Mike Libecki Tackles Granite Towers on Remote Island (Hardwear Sessions)

Year of the Ox Expeditions
By Mountain Hardwear Athlete, Mike Libecki

What an amazing year of expeditions for Year of the Ox in 2009! Here are some of the moments and visions from expeditions to fantastic Earth, from places that create the sweetness of life, and ultimate moments of living in the 'now.' They are like places right out of my daughter's fairy tale books, places like this inspire ancient tales of old. I went to two remote corners of the planet: Northwest China Solo and the absolute fantasy-land Socotra Island in the country of Yemen with my dear friend and best adventure partner Josh Helling, check it out:

Greetings from Libecki. I am just back from one of the most amazing expeditions of my life, back from a land of true fairytale status, seriously, from an island that is home to ancient granite towers and over 300 endemic species of plant, animal and insect life, with a culture that has not changed its ways for thousands of years, a fantasy land, that, for today's day of explorers is still (at least it was!) virgin, unseen, and holds the variable that adventure cannot exist without: Mystery. Even Sinbad the Sailor is rumored to have been here and battled huge dragon-like birds as they destroyed his ship.

Mike Libecki

Hanging in the "lost world". | Photo by Mike Libecki

My partner Josh Helling and I were the first climbers to step foot upon this Mystery Island. We made it to the top of its two highest rock towers and embraced its utterly-lost-world ambience. When I was there, I kept thinking back to when I was a kid, hearing Tattoo on the television yelling in a strange foreign accent, 'The plane, the plane," then hearing the famous host of the island, Ricardo Montebaum, announce ever so seductively, "Welcome to Fantasy Island." That is exactly what happened. Stay tuned for the full story, amazing photos that are like nothing you have seen before, and the full-length movie now in the edit room under creative manipulation.

Mike Libecki in Socotra

Mike taking it all in, in his portaledge. | Photo Courtesy of Mike Libecki

Mike Libecki in Socotra

Mike climbing the granite towers on the remote island. | Photo by Mike Libecki

Mike Libecki summits Socotra

Year of the Ox Expeditions

Mike summits one of two first ascents he bagged during his trip to Socotra | Photo by Mike Libecki

This Island is called Socotra, it is off the coast of the country of Yemen, trust me, you don't want miss the story and movie coming soon to MountainHardwear.com, it is the most unique place I have ever been to and I feel obligated to share this fantastic area of our planet for all to enjoy and embrace. Oh yeah, and we just got out of Yemen before the political war mayhem broke out, we narrowly escaped being taken by the locals...

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*In the above photos Mike is wearing the Correra Jacket. Look for it in the Fall 2010 line.

On to the China Expedition

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Just a couple months before the intensity of Socotra Island and Yemen I headed to Northwest China, Solo, to place of grand virgin summits, untouched mountain valleys, and beautiful, colorful Kyrgyzstan nomads living in paradise. On my way to get there, I went through the city of Urumqi in the Xinjiang Province, and happen to land the day after the huge terror mayhem broke out between the local Chinese and Uygur people, you might have seen the news on this. An estimated 600 people were killed, many in so terribly brutal ways I would rather not mention at the moment. I witnessed intense violence, and twice on the way to my destination I was put in jail. My military permissions were cancelled at the last of many military checkpoints with the giant summits in view laughing at me. It seemed all hope was lost, but as an optimist-addict, I knew things would work out. Soon, I found myself among some of the strangest looking mountains I have seen not only with my own eyes, but in any photo. Before long I stood on three different summits above the Shipton's Arch near Kashgar, China. Stay tuned for the full story, photos, and movie for both of the Year of the Ox Expeditions that are currently in the edit room. The capture of imagery and video from a solo mentality on a mission to experience mystery and mayhem is an emotional experience of joy and pain you won't want to miss.

Death and/or old age is coming.....we must live sweet.The time is now. Why ration passion? Dream big.....and climb those dreams. After all, it is not only life, but the quality of this life. Happy New Year! And may the Year of the Tiger Expeditions be amazing for everyone!