Do you have what it takes to ascend the world’s loftiest summit? It’s daunting to imagine the equipment and support a team needs to undertake such a demanding feat of mountaineering, not to mention the mental resolve and perseverance to push through endless nights of bitter cold and wind. But that’s exactly what three members of the Montana State University community are experiencing in the 2012 Mount Everest Education Expedition, sponsored by National Geographic, the North Face, and other partners. Montana State University geologist David Lageson, MSU student Travis Corthouts, MSU alumnus Kris Erickson, and North Face global team athlete Conrad Anker are part of the expedition team. 

Following their journey are more than 1000 students from across Montana who have gained access to a unique way of learning about the technical challenges of mountaineering.

“Not only are the students seeing exotic photos and reading updates on MSU’s expedition website, but they are using some of the same equipment in the classroom that the climbers are using on Mount Everest,” said Suzi Taylor, assistant director of outreach and communication at MSU’s Extended University.

“Hundreds of others are following the expedition’s dispatches, photos, and videos via Facebook.”