JOURNAL
Adventure Gallery
“Demi-Lune” (half-moon) pitch of the Kuffner Ridge
July 12, 2017
Crossing the “Demi-Lune” (half-moon) pitch of the Kuffner Ridge. One of those pitches where you cannot fall. Q12 Photo Credit: Instagram @guilhem.mslRead More
The Grand Teton
June 11, 2017
The Grand Teton is the classic peak in American mountaineering . We have climbed this mountain by three different routes, each with its own unique conditions and technical difficulties. A winter style...Read More
Kuffner Ridge, Italy
June 5, 2017
In the context of my last post taken on the summit of this mountain, here is our entire route up the Kuffner Ridge – a great classic of the Mt. Blanc range. The route is on the Italian side of t...Read More
AVG2-1
Mittellegi Ridge
June 12, 2017
The Mittellegi Ridge of the Eiger is a classic alpine rock route on one of the most infamous mountains in Europe. The approach takes you on a cog train (Jungfraubahn) through the mountain itself and s...Read More
Mt. Maudit
June 6, 2017
Looking back on the “Demi-lune” pitch of the Kuffner Ridge on Mt. Maudit. After a very early start, you usually encounter this pitch just as the sun rises. Photo Credit: Instagram @jneil_...Read More
The Titan
June 5, 2017
As best written in some of the guidebooks to the Fisher Towers: “In all of the Canyonlands, no single grouping of towers is as grand and majestic as the Fishers; but by the same token, no other group ...Read More
AG3
Nepal
July 13, 2017
On the way to Everest base camp as we stop and take a rest and gaze at beautiful Pumori.Read More
North Face of Fairview Dome
July 12, 2017
Always be yourself. Unless you can be Spiderman. Then, always be Spiderman. On the North Face of Fairview Dome. Another of the Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.Read More
USSA Ski Racing – Crystal Mountain Alpine Club (CMAC)
July 11, 2017
My son is learning a lot about life through ski racing. Just when you think things are going well …stuff happens. Note the absence of his left ski just before the crash.Read More
AG4
Taos, New Mexico
July 13, 2017
Leaping out of the old (thank goodness) into the new…Happy New Year everybody ! As Mick Jagger said “some kinda fashion”.. this was actually the uniform that the Italian Ski Team wor...Read More
Crystal Mountain, Washington
July 13, 2017
What a difference a couple of weeks make! crystal mountain now has over 100 inches of snow and Powder Bowl is open for business. Monkey business that is an lots of it! 🙂Read More
Red Rock Canyon State Park
July 13, 2017
Feeling small in the desert!Read More
AG5
El Capitan-Yosemite National Park
July 16, 2017
My next door neighbor (Ammon McNeely). He had the deluxe condo. Zodiac, El CapitanRead More
Zermatt- Swiss Alps
July 16, 2017
arminfisher skiing through the seracs of the Schwarzgletscher on the way to Zermatt from Alagna, Italy. We did this tour together several years ago when the Alps had much more snow. This photo was tak...Read More
K2 Pakistan
July 16, 2017
Another view of K2 as you look down the Godwin Austen glacier from Concordia. The most popular line of ascent is via the Abruzzi Ridge which follows the right skyline.Read More
6
Lost Arrow Spire
July 16, 2017
Continuing my sequence of posts of our climb of the Lost Arrow Spire – once you are on top of the spire the only way back to the mainland is via Tyrolean Traverse. Taking your first step off of ...Read More
Arrowhead Arête -Yosemite National Park
July 16, 2017
There is a fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness”. Climbing the knife – edged ridge of Arrowhead Arête.Read More
Pakistan
July 16, 2017
Climbing expeditions provide many cultural experiences. One of them is meeting new faces. Photo Credit: Instagram @PakistanRead More
7
Free Ride Paradise Alagna Valsesia
July 16, 2017
This is about the season that the great colouirs and extreme runs in the Alps come into condition. During one trip to Europe, my wife (@lisa_vipond ) and I skied in Courmeyer and the Gran Montet in Ch...Read More
Karakoram
July 16, 2017
In addition to being the home to some of the world’s highest peaks, the Karakoram also has some of the world’s highest rock climbs. As we move further up the Baltoro glacier, we pass such ...Read More
Baltoro Glacier
July 16, 2017
We crossed the Baltoro Glacier of the Karakoram, the largest non-polar glacier in the world. From its spectacular birthplace in Concordia, at the base of K2 and the Gasherbrum range, the Baltoro Glaci...Read More
8
Ama Dablam
