A couple who took their 80-lb. dog for a hike this Saturday in the Angeles National Forest ended up spending a night on the trail after their canine refused to budge. Baxter, a labrador mix, stopped after cuts on his paws proved too painful. On Sunday, rescuers on foot we're unable to lift and carry the dog out, and so a helicopter was called in for the rescue.
What do you think. Is the helicopter rescue of a dog too much?
--Joe Spring
@joespring
John Stamstad (Photo courtesy of John Stamstad)
John Stamstad lives to push limits. He earned a spot in the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame after completing the first crossing of Australia by bicycle, going 65 hours straight without sleep to win the 350 Iditasport Extreme in Alaska, and fueling up at gas stations on blocks of cheese, Little Debbies, and Spam to finish an unsupported ride of the Great Divide. Now, he's ultrarunning. We caught up with him to find out his pick for the best emergency endurance fuel in a pinch.
--Heidi Volpe
What do you do?
Well, I am a sales rep in the bike/run/outdoor market and I also do some product development for companies like Patagonia. I am enjoying running right now, it's so simple and I have great access to trails.
How is endurance riding different and similar to ultra running?
It is about the trail, not the mode of transportation. Running is nice because it is so simple; mountain biking is great because the gear is complex and fun to tinker with. I really like both extremes.
When was the last time you ate Spam for fuel?
I haven't eaten spam since I choked down a whole can cold in Montana while riding the Great Divide Trail. It was the only thing I had left to eat so I had no choice, but it was not pleasant. When I say I forced it down I really mean it, that was a bad night.
Last week I posted a review of "The Ledge", co-authored by Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughn. It generated a lot of interest so I'm following up with a short interview with Davidson.
But first, a few words about his co-author Kevin Vaughn, who is currently a staff writer at The Denver Post. Formerly with the Rocky Mountain News, he is an award-winning journalist and in 2008 was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. He is not a climber but was captivated by Davidson's story. When asked about a movie, Vaughn simply says "I think there is a movie in there."
I hope so.
--Alan Arnette
Would you tell us how this book came about?
The seeds of this book were unknowingly planted in the summer of 1992, just a few weeks after I barely escaped that crevasse on Rainier. I was weighted down by the memories of that horrific, surrealistic day inside the glacier. So I sat down with a tape recorder, and spilled out everything I could recall of the accident. I filled more than 10 hours of tapes and those recordings were the start of this book.
Formally, The Ledge started in the fall of 2008 after Kevin Vaughan did an extensive series of articles for The Rocky Mountain News about Mike and I on Rainier. Right after those articles published, we knew that we worked well together, so we decided to co-author this book. It took about 2.5 years from the day we shook hands, until The Ledge hit the book stores in July 2011.
Was it difficult to ask for Mike’s parents’ blessing to write and speak about the experience?
Yes, it was. From the very first day I met Mr. & Mrs. Price, just a few days after Mike died, they have been kind and gracious to me. We have kept in regular touch over the years. So when I was ready to speak publically about the accident, and later when Kevin & I wanted to write about it, I sought their consent both times. It was hard to ask, yet they quickly agreed. I believe that they know our aim is to share the memories of their son with the world, and to provide some strength to those facing tough challenges. So even though it is hard on them, they generously agreed to us sharing the story.
Did the 1992 Rainier experience change your approach to climbing?
I am perhaps a bit more cautious, and I plan for contingencies more often. I mostly keep it to myself, as you need to be thinking UP the mountain, not down. But I often ponder "What will we do if...?" I always carry a piece or two of protection right on my harness too, as you never know when you might need a fast anchor. I try not to get separated from my pack.
What do you think Mike would think about The Ledge?
I like to think that he would find it a gripping adventure tale, but one with broader depth and greater value than a typical climbing story. Mike had a master's degree in English, was very well read, and loved discussing humanity and literature. So, I think he would enjoy The Ledge, and I hope that he would feel that the book portrayed the story accurately and well.
Is there a moral or lesson from this story for your followers and readers?
Yes. In essence, the lesson we share in The Ledge is this: no matter how scary or impossible a situation may seem, humans are so inventive and resilient, that a solution can be found. You can survive a tragedy, and later rebuild a meaningful and rewarding life.
Climb On!
Alan
A view you might catch this summer (Courtesy of Josef Janning)
Watch your rearviews this summer, from July 28 to August 26th, in hopes that you might spy a group of Europeans pedaling their velomobiles from Portland, Oregon to Washington D.C.. According to their Web site, rolloveramerica.eu, we are told this is the first time such a crossing in the U.S. has taken place.
Such a bold claim may lead to the question, what is a velomobile? It's the fastest road bike for everyday use, according to the pod-encased pack that touts its speed. The eco-gang of Germans and Danes hope that by riding their contraptions across the country they will inspire Americans to buy a pod and start commuting.
Twice a year, all the companies that make camping, climbing, hiking, paddling gear, clothes, shoes, and gadgets get together in one cement bunker in Salt Lake City to hock their wares. It's called the Outdoor Retailer Show, and it's the biggest gearapalooza in the land. Mostly the show allows shop owners to preview everybody's new lines of gear and apparel, most of which won't be available to consumers until later this fall or 2012.
Of course, A few of us magazine types sneak in as well to preview the latest and greatest. We won't get to actually see next year's crop of goods until later this week—the show officially kicks off on Wednesday, with an in-the-field demo day—but here's the short list of shiny objects we'll be tracking down.
1. Exotac Nanostryker: There are a million ferrocerium firestarters, but the Nanostryker, from the engineers at Georgia-based Exotac, is supposedly the smallest on the market. Made for BMW driving boyscouts, this key chain bauble is a flint you'll have on hand at all times. It's collapsible, it's self contained, it works when wet, and it comes in stanless steel and titanium. If you consider yourself too sophisticated for rubbing two sticks together or for blocky flints you might have to say, keep in your glove box, this little firestarter will let you be the keeper of the flame anywhere in a pinch. Available now, $27 ($75 for titanium), exotac.com.
Search for survivors continues
0South African video goes viral
0Climber in trouble with...
0Snake was almost 19 feet long
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