Sean Burch
Sean Burch (born June 8, 1972) is an American explorer, leadership performance specialist, and filmmaker. He is the author of the book, Hyperfitness: 12 Weeks to Reaching Your Inner Everest and Getting into the Best Shape of Your Life (Penguin Random House).[1] He holds 8 World Records within fitness and adventure,[2][3] and was the winner of National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Survival Alaska TV show.[4][5][6] Burch is the creator and founder of Hyperfitness, a wellness program. He was named Goodwill Ambassador to Nepal by the country's government.[7][8][9] He resides within the Washington DC area.
Film making career
Burch began filming his expeditions in 2003 on Mount Everest as a way to record his solo expeditions in remote regions around the world. His documentary film, The Icefall Doctor on the original Icefall Doctor of the Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest completed post-production in late 2021. Burch serves as a producer, director, and cinematographer. Sean Burch - IMDb This film has been featured in numerous film festivals around the world, winning Best Film in the Torello Mountain Film Festival in Spain in 2022 [10] and Best Film Mountains, Sports, & Adventure at Slovenia's largest film festival Festival Gorniskega Filma [11] in 2023.
His second film of a 3-part series on The Icefall Doctors of Mount Everest is a short film Samdo Sherpa, based on one family’s lives which interweave under Everest’s shadow. The matriarch Samdo Sherpa moved to Kathmandu after her husband’s Angnima Sherpa premature death to become a Buddhist nun in a monastery.
Filmography
Year | Title |
---|---|
2021 | The Icefall Doctor |
2023 | Samdo Sherpa |
2023 | Everest on Echo |
Ascents and Expeditions of Note
- 2000: Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, Alaska, First Ascents (3) of previously unclimbed mountain peaks
- 2001: Shishapangma, Tibet, reached summit with Dan Mazur
- 2002: Aconcagua, Argentina fastest American Ascent
- 2002: East Greenland First Ascents (14) in Gronau Nunatakker region[12]
- 2003: Mount Everest, Nepal[13][14]
- 2004: North Pole Marathon, first place[15]
- 2005: Mount Kilimanjaro, summit in 5 hours, 28 minutes and 48 seconds[16]
- 2006: First ascents (63) of Mountain Peaks in 23 days, solo, Tibet[17]
- 2009: Winter Ascent of Mount Fuji, Japan[18][19]
- 2010: Crossed Nepal via Himalaya Range from India Border to Tibet Border[20][21][22][23]
- 2014: First Ascents (23) of Previously Unclimbed Mountains, solo, in Mongolia[24][25]
- 2016: First Ascents (31) in 21 days, solo, Nepal[26][27][28][29]
Photojournalism and videography
- (2003) USA Today "Mount Everest Climber Returns Somewhat Intact"
- (2005) Boston Sunday Globe "Fitness Buff Reaches New Heights in a Hurry"
- (2010) Reuters, "Upper Dolpa"[30]
- (2010) Associated Press, "Tibet Border at Humla", Nepal[31]
- (2010) BBC [32]
- (2010) Experience Life Magazine[33]
- (2011) Outside Magazine "It Keeps You Running"[34]
- (2011) Men's Running U.K. "On Top of the World"
- (2011) Men's Fitness "MF Back Story, Sean Burch"
- (2011) Virginia Living Magazine [35]
- (2012) Library of AP Photographs[36]
- (2014) The Virginian-Pilot[37]
- (2016) CNN[38]
- (2016) Deccan Herald[28]
- (2017) WTOP[39]
- (2019) Virginia Living Magazine [40]
- (2022) Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine [41]
Philanthropy
Burch works with charities, organizations, and campaigns supporting environmental rights, wilderness preservation, cancer prevention, and health and community development within impoverished and remote areas of human habitation in Nepal. He has collaborated and partnered with The Nepal Trust, the World Wildlife Fund, Love Hope Strength Foundation, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, Fujisan Club of Japan, No Kid Hungry and the Himalayan Rescue Association. He has given presentations on global warming for organizations including The Explorers Club. Burch is an on-going Partner with the National Forest Foundation, PHIT America, and America Nepal Society.
