BALLY reinforces its mountain preservation agenda following the launch of its Bally Peak Outlook initiative last year, which included the first-ever cleanup of Mount Everest from base camp to the summit. The expansive new program of the Bally Peak Outlook Foundation, established early this year to formally structure the company’s long-term commitment to the cause, pledges ambitious expeditions and conservation initiatives across the world–from the Himalayas to Mount Fuji to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mountains sustain rich biodiversity and culture, covering 25% of the world’s land surface and supplying fresh water for 12% of the human population. However, these peaks and their surrounding communities regularly confront the adverse effects of global warming, a scarcity of resources, and the consequences of tourism. Now, more so than ever, it is paramount to help these important ecosystems.
Born in the Swiss Alps, BALLY’s ties to the mountains are core to its ethos, sponsoring alpine adventures from Winter Olympics teams and early 20th-century climbing expeditions, to creating the iconic reindeer boots worn by Tenzing Norgay during the first-ever ascent of Mt. Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hillary.
BALLY Peak Outlook Expeditions
In 2019, BALLY returned to the Himalayas, introducing its Bally Peak Outlook initiative, which pioneered a critical cleanup of Everest from base camp to the peak. The debut expedition, led by environmental activist and mountaineer Dawa Steven Sherpa and his team of expert climbers, successfully removed two tons of waste from Mt. Everest with over half collected within the “Death Zone,” reaching the summit at 8,848 meters.
While a return to Mt. Everest in 2020 was rendered impossible due to the pandemic canceling the climbing season, BALLY announces its continued support for the Himalayan region with a series of expeditions over the course of two years. Collaborating again with Dawa Steven Sherpa, BALLY will clean the basecamps of the region’s eight mountains over 8,000m, including Mt. Everest (8,848m), Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516m), Mt. Makalu (8,481m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8,188m), Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), Mt. Manaslu (8,156m) and Mt. Annapurna I (8,091m).
“BALLY is doing critical work in enabling passionate alpinists and mountaineers, like myself, to realize our dream projects for mountain protection, and in raising awareness for the cause through its expansive network. The mountains have sustained our ancestors and culture, giving us purpose and livelihoods—it’s time for us to fight back and defend our fragile environments.”– Dawa Steven Sherpa, Leader, Eco Everest Expeditions and CEO, Asian Trekking.
The Bally Peak Outlook Foundation has also developed expeditions with “sister mountains” beyond the Himalayas, supporting other at-risk mountain environments. In Fall 2020, the Bally Peak Outlook Foundation will conduct a high-altitude climb to remove waste from the inaccessible areas of Mt. Fuji, Japan’s renowned pilgrimage site, with Japanese alpinist and environmentalist Ken Noguchi and the Fujisan Club. Later, in 2021, the expedition will target Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to address local environmental issues and provide support to local rangers in building new trails that create more sustainable access to the summit.
“A year ago we made a pledge to protect the world’s mountains, launching Bally Peak Outlook with an inaugural clean-up on Mount Everest. Leveraging BALLY’s Alpine heritage and deep connection to these extreme environments, I am proud to announce the establishment of the Bally Peak Outlook Foundation. This commitment reinforces our extensive program of preservation expeditions, and aims to bring awareness to the impact of outdoor tourism and empowering local communities. This is a long-term mission and we are only just getting started.”– Nicolas Girotto, BALLY CEO
BALLY Peak Outlook Partnerships
This summer, to raise greater awareness to the issues plaguing the world’s mountain environments, BALLY partners with National Geographic on a dedicated campaign, in the publication’s July edition commemorating Mt. Everest, “The Roof of the World.”
The Bally Peak Outlook Foundation also partners with organizations around the world, like the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) to provide funding and support, and honors BALLY’s ties to the Tenzing Norgay family, supporting their namesake charity with cultural and educational programs within the Himalayan community.
BALLY Peak Outlook Capsule
These various initiatives come together, defining BALLY’s long-term commitment to preserve mountain environments, ultimately driving awareness and action. Encouraging its customers to join the cause, the brand will release an exclusive Bally Peak Outlook capsule collection in November 2020, with 100% of net proceeds benefiting future conservation projects.
