizing, and treating medical problems encountered in wilderness situations.

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Wilderness Medical Society Conference and Annual Meeting