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GDavis
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 27, 2009 - 06:17pm PT
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Hey everyone, call it what you will and do yer morning quarterbacking all you want, but the dude is a stud. To call climbing everest at 67 years old anything less of an inspiring feat of determination is to undermine a great accomplishment.
Congrats big dude, all that talking in our shop about something you cared so much about has come to fruition. Now come home safely and tell us your story, Bill Burke!
http://www.eightsummits.com/pt/blog/
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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May 27, 2009 - 06:25pm PT
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Good on him but an ascent of Everest even at 67 is not heroic.
Tired of the Everest hoopla.
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GDavis
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 27, 2009 - 06:29pm PT
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for him it is!
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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May 27, 2009 - 06:35pm PT
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I agree. Everest is a personal conquest now. To compare it to, or to hold it up to traditional climbing standards is no longer appropriate. It's its own deal now. Good on 'ya Bill Burke!
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Russ Walling
Gym climber
Poofter's Froth, Wyoming
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May 27, 2009 - 06:39pm PT
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67 is the new 30.....
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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May 27, 2009 - 07:10pm PT
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The mountains give no exception and exemptions for senescence. So, in such realms, age does not qualify the worthiness of effort.
Once the epitome of adventure, the Big E is now lowered by rationalizing, money, supplements, and a 're-definition' of success.
And so considering the hordes of hubris. Summiting no longer defines achievment (by real standards) - style is now near everything.
When you make it easier, such becomes your only measure.
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GDavis
Trad climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 27, 2009 - 08:05pm PT
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Rob, no one is arguing that - least of all myself! I've long gone on rants on the reasons i personally would never be caught dead up there. But thats just me! This was a 12 year goal of his that he worked his butt off for. Whether its climbing everest, traversing the poles, swimming the english or doing the Iditarod, its a statement of commitment and bull-headed determination that we can all be inspired by, regardless of what we think of the actions grand scheme of things. Bill is the last guy to tell you he's the next Messner or Bonatti, but that doesn't make the work he put into it mean any less to him.
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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May 27, 2009 - 08:26pm PT
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Write and right-on GDAVIS.
But here's the low-down. In this salient world, praise has become all too generous, all too accepting and appreciated.
Heck. You want a real standard to measure yourself by. With comparably worthy consequences. High-tail to the hills for such. Present yourself as honest as the mountain presents itself to you.
Off with the dilettantes. Get back to what the hills should really encompass - no weakening excused and justified by age, weather, conditions and resources (or lack there of). If you can't respect her by showing-up kong strong, breathing deep only from what she offers - mountain-a-mano; then step aside and clear your clutter.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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May 28, 2009 - 12:47am PT
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Wonder if old ladies can do it too ?
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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May 28, 2009 - 10:06am PT
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I'm fortunate to know Bill a bit. IIRC, he didn't start this seven summits bid until after retirement. This was his third time to try Everest. He did it as much on the cheap as he could. He has no delusions about Everest.
He's a modest fellow and while I'm sure he's proud of what he's done, he doesn't consider himself to be a superstar by any means.
He's a good guy, y'all can bash him if you want, but it's misguided.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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May 28, 2009 - 10:45am PT
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Well Done Bill!!
My hat's off to ya.
Now post some daggum photos.
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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May 28, 2009 - 05:43pm PT
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The dillettantes don't get it.
Don't give whether an otherwise humble is purging and panting to TV cameras. Whether he's doing it for a book or speaking deal. For love, lust, or a life-fulfilled. Illusions as to whether he rates and compares himself or not. A modest or murdering budget spent.
The vast never earn the top. They ease the summit. Taking oxygen up is cheating - why acknowledge that? It's a tough mtn. when taken honest and seriously. It should be. That's what a real challenge ought to be.
Some may think my line is harsh. No harsher than what an honest adventure throws at ya.
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Gene
climber
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May 28, 2009 - 06:02pm PT
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Props to the man for accomplishing what he set out to do.
He did it for himself. Nothing bad about that.
Lighten up, folks.
gm
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shutupandclimb
climber
So. Cal..............d00d
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May 28, 2009 - 06:03pm PT
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Rob Misses the point folks. I say it is a great thing that this man did. He set a goal, worked hard, and made it happen.
I wonder what really makes Rob tick, it is evident by his opinions that that are some "issues" at work.
Good on you too Rob for stating your opinion and standing by it as long as it's your real opinion and not a contrary statement made as way of making the post revolve around you, rather then Bills accomplishment.
You know what the shrinks say about those who are unwilling to be supportive.
But I digress, Everest at ANY age is NOT a cake walk.
Maybe I have a few years of roping up left in me!
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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May 28, 2009 - 06:18pm PT
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Yay for Retired Guy!! Don't let the curmudgeons denigrate your accomplishment! :-)
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Gene
climber
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May 28, 2009 - 06:38pm PT
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Mingma on left with Bill on right on top.
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Rob_James
Ice climber
Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, New Zealand
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May 28, 2009 - 11:58pm PT
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Head off. Take a look yourselves. See the risk Sherpa are eposed to for the pittence they are paid for anothers' adventure and 'triumph'. See how much oxygen these guys really suck down on these trips.
These mtns. were once the bastion of true and deep challenges - so it ain't about me.
Then the swashbucklers thought "Hey. I want that summit. I wanna be on top of the world" Tanked with oxygen, they jug to the roof via the path of least resistance. Then call it a deserved effort.
These folk believe such struggle is tantamount to the birthright of an honest effort fulfilled.
But this stratergy lowers the natural difficulty of the mtn. via and for artifical means. What is left to epitomize the highest of challenges when this stuff is banded a deserving success?
If you wanna put what you measure yourself by to the public forum - then accept the response. As I've said. The mtns. don't care how old you are. Indeed nor am I an ageist.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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May 29, 2009 - 11:57am PT
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Sorry Rob, but I doubt he had impressing you in mind.
He might want to impress this dude, though.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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May 29, 2009 - 01:25pm PT
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"But here's the low-down. In this salient world, praise has become all too generous, all too accepting and appreciated.
Heck. You want a real standard to measure yourself by. With comparably worthy consequences. High-tail to the hills for such. Present yourself as honest as the mountain presents itself to you.
Off with the dilettantes. Get back to what the hills should really encompass - no weakening excused and justified by age, weather, conditions and resources (or lack there of). If you can't respect her by showing-up kong strong, breathing deep only from what she offers - mountain-a-mano; then step aside and clear your clutter."
this tortured writing style sounds awfully familiar.
rob james, doug buchanan: twins, separated at birth??
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