The recent Roses for Killian incident described here by Dakota got me thinking about the past and the future. How one generation hands over to the next and how we progress and develop. Deep thoughts.
It is all Tristan’s fault that I walked up to the Ledge at lunch time one Sunday. I was carrying only a daypack (my 70l TNF pack had actually been retired only a few weeks earlier. It had done a few too many trips carrying literally tons of gear). I was so out of the scene I had to think quite hard about how to do this climbing thing.
Anyway iPod was in and tunes were good. That is how things get done these days- apparently?!
I was half way up India Venster when the sms came through that my climbing partners were actually still in bed but would meet me at the base of the route. Sandbaging had not died in my absence.
(They would take the cable car and then abseil to the start of the route- very Euro I thought)
Anyway I arrived at the Ledge witnessing the first ascent of some route by a new kid on the block. I really had no idea that this was still possible here. Maybe there will even have to be and update of the not so current guidebook. Lord forbid.
I tried to look cool despite the threatening weather. T and gorgeous partner arrived and we roped up. Tristan was in charge of the leading and I assumed my responsibilities as sweep. He did not even ask me to belay. Maybe I had forgotten some stuff in my absence?
We arrived at the hanging belay very euro style. I had forgotten how intimate these can be but I did not mind.
The summit cafe served lattes and charged prices that make alpinists feel at home.
A quick shower and we had dinner at a locale in the village below. Now days you can’t just go directly to the eatery. You go and clean yourself first and put on cologne and aftershave (so does that imply that you have to shave?) and things to make you more attractive to the fairer sex.
I was always under the impression that girls like the tough, unshaven types with a smell of adventure.
Some things have changed and some things have not.
leo rust 