nolanr Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 I read "The Mountains of My Life" recently, a compilation from several different books he's written. You don't hear so much about him. Dude was seriously bad ass. Got a bum rap from his kinfolk, especially the climbing community, that dogged him the rest of his career and beyond. Not the best climbing book ever written, but definitely worth reading. Contemporary of Terray, Rebuffat, Buhl, quite a collection of bad asses operating in the Alps and larger ranges of the world back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Inneresting...so why aren't you at the barbeque? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolanr Posted May 8, 2003 Author Share Posted May 8, 2003 What barbeque? I haven't ventured out to a pub club yet, it would be interesting to meet some of the faces behind the avatars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 this barbeque are you a recluse nolanr? I guess you like basketball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolanr Posted May 8, 2003 Author Share Posted May 8, 2003 Damn, now I vaguely remember seeing that and thinking I should check it out. Well maybe slightly reclusive but not really antisocial. Mostly I'm just a lame-ass and don't do a whole lot after work during the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted May 8, 2003 Share Posted May 8, 2003 ChrisT said: this barbeque are you a recluse nolanr? I guess you like basketball To bad you're so shy. Your loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolanr Posted May 9, 2003 Author Share Posted May 9, 2003 Yeah, sounds like I missed a good time. I'll have to pay more attention and try to make the next bbq event thingy. So, how 'bout Walter Bonatti? Anybody else read him? I haven't picked up any of Buhl's stuff yet, but that's definitely on my list. Nanga Parbat something-or-other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin_Ristau Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 I am currently reading Bonatti's book, it is very interesting. Chris Bonington talks very highly of Bonatti in his autobiography. The guy definitely raised the bar in the 50's. Hemp rope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 bonatti fucking rox! his book, as mentioned, isn't written in the best style, but then he is friggin italian...i forget the name of the climb, but it's one he did shortly after k2...solo, in winter, a north facing tower so hard no one had ever succesfully completed it...took him more than a week...most depressing part of the climb: he goes to open part of his meager rations, a can of beer...he has to use his ice axe to bust into the top of the can, causing it to erupt and spills half the beer...he reportedly felt very dejected afterwards ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobBob Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 How about the "Christmas climb" where he loses all his buds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 if i lost all my weed in a storm i'd be pissed too... ...oh, yeah, i guess those were people though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysticNacho Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 Hey, I'm reading it right now too. Definitely a hardman, but for a guy who claims to be so humble he sure does blow a lot of smoke up his own ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski_photomatt Posted May 9, 2003 Share Posted May 9, 2003 I read the book, extremely interesting especially towards the end (not the K2 part, but his last writings). The description of his final climb, solo, of the north face of the Matterhorn in winter and then the two last chapters about a solo climb on Mt. Blanc and the trek to Patagonia many years down the road are required reading. These last two in particular - climbing to the top of Mt. Blanc in the predawn and marveling at the sunrise across Europe from the summit and his farewell to the mountains from the top of a remote peak in Patagonia are beautiful. Bonatti was a bad ass guy. The stories together paint a wonderful picture of the man and include many feelings every climber can identify with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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