snow covered mountain under blue sky during daytime
Mallory and Irvine
File:1921 Mount Everest expedition members (cropped).jpg ...commons.wikimedia.orgNo one knows for sure if they made it all the way to the top, but many believe they did. With the gear and sophistication that they had back then, it's an astonishing feat that they made it anywhere near the top. Of course, Mallory and Irvine succumbed to the mountain after a few tries, but they were true pioneers of the sport.
Hillary and Norgay
File:Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.orgThe first undisputed climb of Everest goes to Englishman Hillary and Sherpa Norgay. They were the next generation of climbing's evolution from the wool coats and pipes of Mallory to the oxygen tank clad mega expeditions. While they may or may not have been the first on the top, they are the first to make the top and return to tell about it.
Current Day
Hundreds of people, from teens to the elderly now try Everest on a yearly basis. This of course has lead to what many consider to be horrible desecration of the mountain itself, as well as entirely foreseeable and avoidable deaths.
My Take
I say leave the mountain alone. As much as I, as a climber, would love to stand on top of the world, enough is enough. Trash, feces, bodies, not to mention the desecration of native peoples' holy land. Let's find another holy grail of climbing. Everest should be set free of us.
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two persons in red and yellow jackets near brown rock
Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash
Know Your Limits
brown rock formation surrounded by green grassPhoto by Zoltan Tasi on UnsplashThis one is pretty straightforward. If you're a V5 climber, don't try a 20 foot tall V10. If you're on your own with only a single shoulder crashpad, don't get to a height where you're gonna miss. And if you're with a crew, you have multiple spotters and crashpads, then listen to your body. Not finishing the climb is better than a broken leg or back.
Make Sure Your Spotters Know Their Jobs
group of people in white long sleeve shirt and green pants standing on rocky groundPhoto by Mark McGregor on UnsplashHaving a group of friends (preferably climbers) that understand the value and what's involved with being a good spotter is the most important thing when it comes to safety. If you bail, they are your lifeline.
Take Home Lessons
Do This:
- Trust your body
- Have good spotters
- Know your limits
- Plan ahead
Don't Do This
- Climb alone, especially above your level
- Use spotters you don't trust
- Lose focus
- Overdo it
Some Amazing Bouldering
We (Samuel,Tobias and myself) spent 2 weeks in the magical forest of Fontainebleau bouldering awesome Boulders and having the best time! These two weeks it w...My Take
Bouldering was never my favorite style of climbing, but it was definitely something that I loved to do. I remember my favorite bouldering trip at Horse Pens 40 in Alabama with my friend Scott. It was some of the most beautiful rock that I'd ever been on, and was the site of my hardest send ever, if memory serves it was a V7. Scott had to literally pull me off of the rocks because my hands were just raw bloody stumps at the end of the day but I just couldn't quit.
My biggest qualm with bouldering is highballs. I don't really think that highball climbing is bouldering. To me it's free soloing. But of course, to each his own. I give mad respect to climbers that can shake off the nerves and send a super big boulder, but to me the risk is nowhere near the reward.
Stay safe my friends!
woman climbing on rock cliff during daytime
Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash
Rope Up
yellow and red rope on silver belt buckle
Photo by Chris Taljaard on Unsplash
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Be Safe
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Have Fun
black and white dog with disguise eyeglasses
Photo by Braydon Anderson on Unsplash
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur
Best Practices
Double Check Everything!
- Knots
- Harness
- Belay Partner
- Helmet
Don't Do This!
- Climb in the dark
- Eat oily food while climbing
- Sleep while belaying
- Throw things at your partner
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brown rocks on brown soil
Photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash
Pinnacle Peak
What mountain is best?Mountain ClimbersThis is not pinnacle peak!
That's all folks!
