Beautifully written TR Bob. It could also be an article given the topic you explore; an "issue" that all adventuresome persons with spouses or significant others face. Your final 3 sentence paragraph is great. Progress indeed.
Thank you, Augie; I actually had considered making it an article, but with the focus really being just on one outing, I figured a TR suited it better. And I enjoyed your recent TR as well; you especially had some nice photos showing the route conditions.
I very much enjoyed reading your trip report; it's quite rare to find such an insightful piece here on SP. I particularly enjoyed it as I found that it resonated how Charlotte (my partner) and I enjoy the mountains. Although she likes hiking and climbs at an indoor wall, she does not like the scrambling and rock routes I tend to favour. Of course I don't want to push her into doing anything she doesn't want to do, but some day I hope she will come to see the mountains as I do. I hope both you and Katie enjoy many more mountaineering trips together!
Thank you, Dan. I am glad you can relate to the ideas here. I am starting to get my wife interested in trying some roped climbing, and that would be great for both of us to do some climbing together (if we can lose the kids, that is). I solo a lot of Class 5 stuff and take care to stay within my limits, but I'm still aware that a fall could still kill me. So if she takes up the climbing, I can be safer and do harder things while having some great experiences outdoors with my wife. But even as it is, it's great that we both love going to the mountains; it beats the hell out of marrying someone whose idea of a vacation is an amusement park or a crowded tourist town!
I can relate to so much of what you've written, great stuff. On a personal level it is great to find someone to share mountains with, especially when your motivations are slightly different but you still come to an accommodation between them. Nice to see Katie showing signs of becoming more adventurous.
The more general stuff you talk about, the bad drivers on mountain roads and the crowds that blindly flock to certain summits, are things I can also relate to from Britain. Some mountains are rightly popular because they are spectacular in some way, but others attract people just because of their height, a tick in a box, madness.
Thank you, and we'll keep working on that sense of adventure. It's in there somewhere-- two years ago, we were hiking with our son (on my back) when a steep snowbank blocked the narrow trail, with a wall on the right and not much on the left. So my wife led the way through some rocks so that we could bypass the snowbank and continue. She never thought twice about it; we'll try for more of that.
It's a start indeed. My wife has only climbed two "real" mountains, Hood and St. Helens, 15 years ago when she was vigorously walking on hills every day trying to combat a chronic auto-immune disease. Unfortunately she has never come close to "Now I get it", but at least she accepts that I need the mountains even if it's not her thing. I've long since given up on being able to share the mountains with her - sadly. Thanks for sharing! -Bob
Thank you, Bob. That is too bad you can't share the mountains together, but on the other hand, it's a totally different experience by yourself or with friends, which you certainly don't need me to tell you. My wife and I probably still won't do much mountaineering together, but the chance does exist, and at least she understands now.
Thank you very much, but no, I don't write for a living. I do sometimes teach it, though, or at least I try to! Thank you for reading and replying, and I'm glad you thought the TR was a good one.
Bob, you're a lucky guy to have a wife that shares your passion. My partner has been rock climbing a few times with me and we did some serious hiking and scrambling together (Mt Olympus in Greece, Carrantuohill in Ireland, Triglav in Slovenia) but it's just not her thing and there's no point pushing her into things she doesn't enjoy :(
Happy trails with your wife and in future with the kids! :)
It was nice reading your report.
cheers,
kamil
Thank you, Kamil, and I enjoyed your TR, too-- some very nice, inspiring photos, and just as useful as a good route page in many respects. And it is nice that my wife likes the mountains, too. She may never like them the exact same way I do, but I could have done worse. We have had many great trips together already.
but when I looked at the pics I wondered what you mean by "alpine" in the title. These rotund hills give more an impression of Lake District or so. But I understand - it's a matter of climate, and when global warming continues, much of the Alps will look alike in some future!
