Loved that Ed Hillary story. Back in 1973 i worked near the summit of Plynlimon mountain in Mid Wales - a low gently rounded 'hill'. I couldn't believe the weather up there, it was incredible - snow, wind, white outs etc. I had to carry emergency gear at all times in the winter and often had to descend on compass bearings through deep snow in the clag. Fortunately I had a snug little hut to warm up in. So, yes, it can be 'full on' in those low hillocks!
(Studying the water flow in sub-surface tunnels in the peat, in case you are wondering. Never did discover WHY? lol )
Okay, fair point @madpom. I like exploring ideas. :)
"Studying the water flow in sub-surface tunnels in the peat, in case you are wondering. Never did discover WHY?"
There must have been some deeply scientific reason. If nothing else, I now know that there are sub surface tunnels in Welsh peat bogs :)
I just finished reading Red Snows about the 1958 British Soviet climbing collaboration in Caucasus mountains.
In the last chapter John Hunt made an interesting point about the different climbing approaches of both groups based on their capitalist or communist ideologies, which I found interesting.
But the thing that strikes me more and more when I read accounts like this is how we do so little with so much gear/technology now. When you look at the early history of most of the climbing and tramping clubs in NZ you can't help but admire the sheer physical/mental toughness that they had in pursuit of a love of the hills.
Despite all the marketing spiel and catch phrases about "just do it" so many people just don't do it! They have to have a $700 tent and $500 sleeping bag, goretex this, breathe-ability rating that before they leave their doorstep.
Everything has a flip side and SAR would plead for anyone thinking of going bush to be prepared. And I couldn't agree more. But the issue is about mental preparation more than anything. We are just not mentally tough anymore! We promote pretty boy moronic rugby players with their deodorant commercials as some form of machismo to aspire to. Image is everything nowadays.
I think there's a much higher price perceived on human life now too, at least in western countries. I guess when the average life expectancy is peaking over 80 and families are having fewer children, it's considered less acceptable for people to take higher risks. If you think you might be wiped out by an influenza epidemic tomorrow anyway, though, maybe higher risks are easier to stomach.
If you discount war, and maybe pioneering spaceflight, when is the most recent time where a few deaths might even have been expected or at least reasonably acceptable in an exploration? I think some of the early Antarctic expeditions, pre-1920s, were probably like that. Off the top of my head I can't easily think of more.
back in the old days before TV or even multiple tV channels. before the internet and computer games and countless new sports that didnt exist.. you couldnt sit back and experience life from an armchair, you had to get out there and do it... and there was less support from machinery to help you out.... my old schol mate went tramping every second weekend.... his son is a teenager and loathes anything resembling physical exertion.... and cant bare to be separated from the internet... or his smart phone.
1strider, I dont know if I would call it a doodle, the Welsh mountains are some of the windiest, bleakest and wet places on earth. Thats why the SAS train there all of the time.
If Hillary had fallen off the mountain he would still have been dead, 30 metres or 3000 metres both can kill you.
BTW: get a copy of Hillarys "High Adventure", Ive read both these books recently and it is a much better read.
I am sure that they are bleak, wet & windy and as I said "take from it what you will"
He could have slipped and died and the headlines would be "Everest hero dies on a Welsh hill"
Based on his assessment of his own ability, fitness, conditions, terrain etc he obviously did not consider it a serious challenge.
And he obviously lived to tell the tale and secretly relished rubbing his detractors nose in it no doubt.
The point I have obviously not made well enough is that sometimes a certain amount of 'bloody mindedness' can go along way. But it's something you have to build up to, train for and make mistakes to get to that point.
The bigger reservoir of experience we have the more likely we are to succeed. Wouldn't you agree?
So I stand by doddle as a comparison from Ed's perspective.
As for the SAS, the very reason they train in such environments is to train their minds as much as their bodies. Probably more so, I would think, given the brutality of their selection regime.
Thanks for the ref. but already read it :)
yea, anyway, has this punter fallen to his death yet or what?
