Hightinerary,
Thanks for helping spread the word on this event.
I have always enjoyed reading the assessment of Mr Clyde in the Introduction of Climbing the California Fourteeners by Porcella and Burns:
"Many people have come to the Sierra Nevada to explore and to climb.......Throughout the research for this book, one individual stood apart from all the rest: Norman Clyde......On these mountains and others throughout the range, Clyde amassed a list of adventurous first ascents that borders on legendary status today. The routes, the first ascents, or in some cases the first descents on these high mountains, many times solo, are to this day still looked upon with awe and trepidation. Clyde pushed human endurance and climbing skill to a level that many advanced mountaineers and climbers still cannot match today. Interestingly, you will never find a quote or passage of Clyde's that alludes to any type of fear, loneliness, or self-doubting during his vagabond climbing life. Rather, he was solid and purposeful, and he was as much a part of these mountains as they were of him. Norman Clyde and this range of rock and light were and perhaps still are one and the same."
Jim
I don't think anyone could have competed with Laura on the "heaviest pack" contest - that pack was impressive!!! 