"Because it's there."

[sigh]

And yes, I quoted you from page 1. I'd forgotten about this thread. Hadn't seen it in ages so I opened it from the first page.

So you think maybe you'll grow up to be a guru in a cave in some sacred peak? For that I'd climb a mountain. You could teach me the secrets of all the ancient texts.

 

[Peregrinator]

And yes, I quoted you from page 1. I'd forgotten about this thread. Hadn't seen it in ages so I opened it from the first page.

So you think maybe you'll grow up to be a guru in a cave in some sacred peak? For that I'd climb a mountain. You could teach me the secrets of all the ancient texts.

I got some studyin' to do, if that's my destiny. I always wondered what those guys eat. I guess I could have a garden and a trained falcon. Survive on greens, potatoes, and pigeon meat...

 

[sigh]

I got some studyin' to do, if that's my destiny. I always wondered what those guys eat. I guess I could have a garden and a trained falcon. Survive on greens, potatoes, and pigeon meat...

How many pigeons would you have to store to get through a winter? Sure would stink up the cave I bet. The logistics of this could be daunting.

I think I'll pack in my own food, or at least try to bag a deer or something along the way. I'd send you back for it, of course.

 

[thør]

And yes, I quoted you from page 1. I'd forgotten about this thread. Hadn't seen it in ages so I opened it from the first page.

So you think maybe you'll grow up to be a guru in a cave in some sacred peak? For that I'd climb a mountain. You could teach me the secrets of all the ancient texts.

It's easy to be a holy man (or woman) on a mountain top.

(from The Razor's Edge)

 

[Peregrinator]

How many pigeons would you have to store to get through a winter? Sure would stink up the cave I bet. The logistics of this could be daunting.

I think I'll pack in my own food, or at least try to bag a deer or something along the way. I'd send you back for it, of course.

Naturally. Just bring a bunch of weather balloons and some compressed helium.

It's easy to be a holy man (or woman) on a mountain top.

(from The Razor's Edge)

"The only zen you find on the tops of mountains is the zen you bring up there."

~Robert Pirsig

 

[sigh]

"The only zen you find on the tops of mountains is the zen you bring up there."

~Robert Pirsig

Who is Robert Pirsig? (some famous mountaineer, no doubt - he has the perfect name for one)

 

[sigh]

It's easy to be a holy man (or woman) on a mountain top.

(from The Razor's Edge)

I could do it, for a while at least. But I'd want a comfortable cabin and a reliable food supply. I could give up some worldly things, but I don't like to shiver when I'm naked, and I don't like an empty belly.

If you want more holy than that, try the next mountain over. Otherwise, I'm open for business.

um...well, whenever this fantasy commences, that is.

 

[Peregrinator]

Who is Robert Pirsig? (some famous mountaineer, no doubt - he has the perfect name for one)

Author. The quote is from Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance, I believe.

I could do it, for a while at least. But I'd want a comfortable cabin and a reliable food supply. I could give up some worldly things, but I don't like to shiver when I'm naked, and I don't like an empty belly.

If you want more holy than that, try the next mountain over. Otherwise, I'm open for business.

um...well, whenever this fantasy commences, that is.

You need to be indoctrinated into the world of fleece, down, and Gore-Tex. And dehydrated food.

 

[jacksonholewy]

Thanks Perg. I think this thread is going to cost me money. I'm looking into some multi-pitch climbing classes.

 

[thør]

I could do it, for a while at least. But I'd want a comfortable cabin and a reliable food supply. I could give up some worldly things, but I don't like to shiver when I'm naked, and I don't like an empty belly.

If you want more holy than that, try the next mountain over. Otherwise, I'm open for business.

um...well, whenever this fantasy commences, that is.

*smiles*

A lovely fantasy........

cabins do not belong on mountaintops......

You just need the right gear, and the right friends....you won't shiver or go hungry.....

 

[Peregrinator]

Thanks Perg. I think this thread is going to cost me money. I'm looking into some multi-pitch climbing classes.

Multi-pitch is just the same thing done over and over. If you know how to manage ropes and belay, you're good to go.

*smiles*

A lovely fantasy........

cabins do not belong on mountaintops......

You just need the right gear, and the right friends....you won't shiver or go hungry.....

She has those already. We can take care of her.

