Joe White wrote:Absolutely nothing against having a list like this...but for some reason it's really hard for me to think in these terms. I don't have huge aspirations for amazing mountains across the globe. Everything I want to climb is a road trip away.

Hmmm, maybe we need a second thread for geezers and/or joy-oriented climbers who even with risks all minimized would be less ambitious than the impressive trios listed above? What is on your list for the next couple of years, Joe?

Marmaduke wrote:

Joe White wrote:Absolutely nothing against having a list like this...but ...... I don't have huge aspirations for amazing mountains across the globe.

You never wonder what it would be like to be standing at the top of any of these peaks? The strength, the mental toughness it would take and then the stunning views once you got there?

Yeah Marmaduke...I suppose I do wonder what it would be like to stand on those amazing summits. I guess I've been so thoroughly captivated by summits (via rock, snow, ice) in the PNW for so long (and before that, the sierra nevada) that it's made my world smaller. Maybe that's not a good thing...

aglane wrote: What is on your list for the next couple of years, Joe?

Good question. Ya know, I suppose climbing for me at this point in my life is all about climbing at my potential and making good connections with friends in the mountains. And really, I can be motivated by anything on the spectrum between bouldering to alpine climbing.

So here's my 2011 list (planned):
Rockclimbing: Squamish (local stomping grounds), Yosemite (3x yearly), Touolumee (once a year), Red Rocks (once a year), Joshua Tree (once a year)
Alpine Climbing: Coast Mountain Range (various weekends throughout the year)
Overseas adventures (climbing, traveling): China, Peru (2011 summer)

I just have a long list of areas I want to get to yet here in the US:

Wind River Range
San Juans
Glacier National Park
PNW
Sierra Nevada
...and the list goes on and on and on...

When I finally get to all these beautiful places I guess I'll worry about what peaks I want to climb.

Asgard.
Fairweather.
Saddleback w/ a freak few feet of snow, I want an Orange County ski descent. Maybe someday.

Well, I'd have to throw out the caveat of death being impossible. Isn't the risk what makes it worth it?

The list:
Denali - from the north: I'm all about remote
Mount Logan - Hummingbird Ridge: ditto last
K2 - North Ridge: best alpine line in the world

Vinson
Mount Cook
K2 (just because I would only be the second paddy to top out)
Ama Dablam

The easiest, simplest, most straight forward route up any would do me fine.

Marmaduke wrote:You never wonder what it would be like to be standing at the top of any of these peaks? The strength, the mental toughness it would take and then the stunning views once you got there?

Has absolutely nothing to do with any of above for me.

It is all about the process.... the summit means absolutely nothing.

K2


Eiger Nordwand


As Well as Siulia Grande's Unclimbed South Face

The Chief wrote:

Marmaduke wrote:You never wonder what it would be like to be standing at the top of any of these peaks? The strength, the mental toughness it would take and then the stunning views once you got there?

Has absolutely nothing to do with any of above for me.

It is all about the process.... the summit means absolutely nothing.

Did you feel that same way in your first year of climbing? Or did that come later after you accomplished so much?

Gasherbrum IV
Great Trango
Shivling

How does "without risk of death, but the usual possibilities of frostbite etc." work ? I do not like being cold. Does this mean if I freeze I would not die, but I would become a permanent living part of the mountain ? Would I become numb to the pain after a while ? Perhaps if I could have something a protective mithril vest (like Frodo's in LOTR) that could keep me warm, then

1.) Everest
2.) St. Elias
3.) K2

But I would climb allot more then those 3. Since I do not have any of that, I will settle for Mt. Mansfield.

jrbrenvt wrote:How does "without risk of death, but the usual possibilities of frostbite etc." work ? I do not like being cold. Does this mean if I freeze I would not die, but I would become a permanent living part of the mountain ? Would I become numb to the pain after a while ? Perhaps if I could have something a protective mithril vest (like Frodo's in LOTR) that could keep me warm, then

1.) Everest
2.) St. Elias
3.) K2

But I would climb allot more then those 3. Since I do not have any of that, I will settle for Mt. Mansfield.

It's magic and Ben & Jerry's that allows you these powers.

Ah, then I could use the same magic to give Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough all the nutrition I would need to climb these peaks ... My entire food store would be Ben & Jerry's. If the Frodo vest were too expensive I would settle for a down puffy suit

The Chief wrote:

Marmaduke wrote:You never wonder what it would be like to be standing at the top of any of these peaks? The strength, the mental toughness it would take and then the stunning views once you got there?

Has absolutely nothing to do with any of above for me.

It is all about the process.... the summit means absolutely nothing.

Well said. Without the risk of death, there is little consequences, so it becomes baseball; only with a MUCH BETTER view.

For me its about going back to things that are interesting

North Face of Huscaran Norte

Cayesh



or maybe something new like Chacraraju (image borrowed from Mtnman455)