Latest news with #EdJackson
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
From The Mountain's Edge by Ed Jackson: What nearly dying (twice!) taught me about living
From The Mountain's Edge by Ed Jackson (HQ £16.99, 250pp) With the sun shining brightly, though not for much longer, Ed Jackson and his small team of climbers stood trapped at 22,300ft, just below the summit of Himlung Himal deep in the Nepalese Himalayas. They couldn't go forward as they were surrounded by hidden crevasses, each covered by thick, fluffy snow that had failed to freeze. They would only know if the drop hidden by the snow was a few feet or several hundred when they stepped on it. There was clearly no route through the brilliant white of the crevasse field. Isolated in this freezing wilderness, driven back by treacherous glaciers and terrible snow conditions, they could go no further. They had no water, shelter or food. They hadn't slept for 36 hours and their bodies were battered and bruised from the days of gruelling climbing. It was too late to even attempt to descend further. There was no chance of a helicopter rescue till the next morning. As the sun set, the temperature began to drop to -25C (-13F). They'd have to spend the night in the open and hope for the best... How would they ever make it? There used to be a flood of mountain expedition books from publishers – and I should know, as I love climbing and have a ton of them on my shelves. Part of it was a huge interest stemming from the 1953 Everest triumph led by John Hunt's largely British team, and partly a general vogue for exploration and a growing love of the outdoors. Now times have changed. Expedition books are no longer a sure-fire hit. Climbing has become too complicated with different grades of difficulty – with or without oxygen, with or without aid, new route or old route and so on – so it is hard for the general public to feel involved. What publishers – and readers – seem to like are relatable people telling stories of exceptional endeavour in an extreme environment, rather than some bearded superhero ticking off another mountain triumph. And there can be few more relatable – or likeable – heroes than Ed Jackson. A former professional rugby player with Bath and Wasps among others, his life was changed when he broke his neck at 28, in 2017, diving into the shallow end of a swimming pool. He suffered serious spinal injuries and some medics said he would never walk again, but he proved them wrong – though his left side doesn't function properly and he has problems controlling his temperature, as well as some bodily functions. But he wasn't going to let the accident define him. And, clearly driven by fierce determination, within a year he had summited Snowdon before turning his attention to higher, more demanding peaks. Sporting star: Before his accident Ed played rugby for Wasps He has founded a charity, Millimetres 2 Mountains (M2M), with his wife Lois to help people facing mental health challenges to use adventure to develop a brighter future. And this hugely enjoyable book –vivid, observant and written with a crisp unfussiness – is about Jackson's desire to push his limits yet further with the attempt to climb the 23,425ft Himlung Himal in 2022, accompanied by his three friends, Ben, Beetle, Arron and their guide Bigraj. It's a terrific adventure book as much as anything else, with vivid chapters on the beauty of Nepal and the warmth of the Nepalese, the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, the long trek to the mountain via the remotest village in the world, and the climbing through the crevasses of Himlung Humal. Jackson is under no illusions about what climbing entails. 'High-altitude mountaineering is suffering,' he writes. 'It strips you down to the point where every other word is an expletive, as it is the only way to explain what you are going through. 'Every step was a struggle and in the space of a few hours, we were accelerated into old age when every breath never quite gave us enough oxygen, so we would gasp for another. 'It's certainly not for everyone but for me it is the ultimate test of character and resilience and the rewards are unrivalled. 'You discover things about yourself you never knew existed and develop areas you have always wanted to strengthen.' That is as good a summation of the complex pleasures of climbing and mountaineering that I can think of. And there is great joy, too. Jackson writes: 'As I stared at the night sky the contrast of the physical output these climbs demanded compared with the mental clarity and calmness gained amazed me. In those moments I was truly present in my surroundings and life.' And back to the night on the bare mountain. As the temperature began to plummet, resigned to the fact that the mountain would just not let them pass, Jackson started to shake uncontrollably as the adrenaline from the climb wore off. All the team were struggling to stay awake, but they knew that falling asleep was how you died at these altitudes. Your core temperature drops when you sleep and that could be fatal when you are subjected to temperatures of -25C. Your heart would simply stop beating. They huddled together to preserve warmth, they sang, they told stories. As the icy cold seeped up through their bones from not moving, they all shivered violently. But Jackson remembered that this wasn't a bad sign. It was when you stopped shivering that you should be worried, as then your body is focusing on keeping your organs warm, which is the stage before dying. Eventually, they did make it to the morning. And morning means daylight and daylight means warmth. And eventually the rescue helicopter arrived. The team had survived. They may not have made it to the top but that's not really what climbing is about. It doesn't matter if you don't reach the summit, though it's important to have goals. What matters in climbing is the process, the friendships, the experience, the teamwork, and the fact that your life is in the hands of others, and theirs in yours. If it wasn't such an awful overused word, you could say it was the 'journey'. That's the final lesson for Jackson: his second brush with death after his accident makes him realise how much more living there was to do, with his wife, his family and his friends.