Viesturs Retires

[Thinker]

How'd this one get by all you Seattle folks? (or am I just blind?)

 

Ed Viesturs Announces Retirement web page

After Summiting Annapurna, Climber Quits Big Mountains

by OutdoorNewsWire.com

May 18th, 2005

 

After summiting all of the world's 14 8,000+ meter peaks last week and becoming the first American to do so, Ed Viesturs announced Monday that he will be retiring from high-altitude climbing. "I'm done with 8,000-meter peaks, but I'll climb smaller and easier peaks, I'm sure," Viesturs told Lindsay Yaw of MSN.com. "Since 1987, I have been over in the Himalaya climbing every spring, so now I'll get to know what spring looks like at my home in Seattle."

[Doug]

Great, maybe he'll have time to spray. Dru, look out!

[Dru]

... what if Gasherbrum IV suddenly gains 20m? It could happen!

[foraker]

i think Ed needs to elaborate on what he means by 'smaller and easier'....

[catbirdseat]

Maybe he'll start working on obscure 6,000 m peaks that have seen no or few ascents. The air is thick at 6,000 m compared to 8,000.

[Dr_Flash_Amazing]

Obviously, dude realized that Dr. Flash Amazing was, as usual, right, and he knew that he was nothing until he sent 5.14. Obviously, "smaller, easier peaks" is just a euphemism for "extreme sickfest with near-nonexistent grips and plenty of bolts." Isn't it obvious?

[Jedi]

That's it! His mind has cleared since he has gotten back to sea level. He has realized that real climbing is clipping bolts. Maybe he'll start pinkpointing 14a+/14b- and then put up some badass sport routes AT 8000m in the future. Hopefully, that is where our sport is going.

Or maybe with the lack of oxygen his brain has endured over the years, he will start ascending fixed lines at the local sport area. Yeah, start "flashing" 5.14 without supplemental 02 with fixed lines and limited sherpa help at the local crag. Sick bivies on bolt #3;)

 

Speaking of sport climbing, I need to get my ass in shape and head to The New River Gorge to climb some warm rock.

[Dru]

That's it! His mind has cleared since he has gotten back to sea level. He has realized that real climbing is clipping bolts. Maybe he'll start pinkpointing 14a+/14b- and then put up some badass sport routes AT 8000m in the future. Hopefully, that is where our sport is going.

Or maybe with the lack of oxygen his brain has endured over the years, he will start ascending fixed lines at the local sport area. Yeah, start "flashing" 5.14 without supplemental 02 with fixed lines and limited sherpa help at the local crag. Sick bivies on bolt #3;)

 

Speaking of sport climbing, I need to get my ass in shape and head to The New River Gorge to climb some warm rock.

 

I believe he has decided to start training for the 9000m peaks.

[cj001f]

Is he going to start searching for Big Foot?

[Dru]

Perhaps he is considering trying the sit starts.

[cj001f]

Perhaps he is considering trying the sit starts.

Sit start on Mauna Loa?

[Dru]

Perhaps he is considering trying the sit starts.

Sit start on Mauna Loa?

Maybe Erden can help with that, I'm sure the rowboat has an anchor.

[griz]

After Summiting Annapurna, Climber Quits Big Mountains

 

 

gee, I wonder why...? Could it be that he is tired of being around tragedies like the '96 clusterf*ck on Everest,ect and now this...?

 

http://www.everestnews.com/stories2005/amannapurna2005uaa05192005.htm

[dalius]

Damn.... that sucks. It was that Italian climbers's 14th 8000m peak, just as it was for Viesturs A WEEK AGO!!! I imagine these were members of the same Italian party he was climbing with last week? Yeah, no wonder these guys quit while they're ahead. Let the search for bigfoot begin.

[JoshK]

i think Ed needs to elaborate on what he means by 'smaller and easier'....

 

Mount Si, but of course...

 

Maybe I'll see him here in CO working on the 14ers???