July 16, 2017
With the Himalayan climbing season coming to a close, I look back on the most beautiful mountain in the world-Ama Dablam. Often photographed as you first see her trekking in from Lukla, this photograp...Read More
Karakorum Highway
July 16, 2017
My first Himalaya – Karakorum expedition was actually a trekking expedition in support of a climbing team attempting to climb Gasherbrum 2 deep in the heart of Pakistan. After landing in Islamabad, a ...Read More
Dragontail Peak, Enchantments
July 16, 2017
Dragontail Peak – Backbone Ridge with the Fin Direct – a Cascade Classic (Enchantments) with Colchuck Lake in the background.Read More
9
Locce Glacier – Monte Rosa, Italy
August 15, 2017
Several years ago we took a helicopter from Alagna, Italy to the top of this peak on the Monte Rosa massif and skied this line down the Locce glacier all the way to the to the town of Macugnaga. This ...Read More
The Eiger-Grindelwald, Switzerland
August 15, 2017
Throwing it back and keeping it in Europe, climbing the Mittellegi ridge of the fabled “Eiger” at sunrise. This mountain is so steeped in mountaineering history that it was an honor just t...Read More
Mount Nuptse 7861M
August 15, 2017
I just found this picture on an old IPhone and found it’s beauty tremendously inspiring so I had to post it. The setting is on the Khumbu Glacier (the second largest sub polar glacier in the wor...Read More
10
Summit of the Grand Teton – Wyoming
August 16, 2017
Summit of the Grand Teton via the North Ridge (from the Valhalla Traverse).Read More
Aspen Mountain
August 16, 2017
Another #throwbackthursday ski shot from #aspen in the #80s. I shot this with photographer @jeromeshaw for #fila ski wear and some of the pictures where also made into posters for the Colorado ski are...Read More
Cathedral Lakes (Tuolumne), California
August 16, 2017
Just got back from Yosemite where we climbed 11 routes that I had not climbed before. After sorting the photos, I am happy to be back and posting them on Instagram. I always wanted to climb Eichorn Pi...Read More
11
The Big Stone!
August 22, 2017
Greetings from Yosemite! In the last five days we have climbed routes on El Capitan (pictured), Glacier Point, the Five Open Books, Royal Arches and Arrowhead Arête. Today is a rest day as the weather...Read More
K2 Pakistan
August 22, 2017
Balti porters approaching K2. As the centerpiece of the Karakoram, K2 or the “Savage Mountain”, is the highest and most impressive peak in Pakistan. The second highest mountain in the worl...Read More
Lost Arrow Spire
August 22, 2017
Continuing from my previous posts of the climb of the Lost Arrow Spire-we are now standing on the summit of the pinnacle which is 2,800 feet off the valley floor. The feeling on top of the spire is qu...Read More
12
Zodiac-El Capitan
August 22, 2017
Zodiac, El Capitan with the Huber Bros. portaledge just barely visible in the bottom of the photo – they were preparing to make the first free ascent of the route.Read More
Camp 1-Ama Dablam, Nepal
August 22, 2017
My picture of our Camp 1 on Ama Dablam that The North Face posted on their Instagram account. Located In the Khumbu region of Nepal, Ama Dablam is perhaps the most famous technical “mixed climbi...Read More
Irene’s Arête – Tetons
August 22, 2017
@arminfisher leading the way higher up the knife edged ridge of Irene’s Arête.Read More
13
Crevasse Field and Crossings – Mt. Rainier
August 23, 2017
I asked my friend Geoff Walker who is a ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park if I was seeing things or if I really did cross 150 foot deep crevasses while climbing Mt. Rainier. He told me that the moun...Read More
Head Ski Wear
August 23, 2017
A national ad and film campaign that I was in for #Headskis that was made to look like it was shot on the Tasman Glacier in New Zealand but was shot on the Continental Divide in Colorado. They were re...Read More
Castelton Tower-Utah
August 23, 2017
Higher up the Kor-Ingalls on Castelton Tower.Read More
14
Fisher Towers-Moab, Utah
August 23, 2017
The obligatory Ancient Art summit photo.Read More
Fila Ski Wear- Aspen Mountain
August 23, 2017
To kick off the 2014-2015 ski season. This is an ad that appeared in the newspaper and a magazine that was shot in #Aspen by photographer Joan Teasdale.Read More
Mount Stuart – Cascades, Washington
August 23, 2017
The Complete North Ridge of Mt. Stuart – one of the Fifty Classic Climbs of North America and a Cascade gem. The white line in the photo depicts the original classic route but we started from th...Read More
