Explorers Club Flag #114 Returns to Mount Everest For Second Year in a Row
When astronaut Scott Parazynski stands atop Mt. Everest in a few days, he will be making note of a number of non-profit and educational organizations – among them the Explorers Club. With him will be Explorers Club flag #114. Scott carried this flag last year.
However, he had to turn back due to a back injury. Scott’s climbing partner, Adam Janikowski carried it on to the summit. Flag #114 was returned to the Explorers Club last year at the annual Lowell Thomas Awards Dinner.
According to the Explorers Club website: “Every year Explorers Club members launch new research expeditions around the world, thus continuing the early goals laid down by the Club’s founders in 1904. The Explorers Club flag represents a history of courage and accomplishment and has been carried on hundreds of expeditions since 1918. Flag expeditions fulfill a fundamental part of the Club’s mission: To engage in scientific exploration and share the results.
Carrying the flag is a great honor and privilege that is shared with many famous members. A numbered Club Flag may be awarded on loan to an individual member who is taking an active part in a non-commercial field research expedition.”
History of Explorers Club flag #114
1944: Otto W. Geist – Alaskan Coastline Expedition
1988: Tom Hayllar, Ven McNamara – Cairns to Derby Walk
1988: Ruth Petzold – Monterey Canyon Expedition
1990: John Fine – Corsica Expedition
1991: Joseph Romig, Ph.D. – Noon Darkness Expedition
1993: James H. Smith, Jr. – 1993 Cerro Rabon Expedition
1994: Kenneth R. Wright – Machu Picchu Hydrological Survey Expedition
2002: Kenneth R. Wright – Prehistoric D018 Reservoir
2006: Scott W. Hamilton – Texarkana Ivory Bill Research Project
2007: Scott W. Hamilton – Ivory Bill Research Project 2007
2007: Graham Charles – Ice and Ocean – Greenland 2007
2008: Keith L. Cowing – Everest on Orbit
2009: Keith L. Cowing – Everest on Orbit: Return to Everest
Explorers Club flags have been to the moon, aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station. Another flag was carried aloft by commercial space traveller and Explorers Club Fellow Richard Garriott (FN’98) in October 2008.
Flags that have been in space on display at the Explorers Club.
In 2007 Astronaut Leroy Chiao (FN’05) and Keith Cowing (FN’07) took a flag to Devon Island. Surgeon and Everest climber Ken Kamler (FR’84) took a flag to NEEMO 12 (the same one we took to Devon Island) and then took another flag on a parabolic flight doing weightless robotic surgery.
Namaste
Keith
Astrobiology
