Be Outdoors

Name? Greg Vernovage
 
Hometown and where you call “home” today?
Born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania.  Today, I live in my Dodge truck with a slide-in camper.  It is a great place, especially when I spend most of my time in a tent.
 
How long have you been guiding? I have been guiding for 9 years.
 
Where is your favorite place to climb?
Tough question, I like everyplace that I’ve been to.  It depends on what I am looking for.  Rainier will prepare us for any mountain in the world.  Vinson is just that awesome out there, and hey, it is Antarctica.  Denali because it is a huge mountain and a true carry-all.  Of course the Himalaya.  I love the climbing, the culture and the IMG Sherpa guys are without question the best people I could ask to be around.
 
What do you do to train each season?
Good core training is the key to being strong in the mountains.  I have been fortunate enough to climb all year.  Carry a big pack up hill with water in it, dump out the water on top and come back down.  Get your upper body strong.  That is the core.  If your upper body breaks down, your legs will very soon follow.
 
Name one thing our readers would be surprised to learn about you?
Within the last year, I guided 3-8,000 meter peaks: Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Everest. My IMG teams have stood on top of 3 of the seven summits already this spring and summer: Aconcagua, Everest and Denali. I have been involved with 2 Olympic Games as the Coach of the Men’s Beach Volleyball team.  We won the Gold Medal in the Sydney Games.
 
What is the one thing you always take with you on your trips, besides your gear, of course?
I take my iPod on every trip.  You never know when you have to be a little more patient, get in position to summit the mountain and then wait until the mountain let’s you.
 
What do you like most about your JanSport gear? The JanSport packs are tough and simple.  I think the simplicity of how a pack works is a must.  The last thing you want with high altitude is to have to solve a riddle with your back pack.  I want to get the gear inside, put it on and go.  If I need to make adjustments, I do not want to have to get the owners manual out and learn physics.
 
Why did you decide to get involved with JanSport? The owners at IMG have had a long history with JanSport.  JanSport has been in the mountains for years.  They handed me a pack before Everest this Spring and said, “use it.”  There was never really a question as to whether it would work.
 
Anything else you want to share? I am looking forward to working with JanSport and IMG.  Let’s get cranking!