Traveling China's Silk Road: About Tim and Mike

In March of 2001 the British American Lightweight Everest expedition arrived in Kathmandu. This marked the first meeting for the small four-man team, and the begining of a life-long friendship between Mike Chrisp and Tim Boelter. Although the two had never met prior to their Everest climb, they became tentmates on the expedition and quickly developed the kind of friendship that can only come from living together in such an inhospitable environment for weeks on end. They stuck together through high-altitude pulmonary edema, relentless snowfall, persistant illnesses, and interesting team dynamics. People often ask, “Why do you climb mountains?” And one answer to that question is the forging of relationships that develop at a different level under the intense conditions like those of Mount Everest. Mike and Tim are examples of that.

Since the expedition they have remained close friends who have equal passion for adventure and exploration. So when Tim came up with the idea to travel across China’s Taklimakan Desert, he contacted Mike.

About Mike
Mike Chrisp, 53, a Dentist from Maidstone in Kent, England has been climbing since his teens. He has climbed extensively throughout Britain including Welsh and Scottish winters. He has also climbed in the French and Swiss Alps, the Dolomites, and the Pyrenees. He has also climbed in the Himalayas. He has had photographs and articles published in the British climbing press. He has lectured on Everest and the unsupported 2001 Everest expedition and wrote an as yet unpublished book of his experiences. A member of the Royal Photographic society, he is passionate about photography.

About Tim
Tim Boelter, 40, founder of Media Ventures, an adventure video production company that produces and distributes adventure films. Tim has produced, directed, written, filmed, and edited three documentary films. All have been extremely successful in the marketplace and have won numerous awards. Tim started climbing while living in South Korea in 1987, since then he has established himself as a very experienced climber. He has climbed throughout the world, including major expeditions to Alaska, the Andes, and the Himalayas. Tim has captured on film the challenges and beauty of the mountains and their people. He has a unique ability not only to climb technically challenging peaks, but also to film them during each grueling step.