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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,018 Likes: 4
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,018 Likes: 4 |
Hi So just got back from a roadtrip back east ,when you drive 6000 miles you have time to relax and reflect on the county side and the road signs like.... If you died today where would you go ? I didn't even know the state I was in! Next comes the Adult Super Store signs , about 4 hours apart. My finding another Waffle House for a break and some inspiring talk , I like Waffle House , not so sure about Earlene. She is a California girl , she didn't know what the dog chews were either and the reason people don't wear open toed shoes around .
Ok so enough of the trip. I get back and talk with this guy that is planning the mountain , I told him a guy had made it before I left in about 7 hours up and back so if conditions are the same he should do OK. Now I just don't tell everyone that kind of stuff, He has climbed a few mountains before, rode his bike from Sweden to the base of Everest and walked around a while before riding home. He stays a few days after coming down and we talk about the way things look to be shaping up. I drop him off in Mammoth yesterday so he can try the flight to the bay area. These are the rewards of being here and meeting so many amazing people.
I finished the book John gave me when Gary and John drove into town , Hint Whitney Portal Store and a Store on the AT might look a lot alike! Maybe not the buildings but the experiences we have.
Had a nice talk with some of the group doing the avalanche course. Yetie is out proof he can travel.
Well stay dry take extra socks and check your tent poles before you go. Sorry Kurt if I was suppose to call you yesterday.
Thanks Doug looking for anotherb few weeks in town and then start heading up the mountain to get the store patched up before we open.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 696
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Joined: Jul 2007
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First the trip, did you stop at Stuckey's? Nuff said. Road trips are the stuff of legends.
Rode bike to Everest? I read about that but it was some time ago. Same person? Unless it's now the thing to do...that is riding a bike from Scandanavia to Nepal. What a ride!
Can't wait to read the book too, I'll forego Amazon for the Store when it opens (everyone, do the same!).
Dennis M. said it best, "spring has sprung a leak".
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 19
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James, it was Goran Kropp in 1996, he rode his bike from Sweden to Everest base camp and climbed Mt. Everest solo without oxygen or sherpa support, he made 2 attempts getting to within 300 ft of the summit the first time, after the disaster he made another attempt and made the summit. After his summit climb he rode his bike back to Sweden His accomplishment was over shadowed by the "other" issues on Everest that year. He was killed in a climbing accident in Washington State in 2002.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 556
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I finished the book John gave me when Gary and John drove into town , Hint Whitney Portal Store and a Store on the AT might look a lot alike! Maybe not the buildings but the experiences we have. Great seeing you a couple of weeks ago Doug, and thanks again for your hospitality! John will be glad you enjoyed the book. There are so many similarities between yourself and the Portal Store environment, and Winton Porter at Mountain Crossings. Winton got a nice write-up in Backpacker a couple of years ago. For those who don't know about Winton and his "Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi Center" on the AT, here's a nice short read. The Backpacker story is here.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,446
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I had the great pleasure of meeting Göran Kropp, when he came to Santa Barbara to give a lecture. Absolutely one of the greatest lectures I've ever hear! He was a natural laugh generator, and had the audience in stiches for two hours. I'd kept in communication with him, as he prepared to continue his adventures with a move to Seattle. I was greatly saddened to be involved in the accident investigation of his fatal fall in Washington. I still shake my head over the death of such a skilled and talented adventurer, on such a trivial and pedestrian climb. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt9X7Rk1WCw&feature=relatedHe belonged to the Laura school of pack weight. When he went from Kathmandu to Everest Base camp, he used no porters, so had to carry 140 packs to bring all his gear up.....twice. He walked the route, twice with that load. Here he is after a fall with that pack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_7jUMBl4n0&feature=relatedNY Times book review of his book: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E2D7153EF933A25753C1A96F958260
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 64
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Joined: May 2008
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Doug, I'm glad you enjoyed the book. My favorite parts - when the dog brought the boot back to the store with a foot still in it, and when the founder of GoLite packs wobbled in wearing a pack described as being the size of a washing machine. Apparently, he was trying to do 300 miles or so of trail unsupported / not resupplying.
John
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