—” I wonder how many who choose to dangerously respond to that drive would do so if they were forewarned that NO S&R people would be permitted to risk their own lives to rescue them?”
I have spent many years climbing rock and ice and a few mountains too.
No sat phone, no cell phone, you let your friends know when to expect your return.
S&R?
Body recovery in good weather, maybe.
Cranking my body feels good to me, the application of my body to the rock/ice is challenging and exciting.
The summit/top tends to be a denouement.
And if nothing else it feels so good returning to warmth and good food.
An evil car ran me down on my bicycle a few years back, twenty days hospital... That was the end of my climbing.
Our son the teacher had his last class Friday and headed out climbing, to somewhere near Las Vegas, no sat phone, not much cell service... I hope he has good weather.
Some of my friends used to call me an adrenaline junky; I hated that tag. OK, I was also into scuba, skydiving, ski mountaineering...
Looking back, perhaps they were right?
Today, an hour on the rowing machine with my heart rate at 90%; is a fun event, the bicycle rollers at 85%, some say they can be dangerous?
What do you do for fun?
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. God Himself is not secure, having given man dominion over His works! Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Faith alone defends. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
H. Keller
-—Our daughter was a cell tower rescue instructor and spent a few years working up top.-—
We were glad when the grandkids arrived she took a terrestrial position.
In a hospital with sick people!!!
Thank you for the Helen Keller quote. I had heard part of it before, and didn’t realize there was more to it.
I have spent many years climbing rock and ice and a few mountains too.
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Very much enjoyed reading your post, and glad you didn’t take mine as a personal criticism. It was triggered because years ago a colleague of mine expressed that view regarding some climbers or other adventurers, and it made an impression since the thought had never occurred to me before. More power to you!
LIFE IS A RISK FACTOR.
IT ASTONISHES ME HOW FEW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE ADRENALINE RUSH GRABS SOME OF US AND THE WORST PART OF OLD AGE IS RECONCILING WITH THE REALITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REALLY EXPERIENCE IT ANYMORE.
I ENJOY YOUR POSTS.
KEEP THE FAITH.