Episode 3 - David Morton and THE JUNIPER FUND

THIS IS EPISODE 3 WITH INTERNATIONAL GUIDE, PHOTOGRAPHER AND ATHLETE, DAVID MORTON. WE’LL DISCOVER HOW DAVID FOUND HIS CALLING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO HIS SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A GUIDE ON THE HIGHEST PEAKS OF THE WORLD

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Media for Episode 3

Pemba Sherpa crouches in the attic of the family home near Taksindu, Solukhumbu. Pemba lives in the monastery in Taksindu while his three siblings attend school in Kathmandu. His father was an expedition worker for many years before he was lost on Ama Dablam.

Anita Lama and her daughter Umi outside of their home in Kathmandu. The two share a two room flat near Boudhanath. Anita’s husband died in 2014 on Mt. Everest. The Juniper Fund has been instrumental in supporting the two.

Ang Pasi Sherpa holds her son Urgen Tsering Sherpa in Kathmandu. Ang Pasi started a successful restaurant with a Juniper Fund business grant after going through vocational training alongside other women who lost expedition workers.

family photo albums and summit shots of beloved family members who have passed while working in the high mountains

about the episode:

In the setting of the high Himalaya, our focus will shift to the discovery of a unmet need and the calling for a different sort of journey. We remember the mountain tragedies and the ensuing insights that led him and partners to start the Juniper Fund, a non-profit whose mission is to provide assistance to individuals, families and communities adversely impacted by their work for the mountain-based adventure industry.

Some of their successes have included: the provision of funds to cover living expenses for families left behind by the death of a mountain workers in the Himalaya, supporting vocational programs to help the widowed move on with a viable income, and increasing overall awareness of the adverse impact of the dangerous but growing mountain tourism industry on indigenous culture.

Listen, be inspired, and enjoy!!

WHAT YOU WILL HEAR:

03:00 – The start of his inspiration to engage with the high mountains of the world

11:00- David expands on his curiosity to connecting with indigenous culture in his mountaineering destinations

20:30 – We expand on the transition point, when we begin to re-evaluate our emphasis on climbing in our lives

24:00 – Dave explores the change in perspective having to watch and document the Everest icefall tragedy where 16 sherpa lost their lives

25:30 – The unsettling impact of the earthquake in 2015

29:00 – We explore incidents leading to the start of the Juniper Fund and the partnership with Melissa Arnot

33:20 – Lessons learned on a deep dive investigation on the lack of safety net for those working in the Nepal climbing industry

39:30 – The future objectives of the Juniper Fund

42:00 – How the Juniper Fund recruits candidates for their assistance

45:00 – One of the largest challenges with their work

49:00 – Some words for encouragement and advice for those wanting to make a difference

Give a little, change a lot.

Episode 2 - paul charlton - khurpa care pakistan

PAUL CHARLTON’S INTEREST IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE WORLD LED TO HIS FIRST VISIT TO PAKISTAN IN 2001. IN THIS EPISODE WE LEARN HOW HE TURNED HIS PASSION INTO ACTION BY HELPING ESTABLISH A PAKISTANI NGO, KHURPA CARE, WHICH FOCUSES ON SAFETY TRAINING FOR MOUNTAINEERING AND EXPEDITION PORTERS.

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Media for Episode 3

Karakorum, Pakistan: Dr. Paul Charlton visits with a local

A native of Washington state, Paul’s interest in the mountains of the world led to his first visit to Pakistan in 2001. Since that time his interest in the country has blossomed both into international development and humanitarian relief. He went from a health education project funded by the American Alpine Club, to then managing a large disaster relief program for Save the Children after the devastating earthquake of 2005. In this episode we learn how he helped establish a Pakistani NGO, Khurpa care, which focuses on safety training for mountaineering and expedition porters.

Paul’s experiences in Pakistan fostered a particular interest in global health activities in conflict-affected settings. He has found that health is a powerful tool for promoting peace and lens for examining the detrimental effects of conflict. Motivated by these discoveries, he completed a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University, then became a physician at the Dartmouth School of medicine, and is now completing his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Washington. His future aims are to work as a physician and to engage actively on the political dimensions of health.

WHAT YOU WILL HEAR:

3:00 How his journeys in Pakistan began

9:10 Breaking through pre conceived assumptions of local culture

. . . and a close call in the Hushe valley

15:00 The story of flying into Pakistan on the day the twin towers fell

20:00 Responding to the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake, and breaking down stereotypes of Pashtun culture

29:30 The origins of Khurpa Care

34:30 A review of the work of Khurpa Care now and into the future

40:30 The impact of working in a place of violent conflict and how it inspired his training

44:00 Some final words of encouragement for those with an interest in international aid

October 2017