Interesting comment. Here in the U.S., we often use "alpine" essentially to refer to the high mountains, those above treeline, to be a little more specific. But only in winter do these particular mountains resemble the true Alps at all, though we do have ranges here that are more like what you have in Germany, Switzerland, and the like. I think the term is becoming vague, as in "alpine climbing," which has developed a pretty broad definition (like "mountaineering"). Whether that's good or not, or right or not, I can't say.
excellent TR bob....i can relate totally (albeit from a slightly different perspective)...My wife and I shared similar passions and "goals" in our mountain experiences ever since we met....she always "got it" and "had it" herself. Unfortunately she suffered a massive brain aneurism, underwent emergency brain surgery and although she survived (thank God), it changed her forever....Now she doesn't "get it" anymore and although she supports my mountain needs we can no longer share the experience (which is, of course, OK with me given the circumstances). You are a lucky man (not to mention a talented writer) and please charish the times that you and Katie share in high, wild places.
john
Thank you, John. What you two went through must have been quite harrowing, and it reminds us all that much as we hate to admit it, there are some things more important than the mountains. I appreciate that you think I am a lucky man, and I guess I am in many ways, but you and your wife seem quite lucky yourselves in that you still have each other, which at the bottom line is what really matters. I think of the enormously positive influence my wife has been on my life (except for the dirty dishes left in the sink, but we'll just save that for another TR-- Bushwhacking through the Kitchen Wilderness), and losing her would be devastating. I poignantly remember the fear and loss I felt when we once got separated above treeline during a thunderstorm (all my fault) and I couldn't find her afterwards despite searching all over the area multiple times. It turned out that she had gone back to camp. That was probably the most frightening afternoon of my life, and that, for the way it turned out, can't compare to what you two must have gone through. I am glad that, despite the misfortune you two had, you were actually fortunate enough to avoid the tragedy of total loss.
Augie Medina - Nov 29, 2007 3:31 pm - Voted 10/10
OutstandingBeautifully written TR Bob. It could also be an article given the topic you explore; an "issue" that all adventuresome persons with spouses or significant others face. Your final 3 sentence paragraph is great. Progress indeed.
Augie
Bob Sihler - Nov 29, 2007 4:11 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: OutstandingThank you, Augie; I actually had considered making it an article, but with the focus really being just on one outing, I figured a TR suited it better. And I enjoyed your recent TR as well; you especially had some nice photos showing the route conditions.
captainron - Nov 30, 2007 1:04 am - Voted 10/10
Excellent!Great TR and very well written. Your very lucky that your wife loves the mountains along with you! Keep up the great work!
Bob Sihler - Nov 30, 2007 3:58 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Excellent!I really appreciate the feedback. Yes, I am lucky to have found someone so compatible with me even if some of the specifics differ.
Nanuls - Nov 30, 2007 8:27 am - Voted 10/10
A very nice storyI very much enjoyed reading your trip report; it's quite rare to find such an insightful piece here on SP. I particularly enjoyed it as I found that it resonated how Charlotte (my partner) and I enjoy the mountains. Although she likes hiking and climbs at an indoor wall, she does not like the scrambling and rock routes I tend to favour. Of course I don't want to push her into doing anything she doesn't want to do, but some day I hope she will come to see the mountains as I do. I hope both you and Katie enjoy many more mountaineering trips together!
All the best
Dan
Bob Sihler - Nov 30, 2007 4:02 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: A very nice storyThank you, Dan. I am glad you can relate to the ideas here. I am starting to get my wife interested in trying some roped climbing, and that would be great for both of us to do some climbing together (if we can lose the kids, that is). I solo a lot of Class 5 stuff and take care to stay within my limits, but I'm still aware that a fall could still kill me. So if she takes up the climbing, I can be safer and do harder things while having some great experiences outdoors with my wife. But even as it is, it's great that we both love going to the mountains; it beats the hell out of marrying someone whose idea of a vacation is an amusement park or a crowded tourist town!
johnloguk - Dec 2, 2007 5:17 am - Voted 10/10
Loved it!I can relate to so much of what you've written, great stuff. On a personal level it is great to find someone to share mountains with, especially when your motivations are slightly different but you still come to an accommodation between them. Nice to see Katie showing signs of becoming more adventurous.
The more general stuff you talk about, the bad drivers on mountain roads and the crowds that blindly flock to certain summits, are things I can also relate to from Britain. Some mountains are rightly popular because they are spectacular in some way, but others attract people just because of their height, a tick in a box, madness.
Bob Sihler - Dec 2, 2007 2:14 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Loved it!Thank you, and we'll keep working on that sense of adventure. It's in there somewhere-- two years ago, we were hiking with our son (on my back) when a steep snowbank blocked the narrow trail, with a wall on the right and not much on the left. So my wife led the way through some rocks so that we could bypass the snowbank and continue. She never thought twice about it; we'll try for more of that.
Bob Sihler - Dec 2, 2007 2:11 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Yup...Thanks, Chief. We look forward to much more of this together, and with our kids.
