Courier Online is updated twice each week every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. For the latest full content, you can purchase the Claremont Courier newspaper for 75 cents, or subscribe by calling (909) 621-4761.
Contact the COURIER:
1420 N. Claremont Blvd.
Suite 205B
Claremont, CA 91711
 |
|
COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
|
| Claremont resident Tom Ritchie and two other mountaineers recently became the first Americans to scale Mt. Thingchinkhang in the Himalayas. The 61-year-old real estate attorney has climbed some of the world’s highest mountains, including Mt. Everest. |
Climber on top of his game for historic ascent
Claremont resident Tom Ritchie has been on countless mountain climbs throughout his life. Yet his historical expedition along with American counterparts Bruce Kocka and Ric DeVan in the Indian state of Sikkim has earned him an international reputation.
The trio became the first American team to scale Mt. Thingchinkhang back in October 2007—a mountain range in the Himalayas with an altitude of nearly 20,000 feet. The climb was a 2-week journey for the team.
More than a year removed, Mr. Ritchie still views the climb as one of his greatest achievements.
“It’s difficult to get a first ascent anywhere,” the 61-year-old explained. “When we learned that no Americans had done it yet, we thought that this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. So we went over there and had a great time. It’s a beautiful area.”
Mr. Kocka went to Sikkim on a separate occasion before the historical hike. The experience led him to view the city as a desirable location for mountaineers comparable to Nepal. The destination became a prime area for the American group to make history.
“"We found so many unnamed peaks during our journey. These peaks should also be scaled in future,” said Mr. Kocka in an interview in Sikkim following the climb. “Like Nepal, Sikkim has everything to offer. From natural beauty to adventure and flora and fauna, the state has everything to satisfy the tourists.”
The Himalayan mountain was opened up to climbers back in 2005. The first successful international ascent occurred in October 2006 with a team featuring climbers from Spain, Germany and India.
Mr. Ritchie’s journey up Mt. Thingchinkhang received attention from local media. The American trio was featured in interviews during its stay and received a warm welcome from the locals.
“They were very generous, hospitable people,” Mr. Ritchie said. “One of the reasons I love climbing is because you get to meet a lot of interesting people. It’s an opportunity to go to great places and get exposure. It’s a chance to be exposed to what’s happening politically in the world as well. When you’re out on an expedition, the people let down their guard and tend to be candid. They share their thoughts about Americans and also what’s going on domestically.” (story continues below)
 |
|
Photo special to the COURIER
|
| Mt. Thingchinkhang in the Indian state of Sikkim is part of the Himalayan Mountain Range and has an altitude of nearly 20,000 feet. |
The 61-year-old Claremonter began mountaineering in 1970 after progressing from backpacking. In nearly 4 decades, he has performed thousands of climbs locally and globally. His highest climbs to date have taken place on Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina (22,835 feet) and Mt. Huascaron in Peru (22,205 feet).
Within his mountaineering hobby, Mr. Ritchie does rock climbing, ice climbing, winter camping and backcountry skiing. Being a member of the Sierra Club and the California Mountaineering Club (CMC) keeps the Claremonter active in the mountaineering scene.
“I’ve done a few climbs with Tom (Ritchie) in the Sierra Nevada,” said CMC President Henry Arnebold. “I thought what he did [in India] was a very significant thing. I don’t know too much about international climbing but as the CMC president, it is nice have 3 of our members be a part of something like that.”
While mountaineering is an enjoyable pastime for Mr. Ritchie, the activity is not absent of occasional tragedy. According to the Claremonter, the deaths of fellow climbers are unfortunate reminders of the danger element to the sport.
Just 9 months after the historic climb, Mr. DeVan was found dead in the Sierra Nevada with an autopsy report later citing “multiple, traumatic injuries” as the cause of death.
“The tough thing about mountaineering is that you lose a lot of your friends,” Mr. Ritchie said. “On half of the expeditions I’ve been on, people from those expeditions have died within 2 to 3 years. It makes you have second thoughts about the whole thing as you get older. You become more cautious.”
The dangerous component of mountaineering does not stop Mr. Ritchie’s passion for the sport. Even with a smaller schedule than he had in years past due to his age, the mountaineer still feels the thrill of the outdoors.
“One of the reasons you do this is because mountaineering is a physical endeavor that garners greater concentration than other activities,” he said. “This is something that I love.”
—Landus Rigsby