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
"The crazy part is a year ago he had two legs, and a month ago he'd never worn crampons" – adventurer who lost his leg in a motorbike crash hopes to set new record with the first ascent of a previously unclimbed 16,000ft peak
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Back in 2024, Luke Tarrant from Bedford in the UK had taken a break from working as an investment banker to go on a trip of a lifetime, riding a motorbike through the Americas. However, he was left fighting for his life when, in May, he was involved in a crash in Columbia. He had to have his leg amputated, and then contracted sepsis. Luckily he survived, and today is determined not to let his disability stand in his way. Just over one year on from the crash, Luke is now hoping to summit a 16,400ft (5,000m) never-before-been-climbed mountain in Kyrgyzstan. He will be taking part in the remote expedition with adaptive mountaineer Ed Jackson. Ed is a former professional rugby union player and lifelong outdoor enthusiast. In 2017, when he was 28, he fractured multiple vertebrae in his spine and doctors warned him that he may never walk again. Since then, Ed has defied the experts and returned to the mountains. He uses kit modified by Berghaus to help him climb and started the charity, Millimeters 2 Mountains, which supports individuals to overcome adversity through adventure. In an Instagram post announcing the expedition, Luke said: "I've done tons of crazy things in my life but this is without doubt the most mental yet. "[Ed] told me just after my crash that one day we'd climb a mountain together. I thought, 'alright mate, maybe a local hill in five years time'. But no, just half a year after I got out of the wheelchair and started learning to walk again, we're attempting a world first." The expedition, named First Ascent, will kick off in mid-August and Bergaus says it intends to "rewrite the rules of who gets to explore, and prove that with the right mindset, innovation and support, anything is possible". The project has these key aims: Access: Using customized kit, including gear from the Berghaus Adapts initiative, they hope to drive innovation in the outdoor industry to make mountaineering more inclusive for people with physical impairments. Education: The adventurers will share insights and unfiltered stories from the mountain to paint a picture of what it's like living with disability. Science: The team will be helping researchers study how disabilities affect individuals in different environments by tracking their biometrics. Legacy: Ed and Luke hope that their successful ascent will allow them to name the mountain, making mountaineering history and inspiring future generations. In an Instagram post revealing how the idea of the expedition came about, Ed says: "In three weeks I'm heading to Kyrgyzstan to attempt a true first ascent, a 5,000m giant that no human has ever stood on, one of the last unnamed peaks on Earth. Still wild, still completely untouched. "Luke and I bonded over similar attitudes and a lust for adventure, so six months ago I asked him to come to K with me, but just to base camp. But, plans have changed. He's trained, he's transformed, to the point where I asked if he'd consider joining me for the summit push. "The crazy part is a year ago he had two legs, and a month ago he'd never worn crampons." The expedition will be broadcast in real time through satellite links and via social media. Ed and Luke will be fundraising for Millimetres 2 Mountains. Donations can be pledged at First Ascent: Ed & Luke take on a World-First climb. Take your own adventure to new heights with the best approach shoes Keep sure-footed on the summit push with the the best crampons Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Floating crew' required at Tennessee prison to oversee inmates
A "floating crew" of correction officers is being sent to the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, to bolster staffing. (Photo: Tennessee Department of Correction) Despite a major increase in prison officer salaries, the Tennessee Department of Correction is hitting personnel shortages, forcing it to bring in a 'floating security crew' at state facilities. A five-person group of correctional officers volunteered to assist staff in March at the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, which has capacity for 1,776 male inmates, including juvenile offenders convicted as adults, the department confirmed. The state is hiring 20 more correctional officers to serve on the 'floating security crew,' and depending on experience their pay could range from $4,675 to $5,300 a month, up to $63,600 a year, about 20% more than the average pay for officers, according to the department. Officers on the crew travel to locations where they are needed based on staffing levels, and applications for the job are available on the Department of Correction's website. The department wouldn't say whether Northwest Correctional had suffered any security breakdowns or major incidents because of the staffing shortage. Shortages come at a time the state is requiring inmates to serve longer terms because of the so-called 'truth and sentencing' law and support for a constitutional amendment that would enable judges to deny bail to more offenders. Republican Sen. Ed Jackson of Jackson, chairman of a legislative committee on prisons, said Northwest Correctional has a history of correctional officer vacancies. 