So...
I read where PatnJane, nearly into her EIGHTH DECADE climbs her 48 winter NH 4,000s in two seasons! A kindred spirit, for sure, of Merriam Underhill who was in her sixties when she started the winter game back in the sixties.
And I see Sclimmer reporting on his winter conquest of the 131 New York summits above 3500', finishing on Little Santanoni. Superhuman!
Both incredible accomplishments, but which is more impressive? Schlimmer's climbs, mostly solo, many interminable bushwhacks, usually breaking trail by himself, are more than most of us could fathom. But double his age, stick him in PatnJane's snowshoes, and I wonder how he'd fare....
Here's the point. Climbing in meteorological winter gives you another list. Why not have some kind of "senior" designation for lists as well? Just as marathoners have their age divisions, could we somehow honor those amongst us who climb everything on a list or lists after, say, their fiftieth birthday?
For instance, if Roy climbed everything on his "New England Finest Fifty" list AFTER his fiftieth birthday, we could call him an "Over-Fifty-Finest-Fifty Finisher! We could have the "46-over-fifty", "111W-over-fifty," whatever.
A senior category would provide a good excuse to revisit peaks you might have done when younger, as well.
Just some food for thought now that winter season's over for another year....
Hey there, you with the bifocals...whaddya think?
JT
I read where PatnJane, nearly into her EIGHTH DECADE climbs her 48 winter NH 4,000s in two seasons! A kindred spirit, for sure, of Merriam Underhill who was in her sixties when she started the winter game back in the sixties.
And I see Sclimmer reporting on his winter conquest of the 131 New York summits above 3500', finishing on Little Santanoni. Superhuman!
Both incredible accomplishments, but which is more impressive? Schlimmer's climbs, mostly solo, many interminable bushwhacks, usually breaking trail by himself, are more than most of us could fathom. But double his age, stick him in PatnJane's snowshoes, and I wonder how he'd fare....
Here's the point. Climbing in meteorological winter gives you another list. Why not have some kind of "senior" designation for lists as well? Just as marathoners have their age divisions, could we somehow honor those amongst us who climb everything on a list or lists after, say, their fiftieth birthday?
For instance, if Roy climbed everything on his "New England Finest Fifty" list AFTER his fiftieth birthday, we could call him an "Over-Fifty-Finest-Fifty Finisher! We could have the "46-over-fifty", "111W-over-fifty," whatever.
A senior category would provide a good excuse to revisit peaks you might have done when younger, as well.
Just some food for thought now that winter season's over for another year....
Hey there, you with the bifocals...whaddya think?
JT