"As an adolescent I aspired to lasting fame, I craved factual certainty, and I thirsted for a meaningful vision of human life - so I became a scientist. This is like becoming an archbishop so you can meet girls."
--M. Cartmill
© 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. All Rights Reserved.
Sam Page - Feb 14, 2006 12:41 am Date Climbed: Aug 23, 1996
Direct ExumI climbed this route twice, once with my good friend Christian Szautner. He was intent on hiring Alex Lowe to guide him up it, but I persuaded him to do it with me for free. What magic when at the base of the Black Face, Mr. Lowe appeared with his client. I had the privilege of sharing a belay alcove with Mr. Lowe above the Black Face. I'll never forget watching Mr. Lowe run it out on the Black Face in his ragged, threadbare climbing shoes (or sneakers? I can't remember). What a tragedy it was when he was swept away on Shishapangma in fall 1999. Anyway, this is an awesome, but crowded, route. Get to the base early!