'It's just hard to get people in that part of the state to go in as correctional officers. I know they've struggled up there quite a bit over the last three or four years,' Jackson said. The state increased officer salaries and held recruiting events in West Tennessee to hire more officers, but couldn't keep the staffing level up to standards, Jackson added. He was uncertain whether additional pay increases would solve the problem. The department announced in January it was putting $37 million more into salary increases for correctional officers and security personnel, effective Feb. 16, raising starting salaries to $51,204 with additional increases that would bump pay to $60,720 after 18 months. Current staff was to see a 10% increase or be brought up to the new base salary, according to the department. The pay increase came on the heels of a 35% pay booster two years ago. Correction Commissioner Frank Strada told lawmakers in February state-run prisons have a 26% vacancy rate for correction officers compared to 33.7% at Trousdale Turner, a facility run by the state's private contractor, CoreCivic. The Trousdale prison remains under a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. 'This investment in our people recognizes the value of correctional professionals and demonstrates the support we have received from the Governor's Office and the General Assembly,' Strada said in a January letter to employees. Strada said in the letter the pay increase would make the Department of Correction one of the highest-paying correctional agencies in the Southeast. The Tennessee State Employees Association called the raises an 'important step' toward dealing with the challenge of recruiting and keeping employees at state prisons. The department is requesting a $6.8 million contract increase for its private prison operator even though it penalized the company $44.78 million since 2022 for contractual shortfalls, $15 million the last month alone, mainly for personnel shortages. CoreCivic refuses to disclose what it pays officers, and similarly to the state, it brings personnel from other states to boost staff when it has shortages. Trousdale Turner sustained a 146% turnover rate in 2023. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
CBS News
11-02-2025
- CBS News
16-year-old dead after shooting inside Annapolis home, police say
ANNAPOLIS -- A 16-year-old was killed in a shooting inside an Annapolis home on Saturday, Feb. 8, according to police. Officers said they responded to the 100 block of Holeclaw Street around 8 p.m. for the reported shooting, where they found the teen boy suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene, officers said. Man shot on soccer field Saturday's shooting came days after an 18-year-old man was shot by a relative on a soccer field in Annapolis in an unrelated incident. Police said the shooting occurred on Feb. 4 at Wiley Bates Heritage Park which is located behind a senior center and near The Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis. The 18-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his head and taken to a shock trauma center to be treated for his injuries. Police said at the time of the shooting there were about 30 people, including teens, playing soccer on the field. "One witness said they heard a loud pop and saw people scattering, and that's when the victim was discovered," Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson said. On Monday, officers said a minor was arrested for shooting the 18-year-old who is a relative. "Sad that, once again, kids have access to guns, sad that it happened at a place that is publicly accessible, sad that people have to deal with disagreements using violence," Annapolis resident Josh Falk said. Crime in Annapolis So far in 2025, there have been at least four victims of gun violence in Annapolis, according to data from the police department. One of those includes a 16-year-old boy who was injured in a shooting on Jan. 24 and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. The city reported 30 instances of gun violence in 2024, including nine shootings and three homicides. Four of those reported shootings left minors injured, according to police data. In 2023, one juvenile was killed in a shooting. In four instances, minors were victims of gun violence in contact shootings, data shows. Maryland has cracked down on juvenile crime in recent years. In 2024, the Juvenile Reform Act went into effect, making it possible for children between the ages of 10 and 12 to be charged with certain offenses like gun possession. The law also allows the state's attorney's office to review cases against minors who are under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Services.
