Bruce Kirkby

There are always two stories in mountain climbing, the story of the mountain and the story of the people trying to climb it. We know the story of Everest well after the tragic news stories and the IMAX film about it. There may be more technically difficult mountains to climb, but none have the mystique of Everest. Above All Else is the story of Alan Hobson and Jamie Clarke's third and final attempt to scale the mountain. The two climbers, who had failed twice in 10 years to conquer Everest--once only 400 meters from the top--balance each other well; Clarke's surfer style is offset by Hobson's thoughtfulness.

Bruce Kirkby, Christine Pitkanen and their 2 young sons — Bodi and Taj — take the road less traveled. From container ship to tuk tuk, these explorers have tried it all. "Big Crazy Family Adventure", Travel Channel’s newest show, tracks the epic journey of the Kirkby family. Without taking a single airplane, they travel more than 13,000 miles, from Kimberley, British Columbia, to the Himalaya. Together, they discover untouched landscapes, unique cultures and life’s simple pleasures. Whether it’s encountering challenging climates or navigating obscure villages, this family manages to disconnect from the barrage of daily technology and information overload to enjoy quality time with one another.