Awards
- U.S. Goodwill Ambassador to Nepal by Nepal Government[42]
- Joint House Resolution #218 - Virginia State Assembly Honoring 1st Virginian to Summit Mount Everest[43]
- Commendation – Virginia House of Delegates Honoring World Record Ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro
- Mongolian National Mountaineering Federation Distinguished Achievement - record most 1st Ascents in Mongolia
- Brand Personality of the Year – Asia Pacific Brands Foundation[44]
- "Year’s Best” Nomination – National Geographic Adventure
- The Record Book, "This Year's Greatest Feat" - Men's Journal
- Adventure Athlete of the Year - Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine
- Gold ADDY Award - Photographer, Roanoke College Magazine Cover
- Gold Medal from King of Nepal for solo summit of Mount Everest
References
- "Pain for Happiness - VirginiaLiving.com". Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- How Va. adventurer’s phone helped claim world-record climbs in Nepal WTOP
- Craig Glenday (2008). Guinness World Records 2008. Bantam Books. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-553-58995-5.
- "Sean Burch explains taking on 'Ultimate Survival Alaska' — for no cash prize". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. December 2, 2021 [2013-12-12]. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- Vicky Hallett (December 23, 2021) [2013-12-17]. "Local athlete Sean Burch tackles 'Ultimate Survival Alaska'". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- "'Ultimate Survival Alaska' concludes with race up Mt. Augustine".
- "Sean Burch, Nepal Goodwill Ambassador". Explorers Web
- Outside Magazine, February 2011 "It Keeps You Running" Archived February 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- Goodwill Ambassador to Nepal, Explorers Web
- @torellomountain (November 20, 2021). "Congratulations @SeanBurch for winning the @bbva prize for the best mountain film of this festival edition and for shaking consciousnesses!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "17. Festival gorniškega filma - Awards".
- Burch Interview, Everest, "Forgoing supplemental oxygen makes task even more daunting". USA Today.
- Mount Everest Summit Reached, Mt Everest Government Board Archived March 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- Elliot in the Morning, DC101 Radio Program
- North Pole Marathon, Runner's World Magazine Archived October 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- Mt. Kilimanjaro Speed Ascent, National Geographic Radio
- 63 1st Ascent Mountain Peaks in Tibet, National Geographic Adventure Magazine
- Mt. Fuji Ascent, National Geographic Radio Archived December 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- Mt. Fuji Winter Ascent, Honolulu Advertiser Newspaper
- BBC, October 25, 2010 "Running man's record-breaking race across Nepal"
- Associated Press. “Adventure Hikes the Himalaya in 49 Days”. NBC News. February 17, 2011 http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41651569
- Great Himalaya Trail World Record Expedition, Interview 3, National Geographic Radio Archived March 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- "The Nepal Trust". Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- "Explorers Web, December 23, 2014". Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- “To The End of the World with Sean Burch, an Extreme Mountaineer”. WTOP. December 24, 2014
- "Mountain climber sets world record in Nepal | CNN". December 27, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2023 – via www.cnn.com.
- "American Explorer Sets New Official Record for Most 1ST Ascents". Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- "American explorer sets new official record of most 1st ascents". November 15, 2016.
- "American explorer sets new official record of most 1st ascents". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. November 15, 2016.
- Reuters Archived February 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- "Associated Press". Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- "Running man's record-breaking race across Nepal". BBC News. October 26, 2010.
- "Peak Fitness". April 2010.
- "It Keeps You Running". January 13, 2011.
- "Pain for Happiness". May 16, 2011.
- "AP". newsroom.ap.org. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- "REACH THE SUMMIT OF YOUR POTENTIAL Mountain climber gives sales executives leadership tips". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- "Mountain climber sets world record in Nepal - CNN Video". CNN. December 27, 2016.
- "Adventurer Sean Burch looks to leave legacy of climate change awareness". January 31, 2017.
- "Getting Uncomfortable". July 8, 2019.
- "Fauquier Now". Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- Everest K2
- "LIS > Bill Tracking > HJ218 > 2004 session". lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- "You searched for sean burch".
- Men's Fitness, April 2011, Error
- Explore's Web, October 11, 2010,
- Mt. Fuji Winter Ascent, Mens Running Magazine UK
- Interview, Mt. Everest, #2, CNN
- Great Himalaya Trail World Record Expedition, Interview 2, National Geographic Radio
- Great Himalaya Trail World Record Expedition, Interview 1, National Geographic Radio