Bob Bolton - Dec 2, 2007 4:56 pm - Voted 10/10
Nicely done!It's a start indeed. My wife has only climbed two "real" mountains, Hood and St. Helens, 15 years ago when she was vigorously walking on hills every day trying to combat a chronic auto-immune disease. Unfortunately she has never come close to "Now I get it", but at least she accepts that I need the mountains even if it's not her thing. I've long since given up on being able to share the mountains with her - sadly. Thanks for sharing! -Bob
Bob Sihler - Dec 3, 2007 12:48 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nicely done!Thank you, Bob. That is too bad you can't share the mountains together, but on the other hand, it's a totally different experience by yourself or with friends, which you certainly don't need me to tell you. My wife and I probably still won't do much mountaineering together, but the chance does exist, and at least she understands now.
SFMountaineer - Dec 3, 2007 1:42 am - Voted 10/10
Great readYou are an excellent writer. Do you write for a living?
Anyway, really well done on this one.
Bob Sihler - Dec 3, 2007 2:31 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great readThank you very much, but no, I don't write for a living. I do sometimes teach it, though, or at least I try to! Thank you for reading and replying, and I'm glad you thought the TR was a good one.
kamil - Dec 3, 2007 10:06 am - Voted 10/10
lucky man!Bob, you're a lucky guy to have a wife that shares your passion. My partner has been rock climbing a few times with me and we did some serious hiking and scrambling together (Mt Olympus in Greece, Carrantuohill in Ireland, Triglav in Slovenia) but it's just not her thing and there's no point pushing her into things she doesn't enjoy :(
Happy trails with your wife and in future with the kids! :)
It was nice reading your report.
cheers,
kamil
Bob Sihler - Dec 3, 2007 3:50 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: lucky man!Thank you, Kamil, and I enjoyed your TR, too-- some very nice, inspiring photos, and just as useful as a good route page in many respects. And it is nice that my wife likes the mountains, too. She may never like them the exact same way I do, but I could have done worse. We have had many great trips together already.
reinhard2 - Dec 3, 2007 3:49 pm - Voted 10/10
A nice-to-follow TRbut when I looked at the pics I wondered what you mean by "alpine" in the title. These rotund hills give more an impression of Lake District or so. But I understand - it's a matter of climate, and when global warming continues, much of the Alps will look alike in some future!
Bob Sihler - Dec 3, 2007 3:59 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: A nice-to-follow TRInteresting comment. Here in the U.S., we often use "alpine" essentially to refer to the high mountains, those above treeline, to be a little more specific. But only in winter do these particular mountains resemble the true Alps at all, though we do have ranges here that are more like what you have in Germany, Switzerland, and the like. I think the term is becoming vague, as in "alpine climbing," which has developed a pretty broad definition (like "mountaineering"). Whether that's good or not, or right or not, I can't say.
Thanks for commenting.
jvarholak - Dec 5, 2007 5:43 pm - Voted 10/10
I know what you meanexcellent TR bob....i can relate totally (albeit from a slightly different perspective)...My wife and I shared similar passions and "goals" in our mountain experiences ever since we met....she always "got it" and "had it" herself. Unfortunately she suffered a massive brain aneurism, underwent emergency brain surgery and although she survived (thank God), it changed her forever....Now she doesn't "get it" anymore and although she supports my mountain needs we can no longer share the experience (which is, of course, OK with me given the circumstances). You are a lucky man (not to mention a talented writer) and please charish the times that you and Katie share in high, wild places.
john
Bob Sihler - Dec 6, 2007 10:27 am - Hasn't voted
Re: I know what you meanThank you, John. What you two went through must have been quite harrowing, and it reminds us all that much as we hate to admit it, there are some things more important than the mountains. I appreciate that you think I am a lucky man, and I guess I am in many ways, but you and your wife seem quite lucky yourselves in that you still have each other, which at the bottom line is what really matters. I think of the enormously positive influence my wife has been on my life (except for the dirty dishes left in the sink, but we'll just save that for another TR-- Bushwhacking through the Kitchen Wilderness), and losing her would be devastating. I poignantly remember the fear and loss I felt when we once got separated above treeline during a thunderstorm (all my fault) and I couldn't find her afterwards despite searching all over the area multiple times. It turned out that she had gone back to camp. That was probably the most frightening afternoon of my life, and that, for the way it turned out, can't compare to what you two must have gone through. I am glad that, despite the misfortune you two had, you were actually fortunate enough to avoid the tragedy of total loss.
jvarholak - Dec 6, 2007 12:10 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: I know what you meansent you a PM....my words certainly don't belong on this public forum