15
Baltistan
August 23, 2017
Pakistani porter and son on the way to K2 .Read More
Opening Pitch-Dark Shadows
August 23, 2017
Things are looking up 🙂Read More
North Ridge-Grand Teton
August 23, 2017
“Even though pioneered over 60 years ago, the North Ridge of the Grand Teton remains today one of the great classic mountaineering routes in the range, a tribute to the vision and skill of the f...Read More
16
The Nose- El Capitan
October 3, 2017
Having some food (dude) on “Sickle Ledge” – El Capitan (the Nose)Read More
Courmayeur, Mont Blanc
October 3, 2017
Rappelling off of “Profumo Prohibito” in the Triolet region of the Mt. Blanc (Italian Side – Monte Bianco).Read More
Mont Blanc 3842m
October 3, 2017
The summit of Mt. Blanc from the French side. We were the first to summit that day and were on the way down when I took the picture. The weather had been bad all week so all the parties where trying t...Read More
17
Pendulum Belay
October 3, 2017
The old “if you fall I will jump over the ridge” pendulum belay commonly used in ridge climbing (Italian Alps).Read More
Mount Rainier
October 3, 2017
We have climbed Mt. Rainier from several different routes and have multiple pictures of the peak, but this is a favorite.Read More
Ama Dablam from 20,000 feet.
October 3, 2017
Ama Dablam from 20,000 feet looking down the Khumbu Glacier from Everest. This photo was taken from a helicopter.Read More
18
Complete North Ridge- Mount Stuart
October 3, 2017
A little more “ridge dancing” high on the North Ridge of Mt. Stuart.Read More
Mount Stuart- Summit
October 3, 2017
Tired and gratified-on the summit of Mt. Stuart via the Complete North Ridge.Car to summit from the Leavenworth side – just in time for sunset. We slept on the summit and then down-climbed the W...Read More
Independence Monument
October 3, 2017
“John Otto could be described as Colorado’s version of John Muir, he was a visionary, a writer, and a campaigner for many causes, including the protection of wild places long before this w...Read More
19
Pitch 4- Independence Monument
October 3, 2017
To give my last post some context, here is a picture of the route at pitch 4 (P4 identified by the red line in my last post) and the chiseled steps that I referred to in the text.Read More
Summiting In The Desert
October 3, 2017
On top of Castleton Tower with my great friend Armin Fisher.Read More
National Atomic Ski Campaign
October 3, 2017
Another throwback to the 80’s ski scene. This was an ad that I appeared in for #atomicskis that was in #skimagazine and other publications. Gotta love the pink and neon of the era and I heard it...Read More
20
Over The Edge- Seattle, Washington
October 3, 2017
I was on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Washington for six years (two terms). During that time we launched “Over the Edge”, an event where we rappel off of buildings to raise money and aw...Read More
The Third Pillar of Dana- Sierra Nevada
October 3, 2017
Perhaps the finest pitch in the entire Sierra range – looking down from the summit on to the “Pitch of the Universe”. The pitch is further highlighted in my gallery (two posts back) ...Read More
Kor-Ingalls
October 3, 2017
As a follow up to my previous post, this is a picture of almost the entire Kor-Ingalls route shot from the base of Castleton Tower. The route can be seen following the crack system to the right with t...Read More
21
Yosemite National Park
October 3, 2017
Climbing high on Arrowhead Arête above Yosemite Village. When it was first climbed in the 50’s it was deemed the “most continuously difficult free climb in the country” and it is sti...Read More
Scklikke – Schlokke (translation – Slick and Slide – or something to that effect)
October 3, 2017
I took this picture from a high altitude helicopter (you can see the tip of the rotor blade at the top of the screen) on a flight to and reconnaissance of the highlighted route. The route sits in the ...Read More
Window Pitch- Direct Petzholdt Ridge
October 3, 2017
The great Armin Fisher leads the “Window Pitch” on the Direct Petzholdt Ridge of the Grand Teton (in mountaineering boots no less??!)Read More
22
El Capitan
October 3, 2017
As I prepare for an upcoming climbing trip to Yosemite, I think back fondly of all the routes we have climbed and time we have spent in the valley. This post is a throwback and repost of one of our cl...Read More
Epinephrine-Black Velvet Canyon, Nevada
October 3, 2017
