18 more days...
Regroup:
We've had a few last-minute changes to the group. Brad and Stephanie Gehring are
in the process of moving to the Des Moines area and will not be able to make the
trip. We'll miss you guys! Joining the group will be Tom Romanin. Welcome, Tom!
Also, the last time I talked to Rick he indicated that Hollie Dahms has
recruited another climber for the group. I also have confirmation that all four
Carlsons will be attending. If all this information is correct our group now
totals 27, although some members of the group may not be at the condo every
night. For those of you who have inquired about other people joining the group,
I'd like to wait until I can talk to the Stinchfields before making any
additions. I know time is getting short to be discussing such issues, but Rick
and Lynne should be home by the weekend. I'll let you know what we think.
Gear, Sanity, and Perspective:
Yesterday I stopped at the newly expanded Ames Surplus store (located west of
Campustown on Lincoln Way, if you're curious). They've tripled in size and now
rival the Coralville Scheels and the Iowa City Active Endeavors as the best
outdoor gear stores in the state. If you're still looking for gear, these places
will probably have what you need. One of the salespeople and I started talking
(he asked me about my Julbo mountaineering glasses - a detail surely only
noticeable by a fellow gearhead) and I told him about our possibility of
climbing 9 fourteeners in 5 days. He said it was insane. I agree, but that
doesn't mean I'm not going to try. When was the last time you did something
somebody else thought was insane? Was it as good for you as climbing a mountain?
That sort of self-punishment may seem foolish now, but after this trip many of
you will gain a new perspective. How will your perspective change? That's up to
you. For some the perspective is entirely physical and visual, while for others
it will stretch to the spiritual and emotional, perhaps beyond. This opportunity
doesn't come without risk. What are your expectations? What are you looking to
gain? What are you willing to give?
Alex Lowe:
Alex Lowe eventually gave his life for the perspective he gained, but perhaps
more than any other climber (or athlete) he knew what the "big"
questions were and how to answer them. This is part of a dispatch Alex Lowe made
shortly after arriving in Pakistan to climb Great Trango Tower in the summer of
'99:
"Climbers are amusing creatures. We
are perhaps the most restless animals on the planet. Take our group as a case
study. We arrive in Islamabad, a fascinating Muslim city in the heart of Asia,
and after one day we can't figure out what to do with ourselves. Now granted,
the heat is stifling. I'm thinking you could fry eggs on the hood of the cars
parked outside our hotel -- 108 degrees today sound hot enough? Nonetheless, the
potential is still there to get out and experience Asia for the intrepid and
heat-resistant travel warriors, but we are so focused on moving into the hills
that Asian culture holds little attraction. Michael and I ventured out for an
hour to mail some postcards and nearly passed out from the heat. A trip to the
Faisal Mosque left us all enervated and panting for forbidden beers.
But as always, if the heart is open to world around us, there
are always rewarding experiences to be found. At the Faisal Mosque, a lovely
Pakistani boy -- deaf and dumb -- posed for pictures before my digital camera.
The pride with which he posed was moving. The pleasure registering on his face
as he reviewed his image captured within my magic little box was truly moving.
His self-confident poise reminded me that as Westerners we hold no more value
within the human race than these simple people, all of us seeking the same
purpose on earth -- happiness and freedom from suffering. The sparkle of delight
in his Asian eyes reminded me that the real purpose of our trip, and ultimately
our existence, is to share this common quest with all we encounter. In this
pursuit, lies real happiness. Trango bears significance, but only within larger
perspectives."
