Re: [Paddlewise] Pick up the tab etc.

Scott replied:
>   Somewhat along these lines, I read the book, "Into Thin Air," by Jon
> Krakauer about an ill fated Mt. Everest expedition. At one point the 
> author
> describes how the bodies of climbers who had succumbed to the elements in
> past expedition are just left on the mountain since any recovery would be
> too difficult. Sometimes the body's surface in the ice and the current
> climbers just step over them, more or less. Sounds good to me :-))

I enjoyed the Everest IMAX film too, which was filmed during the harrowing 
events written in the book you mention. It was interesting to note the 
difference in attitude toward risk that the IMAX team displayed. Yes, they 
knew they were in the shadow of a very dangerous mountain, and that 
correspondingly, death could visit any member of the team at any time. 
However, and this is a big however, they refused to asend during the same 
climbing window that the ill-fated climbers chose, presisely because Ed 
Viesturs (one of my heros) will not venture beyond his comfort zone. Not 
sure how one quantifies "their comfort zone," but it's something "safe" 
risk-takers know very well; and they at least attempt to maximize their 
chances of success and minimize the possible loss of life and loss to family 
and loved ones that their deaths might cause - let alone high-altitude 
rescue attempts.

Another interesting take on this topic is Joe Simpson's experiences 
dramitized in the movie 'Touching the Void' (I haven't read the book yet). 
He and his climbing partner challenged an almost unclimable mountain in the 
Andes with no back-up, no imminent rescue methodology, etc. This was pure 
risk-taking at it's maximum society-accepted level with far-reaching 
consequences for the two men. Joe is also one of my heroes, perhaps not for 
his careful approach (pardon the pun), but for his persistence as he spent 
delerious days crawling down the mountain in excrutiating pain on his own. 
In the final analyis, he lost any concept or belief in a personal, carring 
God (too bad Ronnie was there to _preach it brother_!). This I found 
interesting, as many a man turns toward the spiritual during times of 
duress, though he longed anguishingly for hman contact. He felt utterly 
alone. What aweful destitution. Yet, Joe will remain one of my heroes for 
the rest of my life, the dramitization in the movie firmly burned into my 
mind, as he pulled himself, so to speak, out of a terrible situation. I like 
that self-sufficiency and the pragmatic/pshycological motivating way he 
mapped out each short stage of his decent, trying each time for yet another 
few yards.

One of the motivational speakers we use in a youth organization I assosiate 
myself with (YFC) was the bloke who fell off a BC ferry a few years back, 
surviving the night in the Strait of Georgia (he had the flu, went to puke 
over the side, and fell in, un-noticed). He survived, amazingly, for over 
ten hours, taking a 300-yard swim, then another, then another, never giving 
up. Having been in a few life-threatening predicaments while paddling over 
the last few years, I can relate to that attitude. Having been in more than 
a few health-related life-challenging situations over the last few years and 
more recently, I've come to appreciate that "never give up" attitude more 
intensly than I'd have wished upon myself.

Anyway, no dead paddler bodies here in BC to walk over on the beach, the 
crabs get'em first. Though, my friend Doug Alderson came upon the busted-up 
remains of one of the kayaks of the two paddlers who perished off Nootka 
Island not too long ago. He said it was a very sobering experience. Loss of 
life or he immediency of that possiblility can be that way, can't it?

Doug Lloyd (who just spent three months in very poor health quietly 
meditating on the nature of God, coming to the conclusion that most 
religious people understand God the least: so now back to storm paddling 
soon, I hope).
Victoria BC
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