1-15-2010

Its funny, no matter how serious I am when going to write these entries, the Spongebob notebook from Punta Arenes never fails to cheer me up. The day started early. When the sun dropped behind the mountain last night it got cold, anything wet froze immediately. Then, around 11:00 AM, we got up to the bright sunshine again, like it never got cold at all. (Not like it was ever really “warm”). My special mocha’s were in high demand this morning, always glad to brew some up for the team! Then, we decided to just do a little jaunt up the fixed lines, see how we all work with ropes and packs. So we started off, and before we knew it, were at the top of the ropes. Guess we do it pretty well! Behind us as we climbed, the landscape unfolded, the beauty growing with each step. Miles of ice & snow sparkling in the distance blended with far off clouds, all of it rushing in to clash with the dark beauty of the mountains. Jagged peaks spiking up through the crust, a sort of terrible beauty. As we were at the top, it was time to go down. The rest started down while I prepared my skis. He heart was racing as if it knew what was coming up. The skiing was… less than favorable. Patches of crust softened the blue ice. I guess my skis didn’t like it, so, on one of my first turns, one decided it had had enough, and came off. I think more thoughts went through my head in those seconds than could fit into a movie. Free falling with one ski down an icy glacier, steep enough for fixed ropes, in Antarctica almost made me change my undies. I knew Willie, watching from below, already went through a few pairs. But, I kept it OK, and somehow managed to self arrest with my Whippet on my wrist even though the basket was stuck under my one remaining ski. I flew across toward the ropes. I hit them, tried to grab on, and 20 feet later, the double effort of ropes and self-arrest I stopped. Now for my ski. I expected to see it cruising to the South pole, but instead it had self arrested as well, hanging turned over 30 feet up. Dang. The rest of the descent? I fixed the equipment and finished the ski. A bit slower, but I reached the bottom. Always worth it.