Re: Great Fall Outing 2009 (Al West)

Life Lessons and fish are hard to swallow at 10,000 ft

As I started my "lurking" on the Idahosummits message board in the spring of 2008, I have met some great people on line, learned that one of my dearest friends of 17 years also liked to climb and hike (Ed Philp).

I have found a long lost big brother (of course he wasnt lost and we are not really brothers). Sometimes its like were we separated from birth and other times he might as well be speaking Egyptian.
This guy shared in leading an expedition to climb Denali after warming up on two Mexican volcanos over 18K. At the age of 54 he is an exceptional athlete but more important than that he is kind and extremely generous with knowledge and his precious time. Its almost like a one sided relationship where he gives and we all take. I guess why feel so connected to him as he reminds me of one of my team leaders in my SF days in the Army.

Billy Hale welcomed me to Fayetteville North Carolina with a great big hug huh? We are Rangers and Green Berets why are we hugging? Because we are brothers in arms, we will ultimately be totally responsible for each others life as well as several others. Billy was patient caring and generous with his time and effort.
The set up here is we are 19-23 years old and Billy was 35 at the time, yea ranger up and all that but hard to keep up with a bunch of heavily testosterone'd young men who just got their wings pinned on their chest HOORAH! I could go on all day about my 4 years as one of the militaries elite soldiers; that 4 years defined me for the rest of my life. It also could get you killed. We were taught to win at ALL costs. That attitude wont always work in the mountains and backcountry.


So does Billy Hale sound like anyone we know? John Splattski Platt? The older well conditioned patient teacher, friend and generally great human being. He appears to not like the limelight so I get a kick out of embarrassing him. Many of you have hiked and climbed with him for years. So he basically does everything on a trip and he enjoys it. I would love to contribute on a larger scale but most of what he does is Mo Better.

Forward to the outing that Dan Robbins and his counselor confidant John Platt planned. We are at the trailhead ready to get up the Dry Creek drainage and gain the ridge that leads to the Al West Summit. Nothing was going to make me happier in addition to meeting 6 other peeps I had never met before. What a great and diverse group of people. All very accomplished at hiking and climbing. So my goal, get to the summit.

It is easy to make excuses for not accomplishing things or reaching goals. Dan talked about mind over matter and that works but you have to plan or consider at the age of 50, what if it doesnt work? I was slower than everyone else; I knew that I would be. I made it up the SawtoothSean gully to the saddle right before the crux. John was waiting there for me like he had done all morning, patiently waiting for me and encouraging a slow pace. I wasnt getting any water out of my camelback and really didnt fuel up good enough along the way. John kept say are you getting enough to drink and I would say I am working on it Bubba. At the saddle I felt nauseous and spent. He gave me some fish and Gatorade, two of my favorite things but it didnt go down well. John states so its 12:00 and we need to get on the ridge, we probably have another 1500 feet and will need get going. While resting and pushing down some fish John said its decision time, do you have enough fuel in the tank to get on top and back to camp (more importantly, back to camp). I told him I think so and his reply you are the one that has to know that and react if necessary.

We get to the start of the crux and start going a little vertical again and my mind said Dude, can you get to the top and back down? Answer is I can get to the top but I will use every ounce of energy and mind over matter to do it. I picture in my mind that I will embarrass myself by struggling to get back down while still having daylight. This stomach thing, is it mild AMS or dehydration? At somewhere around 10K (We dont know for sure), I had tell my big brother Bubba, I am done, I need to start hiking back down and you need to catch up with Dan and Margo.
I am certain some of you have failed to get on a summit; I guess this is one I should be able to succeed on. My statement is a follows: A great friend gave me some sound advice to make the decision to turn around at about 10K. It was a great lesson in hydration and fueling the body for winter mountaineering. I will be back to get you another time Al West!

I enjoyed meeting you ALL. I appreciate the opportunity to spend time with you guys and gal. Hopefully you would have me again.

Deltaoperator17