Thursday, February 12, 2004
Mist & Magic at Grandfather Mountain
My cheesy self at the trailhead
One of many ice formations
I like this forest — it's dark and creepy
Routefinding isn't a major issue on the Grandfather Trail
"X" marks the highest point in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Ice, ice baby— from the bottom to the top (and back)
[I'll add words later, when I can make time. Happy Valentine's Day, everybody! See you probably Monday.]
Music In My Head:
- The Doors — "Roadhouse Blues"
- Trancemutator — "My Wonderful Friend"
- Iggy Pop and Green Day — "Supermarket"
- Fran Jeffries — "Meglio Stasera" (from The Pink Panther)
- Zen Frisbee — "Masterpiece Theatre"
- Louie Prima — "Just a Gigolo"
- Tabla Beat Science — "Palmistry"
- Nicola Conte — "Missione a Bombay"
Want a good scare? Read This. Will someone please explain to me why this won't happen?
Posted by Me at 23:07 link
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
ZZZZZZZZZ
I'm just too tired to write about my hike. Tomorrow. Really.
Wake up your elected representatives — ask them to Censure President Bush for deceiving us before the Iraq war.
Then do something nice for yourself. You deserve it.
G'night....
Posted by Me at 23:17 link
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Wonderful Winter Walk
I'm back—safe and sound (I checked)—from my hike at Grandfather Mountain. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. Right now I'm a bit tired.
Posted by Me at 23:06 link
Just in case...
NOTE: I made it back fine. Please don't call. Thanks.
I'm going to hike Grandfather Mountain now. If I haven't put up another post by 8:00 AM EST (1300 GMT) Wednesday, February 11, please call the Grandfather Mountain Business Office at (***) ***-**** or (***) ***-****. Tell 'em I'm hiking the Profile Trail to Calloway Peak summit, then I may hike the Grandfather Trail to the swinging bridge area before returning to my blue Ford Taurus at the Profile trailhead. I'm by myself, and I have basic survival gear, training, and experience. I'm carrying an FRS radio, which I'll tune to channel one in case of any difficulty.
In the extremely unlikely event you end up needing to call the Rangers, after you do please leave a comment here indicating that you've done so, so that (1) the Rangers don't get 10 calls; and (2) if I drag in here at 09:00, I can call them to call off the search!
I actually expect to be back here in 12 hours. Much obliged.
NOTE: I made it back fine! Please don't call. Thanks.
Posted by Me at 13:01 link
Monday, February 09, 2004
Head in the Clouds
If I suddenly had a couple of million dollars, I'd invest it carefully and live off the income. I probably wouldn't work a job, at least not for awhile. I'd give about 10% of the income to charity, and spend the rest wisely.
I'd hire a first-rate mountain guide, and travel the world, learning to be a first-rate mountaineer myself. First, I'd climb the major volcanoes of Mexico, Iztaccihuatl and Pico de Orizaba. Next, I'd travel to Ecuador and climb Cayambe, Cotapaxi and Chimborazo.
At this point, I'd probably bid my guide farewell, return to the States and knock off a few Colorado fourteeners; maybe I'd spend some time in the Cascades, learning rock and ice climbing techniques, glacier travel, routefinding and all the other skills necessary to travel safely in high places.
I'd travel to Argentina now to climb Aconcagua, at 22,841 ft (6962m) the highest point in South America, one of the Seven Summits. Next perhaps I'd visit Peru, to climb Huascaran, and Alpamayo, which has been called the most beautiful mountain in the world.
Assuming my desire to climb was still strong, I'd travel now to Europe, stopping first in my ancestral homeland of Scotland for some harsh winter climbing—of maybe just some hill walking. I'd travel from there to the Alps to climb Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and finally the Eiger (Nordwand, bien sûr).
Maybe I'd have satisfied my "high ambition" by this point, but probably I'd still want to return to Alaska to climb Denali, North America's highest peak, another of the Seven Summits, according to some the most punishing mountain in the world, due to the extreme arctic weather.
I think after that, I'd content myself with trekking, and easy rock and snow climbing. I do want to visit the Himalaya, but I hope I'm never overcome by the urge to climb the 8,000 meter peaks, as even the "safest" of them boasts a fatality rate of 1 in 6 — about the same odds as Russian Roulette. Someone could, however, persuade me to climb Ama Dablam, and probably a number of other peaks I don't even know exist.
I daydream like that constantly. Yes, I want more than "just" mountains from life, but mountains are what I want most.
To get the mountains, I'll have to do and learn a lot, even if the money and time suddenly cease to matter. Obviously, I'll have to attain a much higher level of fitness (every day I work towards this goal). To travel in Spanish America, I'll need to speak Spanish well (working on that daily, too).
For me, the hardest part will be learning to get along with others. Only incredible (some might say "insane") climbers such as Rheinhold Messner climb the high peaks solo. As with the 8,000ers, I'm not willing to accept that much risk. So I strive to get along better with others, to listen more and better, to learn to appreciate the beauty and joy of other human beings. As a spoiled-brat, only-child loner, I often find working with other people difficult, addicted as I am to making all the plans, doing all the work, bearing all the responsibility — and reaping all the rewards. I learn, though, and improve my "people skills" every day.
A life of mountains would take me to the world's most interesting places, and would put me in close contact with the world's most interesting people. I'd see the cities, too, and the beaches; I'd meet the people, eat the food, catch the local diseases; I'd probably even become a decent kayaker and good skiier finally!
Now you know my dream. Even without the millions, mountains are what I want from life. Fortunately, I have a few practically in my backyard. Here's a nice one...
Posted by Me at 22:36 link
