I like the old ways better. I am an amateur astronomer and I used to know the entire northern hemisphere by heart. A few years ago I attended a star party. Everyone there had their new fancy telescopes and put the coordinates into the computer and the telescope would automatically swing around and point in the desired direction. I soon found out that none of these new astronomers really knew where the objects were.
There is something to be said about the old ways we used to do things. Asking the name of a mountain from the locals is a good thing. It brings you close to the culture of the area, as well as their mountains. That said, I really like your article. It reminds me of my own beginnings.
Cheers,
Marc
No, I have not. I imagine they'll try to take your jacket off your back, or may be your wallet. I know what you mean Gabriele. I do like your links and I may end up using them at some point in time.
;-)
Noooooooooooooooo, don't think it bad :)
simply most of them (and the locals of many other valleys) simply sometimes don't even realize they're living among mountains ... "the name of that mountain ?, which one ? a mountain ? ... boh !!"
(where BOH is normally used as "I don't know and don't care")
You do the mountains honor by keeping them new and somewhat strange in your mind. Rather than read words in guidebooks that have bloomed and grown yellow since your first explorations, you rediscover them with a 21st century computer technique...which is all to the good because it gets you back out among them, with more excitement of the unknown than a typical step A,B,C guidebook to-day could ever give!
And weren't valley-dwellers ever thus? Didn't most of them walk around with clouds over their heads, completely uncaring of the limestone and eternal snows 1000 meters above?
It's great to see this thought-provoking article from you, ciao Gabriele!
The area I live in was once considered very remote and no info on routes or mountains really existed. Over a series of years over the last 50 there has been two guides - one so vast that it is almost a mystery and the other for hiking. Then a bunch of small local guides but again hiking and localized extremely. I spent a life time exploring and getting to know the mountains. I've passed it on to new climbers - routes and gps spots and they have taken it farther and harder. I derived satisfaction from it but because these are still pretty remote areas not many people will ever go into them so the idea of crowds waiting won't happen but it is something I've struggled with - do I tell people about my route or not and how detailed. The feeling of exploration and sastifaction will be lost. I told wrong people of a hiking route through the bush and now it is actually crowded, published and ruined - I won't make that mistake twice.
However, the mapping places you show are wonderful. Photos and maps - you figure it out. Love it.
I feel slightly envious with you :)
In the Alps there are not many wild areas and they're small, normally the central point of a "wild" area is not more than 10-15 km from the roads ... I have to get satisfied with what I find :)
ciao :)
Marcsoltan - Jan 19, 2011 6:46 pm - Voted 10/10
Sorry, Gabriele, but...I like the old ways better. I am an amateur astronomer and I used to know the entire northern hemisphere by heart. A few years ago I attended a star party. Everyone there had their new fancy telescopes and put the coordinates into the computer and the telescope would automatically swing around and point in the desired direction. I soon found out that none of these new astronomers really knew where the objects were.
There is something to be said about the old ways we used to do things. Asking the name of a mountain from the locals is a good thing. It brings you close to the culture of the area, as well as their mountains. That said, I really like your article. It reminds me of my own beginnings.
Cheers,
Marc
Gabriele Roth - Jan 20, 2011 2:18 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Sorry, Gabriele, but...:)
thanks but ...
I used to ask info to locals but ... have you ever tried to ask info about mountains to a Bellinzona dweller ?
:)
Marcsoltan - Jan 20, 2011 9:35 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Sorry, Gabriele, but...No, I have not. I imagine they'll try to take your jacket off your back, or may be your wallet. I know what you mean Gabriele. I do like your links and I may end up using them at some point in time.
;-)
Gabriele Roth - Jan 20, 2011 9:56 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Sorry, Gabriele, but...Noooooooooooooooo, don't think it bad :)
simply most of them (and the locals of many other valleys) simply sometimes don't even realize they're living among mountains ... "the name of that mountain ?, which one ? a mountain ? ... boh !!"
(where BOH is normally used as "I don't know and don't care")
mvs - Jan 26, 2011 6:08 pm - Voted 10/10
I like your spirit...You do the mountains honor by keeping them new and somewhat strange in your mind. Rather than read words in guidebooks that have bloomed and grown yellow since your first explorations, you rediscover them with a 21st century computer technique...which is all to the good because it gets you back out among them, with more excitement of the unknown than a typical step A,B,C guidebook to-day could ever give!
And weren't valley-dwellers ever thus? Didn't most of them walk around with clouds over their heads, completely uncaring of the limestone and eternal snows 1000 meters above?
It's great to see this thought-provoking article from you, ciao Gabriele!
Gabriele Roth - Jan 27, 2011 3:25 am - Hasn't voted
Re: I like your spirit...thanks :)
I've always liked to be propositional :)
klwagar - Jan 30, 2011 4:19 pm - Hasn't voted
HiThe area I live in was once considered very remote and no info on routes or mountains really existed. Over a series of years over the last 50 there has been two guides - one so vast that it is almost a mystery and the other for hiking. Then a bunch of small local guides but again hiking and localized extremely. I spent a life time exploring and getting to know the mountains. I've passed it on to new climbers - routes and gps spots and they have taken it farther and harder. I derived satisfaction from it but because these are still pretty remote areas not many people will ever go into them so the idea of crowds waiting won't happen but it is something I've struggled with - do I tell people about my route or not and how detailed. The feeling of exploration and sastifaction will be lost. I told wrong people of a hiking route through the bush and now it is actually crowded, published and ruined - I won't make that mistake twice.
However, the mapping places you show are wonderful. Photos and maps - you figure it out. Love it.
Gabriele Roth - Feb 3, 2011 11:25 am - Hasn't voted
Re: HiI feel slightly envious with you :)
In the Alps there are not many wild areas and they're small, normally the central point of a "wild" area is not more than 10-15 km from the roads ... I have to get satisfied with what I find :)
ciao :)