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!
Thanks Jess....Go Scott !! I know you will make it. There is no doubt in my mind. Love you!
ReplyDeleteDid he say how he was feeling?
ReplyDeleteThe Elusive Summit
ReplyDeleteElectronics and mountains seldom work well together. I've yet to see the remote system that works any better than a sat phone and calling in the post for someone to type. He should be on his way to the summit with the sun coming up. It's a beautiful sight to behold as the early morning sun pokes through and streaks the top of clouds with bright orange and yellow rays. It is an indescribable adventure as you look to the side watching the solar light show as you step, once, step twice, and step for the thousandth time. Step, breath, step and breath are what you do as you get to know the back of the climber’s boots in front of you. A smile comes across my face and I wonder, sometimes aloud, this was all worth it. At that moment you have to consider whether your life is better than you ever dreamed it would be. Life is good you think.
At a certain altitude, it’s never predictable, the iPod will stop working and you’ll be left with your thoughts and the sound of climbers moving upward in cadence. The cadence is your friend, the altitude your challenge. Breathing labors as you climb higher. You think of everything and everybody in your life until exhaustion whittles you down to no more than a climbing machine. I think about all I could have done to get in better shape, not what I did do. Alone with your thoughts your numbing brain wanders through the last six months of your life as if it matters; and at that moment it really doesn’t because you come right back to kick step into the mountain, crunch and kick step again.
Climb, climb, climb. The summit looks so close but never seems to arrive. The lady of the mountain makes the summit tough for one and all. She cares not what you’ve done or haven’t done, she will not easily open her arms to those wanting to stand on the very top. And as beautiful as she is she is quite frankly elusive. And rightly so... onward he marches.
Today I miss not being there with you.
Go get em Scotty!
I published a new post today.
ReplyDeletehttp://mountainmadnesssucks.blogspot.com/
This is to nerve-wracking...I wish we would hear something...I KNOW he will make it.
ReplyDelete