Some 39 year-old "experienced climber" died on New Hampshire's Mount Washington this Friday. He was climbing Odell's Gully (see above) alone when an avalanche sent him to his death.
In a telephone interview from her home in Memphis, she said her husband did not take excessive risks.
"He was not a thrill-seeker," she said.
Are you kidding me?
He was all by himself; since it was 20 degrees here south of Boston, it had to be zero degrees up on Mount Washington; AND there were 86 mile per hour wind gusts. Furthermore,
According to the US Forest Service, the posted avalanche rating for the gullies in Huntington Ravine on the mountain's east side was "high" on Friday, meaning natural or human-triggered avalanches were likely.
Here's another quote from his delusional widow,
"It's natural to worry," she said. "But it's not any different than a business trip."
Yeah, if your husband is Bear Grylls perhaps it's "not any different". But this guy worked in finance for International Paper.
I don't mean to pile on the bereaved woman but her insinuation that he was not a risk-taker is insane. Regardless of whether or not only 130 people have died on Mount Washington since 1849, climbing that ravine, by yourself, in that weather is simply Moronic. One could easily slip on ice, bang their noggin, and die unceremoniously out in this icy wilderness from simply hiking an innocent trail. I'll bet the reason so few have died climbing the mountain is because MOST people stay away from it during the winter.
It does, however, make it both less tragic and less Moronic that the couple hadn't any children. Could you imagine if they did?
The fact is, so many people underestimate the risks they take in life whether it's tailgating at 75 mph on the highway, buying a house with an adjustable mortgage, or "hiking" Mount Washington in January.
If only they all read my blog. I could learn 'em a thing or two.
6 comments:
You are a JACKASS!
"Ditto"
I hope it makes you feel good to Monday morning quarterback my best friends decision to climb that day. You know NOTHING about him or his ability, and your judgmental comment that because he worked at IP and insinuation that he didn't know what he was doing pisses me off. What is the point of your BLOG on this climber's accident...Quoting his hear broken wife from news articles...
Your just a F'in Prick! People are still grieving from this, and finding it on a google search adds to the trauma...
Sorry about your buddy.
I stand by what I wrote.
On one hand I don't know enough about your buddy to *judge* him, but I have over 1,000 posts on this blog....you've taken just one and inferred that I am an *F'in Prick*.
Again, I stand by what I wrote and reiterate my condolences.
But I am addressing a larger issue.
Click here.
I just climbed Odell's yesterday. It's really quite a nice easy climb, a short walk from a heated cabin, despite the weather.
Avalanche warnings should be heeded, and they are posted below the ravine every morning, and solo climbing is dangerious and frankly a little foolhardy.
So he made a couple poor choices.
BUT - mountaineering is not for risk-seeking adrenaline junkies. It simply takes training, research and the right equipment to keep you safe and comfortable.
It's a matter of doing something amazing that very few people ever will, do.
Don't confuse moronic with intrepid or bold.
This climber made his mistakes and paid for them, but if you bash on the foolishness of just being in the mountains in the winter it makes you sound lazy. :)
Kristoffer,
Do you have a wife and dependent children?
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