HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED
Hello and thanks for visiting my climbing blog!
My name is Scott and I live in Atlanta, GA. I always had an interest in climbing mountains, but never really knew how to get started. In January of 2005, the company I was working for decided to open an office in Memphis and I volunteered to move and help get things kicked off. When I arrived in Memphis I only knew one person, whom I met a few years prior at a wedding, so I gave him a call. He agreed to meet me that evening, but couldn't stay out late because "...he was heading to Africa the next day." Upon meeting him that night, I learned he was leaving the next morning to try his hand at climbing Kilimanjaro.
The next morning, I was talking to my mother and telling her about the conversation from the previous night. During this conversation she asked me if I realized my Uncle Steve had been a climber for years. "No," I responded. She gave me his phone number and the following weekend I made a call to a relative I hadn't spoken to in years. Little did I know how much that call would change my life!
In the 6 years since, I've been to Africa (Tanzania & Kenya), Russia (Moscow & Mineral'Nye Vody), Mexico, Georgia (The country, not the state), and South America (Chile & Argentina), summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus, and Mt. Rainier, made two attempts at Cerro Aconcagua, an attempt at Ixta, made quick stops in London and Quito, Ecuador, met an endless number of extraordinary people, and developed a new relationship with my uncle.
The blog entries, pictures, and details below are my attempt to share my adventures with the rest of my friends and family. I hope you enjoy!
Tonight let me know how much weight you were carrying. I'm more than a bit curious. You need the weight vest for training. Are you going back to a tent every night or a hotel room? What day do you stay on the mountain? Or are you already there? I could read the itinerary I guess. Danny-Boy wants to know if he can have his pack blowup doll back?
ReplyDeleteGood luck !!
ReplyDeleteI just reviewed the detailed itinerary and Scott’s on his way to base camp today. That will consume days 3 to 6 of this climb. From here on out he’s on the mountain living in a tent so his cell may or may not work. He may also be too tired at day’s end to deal with blogging. The easy stuff is behind him and it's time to get his rear in gear. Life gets more interesting from here on out. A heavy pack makes the climb more difficult in deep, wet or heavy snow while wearing crampons and plastic boots. Jess he'll want to find the packed trail and stay on it. What Scott learned in these classes will serve him well. Plus he’s a strong climber. Kick steps and the rest step are very important for a team on summit day. The entire team of climbers needs to stay bunched together and move in unison while moving up the mountain. Remember he’ll be roped to other climbers and that means no one can get ahead or behind. This roped climbing team goes only so fast as their slowest climber. That's a lot harder than it sounds because everyone processes the lack of oxygen differently and that can drag down the performance of some climbers. I know because I'm one of them. That means the entire team has to slow down and some get pissed off and want to tear up the mountain. It can get interesting to say the least. If it happens the guides will split the climbing party into several groups creating smaller roped climbing parties. Scott will most likely be in the front group and have a good shot at the summit. Early into the next camp means more time to rest, hydrate and walk off the stiffness while acclimatizing at that altitude. He’ll be fine.
ReplyDeleteClimb well my friend...
ReplyDelete