Tuesday, August 07, 2007

High drama on easy peaks

Looking for a different perspective on climbing the highest mountains in Colorado. 'Tis the season when various flat-land journalists have returned from climbing our peaks, and typed up their recounts. It makes for interesting reading. I reminds me that what, to me is routine is completely exotic to others. Fresh perspective is always welcomed.
Here's one from the Austin Statesman about climbing Quandary Peak: Now that Gandy and company have broken above treeline, at about 12,000 feet, the terrain turns barren and bald. The group trudges onward, scrambling over teetering scree — rocks first the size of oranges and then as big as volleyballs (called "babyheads" in climbing lingo). The wind picks up; the temperature drops.
Soon, they encounter larger and larger patches of snow. The wind blows. Every 10 or 15 steps, the climbers take what Ridenhour calls "blow breaks" to catch their breath.


Here's one from the Chenango County, New York Evening Sun -- a serial about the perils of climbing Mount Bierstdaht.

Based on what I've seen on Barr trail, there must be a number of Missouri and Oklahoma church news letters with similar tales of suffering and triumph.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

After hiking Half-Dome (cables)in June, I will never again consider Texans the least prepared & poorest decision makers on the summit trails