Comments on: Rematch

By: cjw

cjw — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:27:09 +0000

Hi Butuki (& Happy New Year!) – that’s high praise indeed, as I’m constantly in awe of the prose and shots that you consistently produce. There are so many great bloggers who do a much better job than me on routes and gear, so I just try to fill the niche I can..

By: butuki

butuki — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:10:32 +0000

Chris, what a wonderful piece, both the writing and the photos. I love the way you talk about the mountains through your emotional reactions rather than the practicalities of schedule and gear that so many other people tend to fall into. And you have a superb eye for the places you pass through. I came away from reading this with hoarfrost on my beard and my fingers chilled from the wind.

By: cjw

cjw — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:13:55 +0000

BillyWest – certainly would be a strange feeling. I’m not sure if it would be comforting or something else. I don’t intend to find out. Although as requiems go, I think “Firestarter”would be a pretty good one

Vikingslav – your kind comment is much appreciated. I’ll try to keep up the standard!

By: Vikingslav

Vikingslav — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:53:53 +0000

Truly awesome. Tremendous on all fronts, the climb, the writing, the photos…
A rare achievement and a gold star from this reader….

By: billywest

billywest — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:04:26 +0000

Yes, it would be strange if, due to some unfortunate circumstance (or set of them), a climber found him/herself fading into the next world while looking down on the city lights below knowing that thousands of people are so close by.

It would be made even more bizarre if “Firestarter” were blaring into that climber’s ears in those final moments.

By: cjw

cjw — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:37:06 +0000

Damian – those trips you’ve been doing to the Hakuba backcountry have been motivating me to get out, so it’s only fair I return the favour!

David – you’re always so generous with your comments, thank you.

By: David Wood

David Wood — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:07:44 +0000

I wish I could come up with another comment, after the many I’ve left, that was even a shadow of the originality of the post or that was merely a ghost of the inspiration provided by the images.

But I can’t. So this will have to suffice.

By: damian

damian — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:23:56 +0000

Those great conditions were worth the return trip and also well worth reading. Thanks for making the effort on both counts. I felt motivated.

By: cjw

cjw — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:18:55 +0000

Peter – sleeping out on the tops of mountains, you’re a man after my own heart. I think it might be the HDR processing that gives the photos the effect you mention. You shoot film like a master so you don’t need to resort to the tricks that digital mortals like me have to employ.. But if you do decide to get a DSLR at some point then HDR might be something you want to look at. I’m glad you like the writing – I think it’s a strange hybrid of Bruce Chatwin and Mark Twight, with maybe a smattering of Edward Abbey and Colin Fletcher..

Jason – thanks for the comment on Flickr. The sunlight on the snow and ice was throwing up incredible contrasts around midday, especially on the soft roll of the cirque near the top of the mountain.
I know that sensation you had on Fuji. Sometimes you just know viscerally that you shouldn’t take another step. It’s a sensation you ignore at your great peril.
I saw a great sign the other day at the foot of the Houou-sanzan. It said “Do you have enough courage to turn back?”. That pretty much sums it up.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:16:42 +0000

The snow patters shot is great, I favorited it on Flickr.

I like how you described being all alone on the summit, and perhaps the only person for hundreds of square kilometers….that is indeed a rare thing in Japan.

Funny how you described only a mad man would take one of the ridges!

I had an experience a few years ago of having to turn back. Me and a friend visiting from Florida, a very inexperienced hiker, went up the Fujinomiya trail of Mt. Fuji (south side). The wind was blowing like crazy the whole way up. Once we got to the summit we wanted to walk around the crater to the east side to see the sunrise. Fog had rolled in and the wind made it hard to even walk fully upright. As we proceeded, a sudden sensation came over me that if I took another step forward, we wouldn’t be able to find our way back and that going forward more would be the end for us.

So I didn’t even plant the foot I had raised, but instead led us back to the closed hut where we huddled under my backpack’s raincover until the first light.

In the morning it was clearer but still impassible, couldn’t walk upright it was so windy.

Sometimes you’ve just got to go back.