If you walk/climb regularly, you’ll occasionally contemplate the fact that you could get hurt, but find comfort in the fact “it’ll never happen to me”. You tell yourself, that accidents happen but in reality they do at all times during normal day to day life. That it’s worse not doing something you enjoy because of the slight possibility something bad may occur. After all, those things that are hard and carry risk, often carry with them the greatest reward?
But then things do happen. Luckily this time (and what’s put the post in my head) the incident wasn’t something I was there first hand to experience, and my friend was only there after trying to help. Still, his enthusiasm and desire to really push on has been tempered. How a tiny mistake made by someone experienced and comfortable on the terrain, has lead to such huge consequences (the person sadly died), has massively hit home.
We talked briefly between us about what had happened, then went climbing and afterward for a beer. Both being young (well we like to think so in our mid 20s) and not massively experienced we’re still full of enthusiasm to try things and push ourselves, often beyond our comfort levels/limits. We talked about what we’ve done over the past few years, how we’ve been lucky but as usual ended up smiling about some of the incredible things we’ve been lucky to do.
I could ramble on forever about this but I’m determined to keep it succinct. I’ll end with a couple of quotes from people who’ve spent a huge amount of time in the mountains and had similar experiences in their time up high.
“Mountains are not fair or unfair – they are just dangerous”
- Reinhold Messner
“Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end.”
- Edward Whymper