squishy wrote:Dingus Milktoast wrote:Hey Squishy? How many summits have you reached in the last 6 months?
DMT
I think I've done 4 or 5 summits since January, but I can't remember exactly. So far this year many have been repeats (Diablo, Round Top). I don't mind going back, like I have said many times, I don't care what I'm doing as long as I am out in the mountains. Retro pointing appeals to me, ever heard of it? Basically you climb something and top out near the top then turn around...why summit? I did that with Pyramid Peak once when we climbed the colouir...I looked over at the summit a few hundred feet away and just sat down for a beer instead, I had been up there before, and it's just a pile of people talking about which way they came up...I guess I don't value the summit like others do, I just think they are awesome views and another tick mark in my list, I am trying to get away from the tick mark thing, I use to care a lot about putting more peaks on my small list. I will get to them in time as I am out having adventures...trying for a summit this next weekend on a old grade II adventure climb, but I don't need to summit, it's the experience I crave...
My buddy Kev played that card at the top of Sun Ribbon Arete on Temple Crag. He, a vet of big walls, HDIAD, Rostrum, Astroman, etc.... said he didn't feel like traipsing over to the summit. It was only 12:30, just after noon. I shrugged and hiked and was rewarded with a glimpse into that legendary summit register. Peter Croft was the previous day's entry (Sun Ribbon AND Dark Star, lol, in half a day!)
A couple of years later Kev expressed his regret at that missed opportunity.
I think Mark Twight did an incredible disservice to younger climbers by pretending summits aren't important.
But you go dawg! I like the fact you actually get out and climb.
Cheers
DMT