Climbing High

Just got through reading yet another Mount Everest autobiography. This makes in the neighborhood of at least a dozen that I've read over the years. This one was unsatisfying although it had the potential to be just as awesome as most of them out there. He's just not a writer, but still a fascinating character. It was autobio-lite. I hate it when that happens.

Of course, it's hard to follow in the tracks of Jon Kraukauer, or even Beck Weathers. I remember when I met Beck Weathers, who I thought was a total nut but still, I just had to meet him!!! It was May of 2002 and the Medical Library Association annual conference was in Dallas. The library asked me if I would like to go, and I politely declined. Then I found out Dr. Weathers was the keynote speaker! I hustled to go after all, drove up to Dallas, and I got to the hotel meeting room in plenty of time to get a front row seat for his speech. I spotted Dr. Weathers in the hallway and, having forgotten my camera, ran to the hotel gift shop and snatched one up. I ran up to Dr. Weathers and asked if he would please take a picture with me and sign my program. He was happy to do both, and posed for the picture with his hook behind my back! He signed my program, "To Adela, Climb High" and I have always treasured the note and the sentiment. Another really cool thing happened before he spoke. Before he was introduced, he ended up sitting next to me in the front row. I leaned over to him and asked him a question I was dying to know. I asked him, "All those hours that you were stuck up on the mountain [he was temporarily blinded from the effects of his recent Lasik surgery and had to stick to the side of the mountain for several hours], what in the world were you thinking about???" He simply replied that he was just trying to stay warm. Seriously, he was stuck for a couple of hours at least. I was hoping for something more pithy, but oh well. I've never been on Everest--and never will be!!!

Mount Everest has been in the news a lot lately b/c May is the time to ascend, if you're going to attempt it. I'm not sure why Mt. Everest fascinates me so, when I have zero interest in ever going to see it in person. From what I've heard Kathmandu is disgusting. Yet, anytime I find a book on Everest, I am compelled to read it! It's probably just due to my own adventurous spirit.