Russell Reginald Brice (born 3 July 1952) is a New Zealand mountaineer. He is also the owner/manager of Himalayan Experience Ltd., a climbing expedition company. He has summited Cho Oyu 7 times, Himal Chuli and Mount Everest (May 1997, May 1998) twice, as well as other 8000m peaks, including Manaslu (where Himalayan Experience now takes expeditions) in October 2010, which was his 14th summit of an 8000m peak. In 1988, Brice and Harry Taylor were the first climbers to successfully climb The Three Pinnacles on Everest's Northeast Ridge. He has been leading expeditions to the Himalayas since 1974.
Brice is best known for leading the 2006, 2007 and 2009 expeditions on Everest which were filmed by the Discovery Channel for three seasons of a series titled Everest: Beyond the Limit. The series touts Brice's experience, weather savvy, and professionalism compared to other groups on the mountain. Following the first season, Brice became part of a controversy over the death of climber David Sharp, who was found in a weakened state high on the mountain by Brice's climbers but was deemed impossible to save.
In the series, Brice says about 80% of his "mates" have died during his climbing career. Mark Jennings, UK, died in 1998 on Everest. Brice found his body at 8,200 meters. Michael Rheinberger was also one of Brice's good friends. His body remains on Everest after he died there in 1994. Rob Hall, who died on the mountain in the 1996 disaster was also a friend.
Brice's expertise has also been used for many filming projects in the Himalaya, most recently for The Wildest Dream, the story of George Mallory and the expedition to locate his body which was discovered by Conrad Anker. Directed by Anthony Geffen (Atlantic Productions) and narrated by Liam Neeson, with Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Hugh Dancy and Alan Rickman, the film was released in 2010. Brice and his company Himalayan Experience provided all of the logistics necessary for the 2 month filming process, the film crew used his Everest Base Camp in Nepal and benefited from the experience of his Sherpa team who helped carrying film equipment, and who made much of the high altitude filming possible.
Brice's expertise has also been used for filming logistics for the series Planet Earth, and the film Touching the Void.
Personal
Brice married Anne-Caroline Rémond, a French journalist (with French magazine Tele Star), on 3 December 2005.
Besides owning Himalayan Experience Ltd he also owns Chamonix Experience, based in Chamonix in the French Alps and Mountain Experience, based in Nepal.
Brice is also a co-founder of Friends of Humanity - a Geneva-based non-profit organization supporting initiatives and projects in four key areas:
- Human rights and dignity
- Education and training
- Healthcare and medicine (including alternative medicine)
- Environmental protection and conservation
In 1991 Brice was Project co-ordinator for the 'Balloon Over Everest Expedition', successfully flying two hot air balloons over Everest, in 1998 was logistics co-ordinator for the Cable and Wireless project 'Balloon Around The World' and in 2003 was logistics co-ordinator for the QinetiQ “Balloon to the Edge of Space†Project.
Filmography
- The Last Ridge On Everest (1988) HTV documentary of successful crossing of “The Pinnacles†on the Northeast Ridge of Everest. Filmed about 60% of the total footage used.
- Unknown Title (1990) Filming of paragliding, parachuting, ballooning and climbing in Chamonix, Namibia, Spain and Nepal.
- Ballooning Over Everest (1991) Project co-ordinator and cameraman for the “Balloon Over Everest†expedition.
- Unknown Title (1993) Guide, location manager, stuntman for Leo Dickinson, filming in Chamonix and Pakistan.
- Unknown Title (1993) TV Documentary about Doug Scott breaking his legs on the Orge
- Unknown Title (1993) TV Documentary about Joe Simpson when his bivouac ledge fell of the Dru.
- One Foot On Everest (1994) Guide, location manager for Leo Dickinson on Everest.
- Unknown Title (1998) Project co-ordinator for Cable & Wireless around the world balloon flight. Several documentaries, one with National Geographic.
- Unknown Title (1999) Guide, location manager for BBC film team looking for Sandy Irvin on North Ridge of Everest.
- Expedition Journal (1999)
- Wild Weather (2002) BBC documentary presented by Donal MacIntyre. 'Cold' episode
- Death on Everest (2003)
- After the Climb (2003)
- Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006) Season 1
- Earth: The Power of the Planet (2007) BBC production in Chamonix, Ice episode
- Everest: Beyond the Limit (2007) Season 2
- The Wildest Dream (2008) Starring Conrad Anker. Produced and directed by Anthony Geffen
See also
- List of people who died climbing Mount Everest
References
External links
- Article about David Sharp on Explorers Web
- Russell Brice at the Internet Movie Database
- 2013: Portrait Painting of Russell Brice
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