JB99 wrote:Sad to see so much jealousy coming from some.
Jealousy? Come on. Whether you agree with them or not, you really think the people making comments in this thread are doing so simply because they're green with envy over his summits? I guess that explains why everyone takes pot shots whenever someone puts up a new speed record other other more enviable feats.
Look, I can't speak for everyone, but one of the reasons that people who transit the mountaineering world solely to tick a list get shit is because of the direct negative impact they have on the sport. Not people-at-cocktail-parties-don't-respect-your-K2-climb-because-its-not-everest impact, but the way in which it reduces the mountains to Disneyland. Why? Because their ranks tend to be filled with people who jumped from day hiking to waking up one day deciding to knock off something huge.
Some of us like the fact that in the mountains, actions have consequences - something decreasingly common in civilization. Those intent on bagging the summits by any means necessary don't, and by placing themselves in an environment without first building the necessary skills, they bring a whole pile of stupid to the mountain. The result is increased danger due to human activity (rockfall, congestion at choke points) and, more stressing to me, calls for increased regulation and higher permit fees to fund professional on-mountain staff.
Denali is the only of the 7S I've been on, so I'll run with that. Look no further than the proposed $500 permit fee (eventually reduced to $350 after climbers threw a fit). I'm not going to sit here and pass judgement on who is or is not allowed to be on the mountain, and I appreciate the fact that the NPS doesn't either. However, if they weren't so busy flying the Lama around all day saving people, they night not need to charge so much.
And before anyone rips into me, note that I thought about making some snarky remark at the beginning of this thread, but didn't because I don't know Chapter11, and I'm not saying any of this applies to him. Are there cool people knocking off the 7S? Of course. But most of them are playing a different game than most of us, and I don't think anyone would care except that we have to share the same field. Not that this is unique to the 7S; it applies to anyone for whom mountaineering is simply a temporary stumbling block that must be mastered only well enough to reach some goal.
Chapter11, I've had good luck with geartrade.com. They charge a commission, but since they take care of collecting CC payments and advertising your items (like on froogle), it's easier to find buyers. Speaking realistically, a price drop might be necessary where ever you list it.