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Ascending Mount EverestIn April 2011 Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa began their three-month quest for the Ultimate Descent. They planned to climb Mount Everest, paraglide down, then kayak all the way to the Indian Ocean. Here Babu and Lakpa trek along the Western Cwm, a U-shaped valley carved out by the Khumbu Glacier. Set between Camps 1 and 2 at around 22,000 feet, this area is littered with giant crevasses. Lakpa, a mountaineering guide, pushed Babu, a professional kayaker, to learn quickly. They didn't stay at Camp 1, deciding instead to push on to Camp 2. Watch a Video of Babu and Lakpa Receiving the People's Choice Award

Photograph courtesy Sano Babu Sunuwar

2012 Winners: Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa

The votes—nearly 72,000 of them—are in, and we're pleased to announce that Sano Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa are the 2012 People's Choice Adventurers of the Year. Their Ultimate Descent expedition to climb Everest, paraglide down, and paddle to the sea truly embodies the spirit of adventure. With borrowed gear and a bare-bones budget, there were no corporate sponsors nor social media campaigns, just the essentials for adventure—vision, creativity, and friendship. See expedition photos, then read their story and watch the video.

February 23, 2012