Climbing the Eiger: Richard Bangs Challenges Wall of Death

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges and dangers of climbing the Eiger, particularly in the context of John Harlin III's reflections on his father's tragic accident during a climb. The conversation touches on themes of personal challenge, the psychological aspects of climbing, and cultural references related to mountaineering.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Richard Bangs recounts the story of John Harlin III and the legacy of his father, highlighting the dangers associated with climbing the Eiger.
  • Some participants reflect on the emotional impact of losing a parent to mountaineering accidents, suggesting it can fuel a passion for climbing.
  • There are references to popular culture, with some participants questioning whether the story has been depicted in shows like "The Simpsons" or "South Park."
  • One participant mentions a book recommendation, "Touching the Void," as a relevant exploration of the climber's experience and mindset.
  • Another participant shares a link to a site featuring photographs of mountains, indicating a broader interest in mountaineering and adventure photography.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of personal reflections and cultural references, but there is no consensus on the emotional or psychological implications of climbing, nor on the cultural references made. The discussion remains somewhat fragmented with varying viewpoints.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes personal anecdotes and cultural references that may not be universally understood, and it does not resolve the emotional complexities surrounding the motivations for climbing after personal loss.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in mountaineering, personal narratives related to climbing, and the psychological aspects of extreme sports may find this discussion engaging.

Astronuc
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Challenging the Wall of Death
by Richard Bangs

In the shadow of the most notorious rock wall in the Swiss Alps, John Harlin III contemplates the climb of his life — the one that claimed his father 40 years ago.

One rope length from the White Spider, the last great defiance on the mountain wall that is one of the world’s deadliest, the 7 mm fixed line broke. John Harlin II, the first American to climb the legendary North Face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps four years earlier, fell 4,000 feet into the void.

A short time later his nine-year-old son, Johnny, heard the news from his sobbing mother. It was news he couldn’t fathom. His father was among the world’s greatest climbers, a pioneer of straight-up routes, a man almost mythically at home in the vertical world.

http://adventures.yahoo.com/b/adventures/adventures1185
Stunning video of the Eiger and the Alps!
 
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Daddy's last lesson to little Johnny doesn't seem to have gotten through.
 
wasn't that an episode from the Simpson's?
 
tribdog said:
wasn't that an episode from the Simpson's?

Isn't that an episode from South Park?
 
Butters is maybe the coolest character in the history of television
 
They say insanity runs in families.
 
One of my mates lost his father in a mountaineering accident in the Alps. For some reason, this only fuelled his own passion for climbing.

I think it's a personal challenge, coming face to face with the possibility of death. There's nothing quite like the feeling of complete isolation you have when you're a few hundred feet up a rock face, dangling by a few bits of string and steel, it's very humbling.

Astronuc, - book rec. 'Touching the Void' by Joe Simpson. He's a fellow Sheffielder. Barking mad, but very self motivated and driven, and a rather nice chap too.
 
tribdog said:
Butters is maybe the coolest character in the history of television

I thought I told you to stop making that face!
 
Somewhere there is a thread of top ten places, but it's way back there somewhere.

Anyway, here is a site with lots of cool pictures from around the world.

http://www.adventurephotographs.com/index.asp

If you love mountains, Karakoram, Nepal, and New Zealand have some awesome sites.
 
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