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About Damian
Damian is an explorer, peak performance athlete and former professional rugby player, hailing from Galway. During his downtime from the intensity of professional sports Damian indulged his passion for travel and adventure, visiting more than 60 countries on 6 continents.
Shortly after retiring from rugby, Damian took on the might of the Sahara desert, completing the 6 day, 257 km Marathon des Sables, carrying everything he needed to survive on his back. After a period of decompression and recovery Damian committed to rowing across the Atlantic, alone!
18 months of physical, mental and technical preparation led to the 14th of December 2017. 63 days 6 hours and 25 minutes later he crossed the finish line of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge arriving in Antigua to a hero’s welcome, some 28kgs lighter. Having endured 9-meter swells, a badly cut head, capsizes, encounters with whales, sea & pressure sores, losing an oar and complete steering failure with over 2000 nautical miles still to go to Antigua!
Damian says, ” (It was)…A hell of an experience, hell of an adventure and a hell of a challenge. It was exactly what I wanted from the challenge, I wanted to be pushed to my limits mentally and physically and I got exactly what I wanted. I’m on a mission to live an extraordinary life. A life full of challenges, extremes, learning, risk, growth, fulfilment, and actions. A life of integrity, sincerity and courage. My mindset is “my life will be my masterpiece”.”
About Peak Lenin
Peak Lenin (7,134m) is located in the Pamir Range on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It is the third highest peak in the former Soviet Union and the second highest peak in Kyrgyzstan after Peak Pobeda (7,439,). Peak Lenin, Peak Pobeda, Ismoli Somoni (7,495m), Korzhenevsky (7,105m) and Khan Tengri (7,010m) are the five 7000m peaks located in the former USSR. To summit all five awarded one the title of ‘Snow Leopard’, the highest award for climbing in the former Soviet Union.
Although Peak Lenin is often referred to as the world’s easiest 7,000m peak and is technically no harder than Elbrus or Mont Blanc, it is far from easy. The complexities of proper acclimatisation, high winds, extreme cold and a long summit day make Peak Lenin a formidable challenge. Our 23-day itinerary allows for good acclimatisation and has the flexibility to accommodate bad weather, maximising your chances of reaching the summit.
Peak Lenin is easily accessible from Osh with base camp (3,600m) being only a half day’s drive away. The entire route is stunningly beautiful and each day offers something different. Base camp is located on a beautiful flower filled alpine meadow and is the perfect location to prepare for the upper mountain. The heavily glaciated section between camps one and two is very interesting as we cross numerous crevasses and are roped up for the entire route. The upper mountain offers amazing views of surrounding landscape and those to the south into Tajikistan are particularly impressive. If we finish the expedition on schedule we have time for shopping and relaxing in the warm air of Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second largest city often referred to as the capital of the south.
We are the only company in the world who send an International guide and doctor on our Peak Lenin (7,134m) expeditions while keeping group sizes sustainably small. Sending an international guide and doctor on all our Peak Lenin expeditions allows us to deliver an unrivalled level of safety and service for each and every one of our clients. Having smaller group sizes allows us to minimise our environmental impact and foster a stronger team dynamic.
Please note the Peak Lenin climb plan is very much subject to change based on weather conditions and the health and fitness of all expedition members.
About Damian’s Peak Lenin Climb
There are a number of added extras Damian is offering on his climb. They are all optional, but we would love you to partake in them all.
• Training Day and Weekend: Damian will be hosting two pre-departure training events. One day in Connemara and a weekend event in Wicklow. You will also meet an expedition leader, expedition doctor and your fellow adventurers! On the training weekend an experienced expedition leader will be giving a full expedition brief, leading two training hikes and offering expert advice on all aspects of the expedition including training, equipment, weather etc. You will need to register for the events once you have booked your place via the Earth’s Edge booking portal. Training days are included within the price of the trip, food and accommodation required for the training events are not included.
• Peak Lenin Training Programme: 3 months prior to departure Damian will send everyone a 12-week training program – “Peak Lenin – fit for purpose” The programme will be designed off Damian’s 23 years’ experience of professional sport and extreme adventures.
• Mental Strength and Resilience: Get exclusive access to Damian’s 5-part video series ‘Mental strength & Resilience’. Based upon the “The 4 Controllables” method developed by Damian, discovered and forged in the crucible of Professional Rugby and coalface of extreme adventures.
• Team Facebook Group: Damian would like to invite you to a private group where you can meet each other, share pictures, share progress and get excited about this trip of a lifetime. Members of the Earths Edge team will also be in the group to help us with anything that we need!
• Damian & Mount Everest: Damian is scheduled to attempt Mount Everest in April/May 2021, the 6th of his 7 Summits Challenge. Damian will share his physical and mental training preparation programs with his Peak Lenin group, giving all members an amazing insight into how Damian blends his drive for peak performance with preparing for extreme adventure and challenge.
• MADRA : Use your suffering to ease others’. Damian will use his Peak Lenin climb to raise funds for the amazing charity MADRA based in Connemara, of which he is a proud Patron. He extends the offer to all group members to join his fundraising efforts and use their Peak Lenin expedition to raise funds for MADRA or a charity of their choice, giving something back to people working selflessly in their communities and striving to make their small corner of the world a little better.Damian will organise an iDonate group fundraising page for all climbers interested and their chosen charities.
• Tree planting: We are planting three native trees on your behalf in December 2021 in an effort to reduce your carbon footprint. If you would like to plant more, please contact info@earths-edge.com. Each extra tree costs €1.
When signing up for the adventure you agree to share your contact information with both Earth’s Edge and Damian Browne so that you can be sent appropriate information about the trip and be invited to participate in the above activities.