 

[Peregrinator]

Email from a friend who's trekking in the Everest neighborhood:

Hi Everyone,

We are back in Namche Bazaar. Things are going well and we have just a few days left in the mountains. Sorry it's been so long since we've contacted you all, but communication has been difficult. Internet has been down in the few towns that have it.

To catch everyone up, we headed up to base camp and Mike and I caught a cold. Cough and slight fever. Meds did wonders but it all caught up to us about an hour and a half walk from base camp in the "town" of Gorak Shep. When we arrived the plan was to climb Kala Patar for killer views of Everest - a 1,000 foot hill - but I decided to rest up for Everest Base Camp. I woke up in the night with signs of altitude illness - splitter headache and nausea so it was time to head down. First thing in the morning we headed out of their while Maha, our friend, continued up.

on the way down, we took a small side trip to a research pyramid and got a small tour of the inside. There were no scientists there, but it was staffed with people who gather the research and send in out to NASA, Italy, France and the US. They are measuring the effects of global warming and something called "Brown Cloud" and "Carbon Cloud." If I understood correctly, the carbon pollution in the air is falling onto the snow, creating black spots that then warm up in the sun and cause the glaciers to melt quickly. I also learned that they can only stay at that altitude for 3 months before their blood gets too thick and paralysis sets in.

So, feeling icky, we descended for most of the day - about 2000 feet from about 16 to 14,000 and I started the antibiotics we took with us, then talked to an American doctor about our age from Boston who was working in the town we descended to. She gave mike some different antibiotics. 2,000 feet sure makes a difference. Hunger hits you like a freight train when there is oxygen in the air. I ate a huge lunch, then about an hour later had a huge dinner... yummmm.

We stayed in the town of Pheriche at about 14,000 feet for a day and a half (The town we descended to) while our friend Maha continued up to Everest Base Camp. He said it was pretty cool. We wanted to meet Kanchha's brother at base camp, but unfortunately he had left the day our friend arrived. Maybe next time!

Once Maha caught up with us we descended further to the town of Khumjung where I last emailed you from. There, although the internet was down but I was able to call home. Right after the phone call Maha broke a tooth and started a fever. He descended the next day and we continued up another valley.

In that valley we met Apa Sherpa - the world record holder for summits on Everest - 18. He was packing for this years expedition. We stayed in Apa's lodge and hung out with his wife. The spend a lot of time in Utah - we exchanged contact info. From this town (Thame) we continued up the valley and camped for two days. This valley was incredible. So much more beautiful then the Everest valley and so few people. We literally walked along the base of mountains that jut up into the sky at 70-80 degree angles.

Our camp was made of rock walls about 2 1/2 feet tall in the shape of a square with a huge boulder as the back wall with a blue tarp over it. We (1 porter, Mingma our guide, Mike and I) spent the night there and then rock climbed a 4 pitch route that Mike scoped out last year. It was pretty cool. Mingma led the last pitch and belayed us to the top. We figured it was about 16,500 feet tall - the base about 15,500. Our colds by now had cleared up and all we had to deal with was an altitude cough and breathing thin air. On the way down Mike put in a rappel station and we were able to top rope a hard flake system.

That day, Maha showed up with a fresh filling in his tooth and some cool dentist stories. He still was sick, but in good spirits.

We camped again - boiled potatoes for dinner with hard boiled eggs. mmmm. That night we had two more people in our little house so the porters bumped out the walls. It snowed quite a bit and the weight of the snow collapsed part of one rock wall. Luckily, Mike is a light sleeper and covered up as the wall collapsed around him. He also had the good fortune of having a porter who decided to pack our bags on that side so when the wall collapsed the bags took the brunt of the fall. Sounds scary - it was really quite funny. All he could say at the time was, "I think I need a light over here."

That morning we hiked out rather than climbing again. Maha needed to get back down and the snow wasn't really conducive to climbing. The walk out is always so much more impressive than the walk in. I think because it's down hill and your brain has enough oxygen to think. This valley had a long flat section with a meandering brook that at times was 5 brooks split by land. We hopped on and off the islands, while taking in the work of glaciers years ago.

We spent another day at Apa Sherpa's lodge in Thame and then headed here today. We are now in Namche Bazaar. Today is Saturday - It is market day. Mike got himself some yeast to make chang - nepali rice beer - and is all psyched to try it out.

