"So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life."
--Peter Gibbons (Office Space)
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vancouver islander - Apr 4, 2009 5:44 pm - Voted 10/10
Great storyNicely written. I agree completely w. d_sorb re the last paragraph. Many thanks for sharing.
Athos791 - Apr 5, 2009 10:11 am - Voted 10/10
awesome reportThanks for writing this, really gives an idea of the emotions one faces while climbing an 8000er.
Noondueler - Apr 5, 2009 10:34 am - Voted 10/10
Thanks for the great report!I commend you for what it takes to climb an 8000 meter peak!
Alan Arnette - Apr 5, 2009 5:58 pm - Voted 10/10
Well Done. Congratsnice TR. like the emotions.
snowflake - Apr 6, 2009 4:23 pm - Hasn't voted
Thanks to all repliesHere's a little background.
Started climbing 20 years earlier when signed up to carry loads for a K2 expedition in China; on that tripped I bagged an unclimbed peak we called "6050" - named so from a marking on a map that Eric Shipton made. Upon returning, started learning the technical details of rock climbing and later moved to the Sierra Nevada foothills where I did a lot of modest routes at Donner Summit.
Having a child in 93 slowed things down quite a bit; and when I returned from a 1996 climb in Peru my first son was diagnosed with autism - so I stopped climbing altogether all figured my hobby was over. But after about 8 years I linked up with old friends from the Peru trip and we climbed Denali.
Knowing that the combination of age, raising a disabled child, and career may limit my future climbing I decided to give one "last shot" at some real altitude so I signed up for a commercial expedition.
I still climb lesser peaks like Shasta and as my second son gets older will graduate him from top-roping to moderate alpine routes. My dream is to someday return with him to the top of "6050".
AJones - Apr 6, 2009 3:38 pm - Voted 10/10
Congratulation!One of my favourite trip reports to date.
TJ311 - Apr 6, 2009 4:11 pm - Voted 10/10
CongratsVery nice trip report!
Norris - Apr 6, 2009 8:15 pm - Hasn't voted
Cho Oyu TRYour local paper definitely should have published this! Outstanding, thanks!
depclimb - Apr 7, 2009 1:58 pm - Hasn't voted
BeautifulGreat trip report snowflake.
snowflake - Apr 8, 2009 2:10 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Maybe one dayHi Sergio!
I had a lot of fun climbing the Monch with you!
Yes, I think Ama Dablam would be a great peak - a lot of mixed terrain, more vertically inclined, great views. I hope you can do it someday.
Let's go do a short climb in the Eastern Sierra this summer, after you return from Switzerland. Swiss Arete on Sill?
Cheers, snowflake.
JesusShoes - Apr 8, 2009 4:03 pm - Voted 10/10
Maybe one dayMaybe one day I will follow in the footsteps.
mjosoba - Apr 9, 2009 1:42 pm - Hasn't voted
Congrats.Nice. That last paragraph was especially meaningful. Thanks for a good read. :)
Brad Marshall - Apr 9, 2009 7:39 pm - Voted 10/10
CongratsSnowflake and great TR.
centrifuge - Apr 10, 2009 12:41 am - Voted 10/10
This is greatI love this report, I agree with a previous comment about the last paragraph, it makes me really feel the entire report and understand the emotions. It made me think about how I might handle being away from my wife for so long when someday I go to climb one of these peaks. Thanks for posting it!
Moogie737 - Apr 13, 2009 2:16 pm - Voted 10/10
Many thanksYour report was thorough and well-written. I found myself sharing many of your emotions even though I have not climbed any 8,000 meter peaks. It is a loss for the readers of your local paper that your report was not published.
attimount - Apr 13, 2009 9:54 pm - Voted 10/10
like a dreamNice trip report, maybe in one day I will have the oportunity to feel the joy you felt on the summit.
Congratulations.
eferesen - May 19, 2009 4:08 pm - Hasn't voted
FantasticYour report is superb! Quoting "I silently name Everest's features as I notice them - the North Ridge, the Great Couloir, the North and South Cols, the Western Cwm and the Lhotse Face."
That there is some fantastic reflection.
snowflake - May 20, 2009 11:46 am - Hasn't voted
Re: FantasticWhen you climb in darkness with a 1 AM start, there is a lot of time for reflection. Thanks for the comments, everyone.