The chimney pitches of “Epinephrine” do not disappoint . They are long, sustained, steep and slick – inflicting another chapter of Armin Fisher’s “Climb and Punishment...Read More
Courmayeur Mont Blanc
October 3, 2017
Climbing the steep upper chute of the Kuffner Ridge with the “Demi Lune” traverse (last posting) below us.Read More
23
Port A Ledge Living
October 3, 2017
Life on the wall can be both exhilarating and daunting. There is nothing like an El Cap adventure. Photo Credit: Instagram @mason_earleRead More
Ski Touring with Helicopters-Saas-Fee, Switzerland
October 3, 2017
A picture of me climbing through the Mattmark dam construction tunnel. The dam is the biggest earthen dam in Europe and sits just south of the Saas Valley in Switzerland. We had just ski toured over t...Read More
Third Pillar of Dana
October 3, 2017
The Third Pillar of Dana, the uber classic climb of the Sierras. Towards the top of the route, as the climb steepens to near completely vertical, is the wild and exposed “Pitch of the Universe&#...Read More
24
Building the Anchor
October 3, 2017
Building the anchor while standing on the knife-edged ridge of Arrowhead Arête. Big exposure on both sides of you – the valley floor a thousand feet below.Read More
The “Black Tower” Pitches of Epinephrine
October 3, 2017
A slick and continuous chimney on one of the most classic rock climbs in North America.Read More
Monte Rosa massif
October 3, 2017
Several years ago we took a helicopter from Alagna, Italy to the top of this peak on the Monte Rosa massif and skied this line down the Locce glacier all the way to the to the town of Macugnaga. This ...Read More
Journal
Himalayan Heli-Skiing the North and South faces of Annapurna
August 28, 2021
We have already ordered our helicopters and in 2019 we are planning to travel back to the Himalaya to heli-ski on both the North and South faces of Annapurna. Stay tuned for more details. Update ̵...Read More
Japow ! Skiing Japan And The Hokkaido Volcanoes
November 9, 2017
Hokkaido I have always wanted to take a trip to Japan to sample the famous “Japow” powder snow found in the mountains on the island of Hokkaido. So, when my good friend and adventure partner, Armin Fi...Read More
Shoulder Surgery
November 9, 2017
I just had shoulder surgery as a result of a high speed ski crash this season. I had heard horror stories about the pain and recovery process associated with this procedure, but so far so good. A big ...Read More
About
ABOUT
Bill Vipond has lived a very vibrant and rich life as both an adventurer and entrepreneur. As an avid adventurer his pursuits have taken him to some of the most remote regions of the world, from the peaks of the Himalaya, to the glaciers of the Karakoram and the big walls of Yosemite. As an entrepreneur, he has lived the life of an attorney, real estate investor and developer, public and private equity consultant, and consummate real estate deal maker completing in excess of one billion dollars in transactions.
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Speaker
SPEAKER
Bill tells a thoughtful and engaging story born from living a very full life as both an adventurer and entrepreneur to inspire all generations to live life to the fullest and how to deal with some of the obstacles that they will encounter along the way. Bill can tailor an interesting and entertaining motivational speech for your group or company using his theme of “Mountain Climbing as a Metaphor for Life” to help you summit any personal or professional challenge.
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Philanthropist
PHILANTHROPIST
Inspired by his youngest son Lucas, Bill has been actively been involved with the following philanthropic organizations as either a board member or founder.
Special Olympics Washington (www.specialolympicswashington.org)
Seattle Children’s Autism Guild ( www.SeattleChildrens.com)
We Day – Free the Children (Seattle) (www.metowe.com) (www.freethechildren.com)
Over the Edge” for Lucas Vipond (www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/lisa-vipond/goclimb-lisavipond)
During his two terms on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Washington he chaired the “Over the Edge” event whereby he was able to combine his passion for climbing and philanthropy into a relational, interactive event to raise money and awareness for those with intellectual disabilities.
Contact
Phone: (425) 557 9260
Bill@VipondGroup.com
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