Tomorrow we had down to Lukla and hopefully if the weather is good fly out to Kathmandu. Honestly, I'm hoping for poor weather so we can spend one more day here in the mountains.

Thanks for all of your emails! Sorry I can't answer them all.

See you in about a week!
Diana

I love hearing about friends' adventures in the mountains.

 

[jacksonholewy]

Multi-pitch is just the same thing done over and over. If you know how to manage ropes and belay, you're good to go.

I've done a little climbing. A few times at an indoor wall and a couple times with some friends. I haven't done anything in at least 10 years. I was thinking that would be a good place to start. Have any better ideas?

 

[Peregrinator]

I've done a little climbing. A few times at an indoor wall and a couple times with some friends. I haven't done anything in at least 10 years. I was thinking that would be a good place to start. Have any better ideas?

Sure; just get a friend who's an experienced climber to take you on a long easy route. It's all about moving in the hills, and not about the difficulty or challenge or whatever.

 

[sigh]

Author. The quote is from Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance, I believe.

ack...how embarrassing. I've actually read that book. I found it on one of my mom's bookshelves years ago.

 

[thør]

I love hearing about friends' adventures in the mountains.

Thanks for sharing........

*jealous*

 

[Peregrinator]

ack...how embarrassing. I've actually read that book. I found it on one of my mom's bookshelves years ago.

Well, to be fair, I'm not entirely sure the quote comes from that book.

Thanks for sharing........

*jealous*

Me too. They live the dream...she's a teacher and he's a guide. Great folks. They actually met during a course I was teaching.

 

[atmas]

Sure; just get a friend who's an experienced climber to take you on a long easy route. It's all about moving in the hills, and not about the difficulty or challenge or whatever.

Or just pull off the side of the road when you see a boulder that looks inviting. The best and most avid climbers will climb anything; it provides a reacquaintance with the moves and gives a good reference point of success. Climbing a tree or the side of your house.The actual skills of jams and finger/foot placement is a subtlety that can come later; just get back to knowing what its like to go upward.

 

[delugewriter]

*grins*

Doesn't he need a climbing partner?

You're both out of your minds. I'll drop a word his way.

 

[Peregrinator]

You're both out of your minds. I'll drop a word his way.

Heh. Maybe. I dunno that I'm in any position to be climbing something that crazy right now, truth be told. I'd need to train pretty hard.

 

[Peregrinator]

Yesterday, Lady P and I visited this place in Portland called "The Grotto." We were looking for a local climbing area on the side of what's known as "Rocky Butte." "The Grotto" is also on the side of Rocky Butte, so we stopped in and looked around. This sign cracked me up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/IMG_3646.jpg

But any climber would understand the impulse:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/IMG_3649.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/Peregrinator/IMG_3645.jpg

 

[thør]

Another forum for people who might be headed up to Alaska. Definitely worth browsing around.

http://www.alaskamountainforum.com/

And, there is the Alaska Rock Climbing Guide, a brand new publication.

 

[Peregrinator]

Another forum for people who might be headed up to Alaska. Definitely worth browsing around.

http://www.alaskamountainforum.com/

And, there is the Alaska Rock Climbing Guide, a brand new publication.

Nice. Inspiration and fellowship.

 

[phrodeau]

Apparently, Switzerland does not prohibit public nudity. But now the small canton of Appenzell has imposed a ban because of an influx of naked hikers in the Alps.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090426/ap_on_re_eu/eu_odd_switzerland_nude_hiking_ban

http://www.schweizmagazin.ch/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/nawa29tuap-300x198.jpg

 

[Peregrinator]

Apparently, Switzerland does not prohibit public nudity. But now the small canton of Appenzell has imposed a ban because of an influx of naked hikers in the Alps.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090426/ap_on_re_eu/eu_odd_switzerland_nude_hiking_ban

http://www.schweizmagazin.ch/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/nawa29tuap-300x198.jpg

Bwaha! Ridiculous. People sometimes hike naked in New Hampshire--much of the hiking terrain in the Whites is federally-designated wilderness, and apparently it's not, therefore, illegal (and besides, no one cares)--but this is just silly. Those damned Germans, embarrassing the Swiss.

Some little town in Germany should outlaw cuckoo clocks in retribution.