As far as "real", well, they are, but they were so much work that they don't seem like all that much. And as the organizer, logistics manager, and "leader" of most of 'em (don't really need a "leader"), there really isn't anything mysterious about 'em.

It doesn't seem like all that much from here, but then every once in a while I get an email from someone going through their pictures who thank me for the experiences. And then I reminisce. A lot of people have gone on these things with me.

I think if they had been easy, and I hadn't been worried or frightened so much, it might be more admirable. For instance, Cheyne-Stokes breathing at altitude is a truly frightening occurrence for me, and it's "normal" until one acclimatizes. I think I'm dying 10 or 15 times a night, and in the moment can't believe it will go away even though it always does. I know how close things were, and how tired and scared I'd get, and it seems more marginal than admirable. There are a lot of other people who do it better, far better.

And some get away from me. Orizaba was just too much. I'd been lost for hours and rock climbing at 16,000 feet with 60 pounds on my back the day before summit day and hadn't slept much. After I got onto the summit ice slope I knew I could summit, but not come down safely. So I turned around. The multitude of colorful crosses on the rocks at the base of that 50 degree, 2,700 vertical foot slope also had an effect. It was solid, blue ice cube ice with no give and even hard to chip. There really wasn't anyplace to even rest safely that we could see, it would be standing all the way.

I've always thought that if I could do it, anyone could do it, and have convinced a lot of people to do things they wouldn't have otherwise with that argument. That may not be true. I am coming to realize it takes a certain emotional durability to climb through the pain or hike for weeks by oneself. I wouldn't do the hiking without the dog, though.

It's amazing, too, how calming it is to help others through fear. When I get into trouble or finding something hard I try to find someone else and encourage them. A lot of difficult situations have been made to look easy that way. (One of the advantages of being the "leader" is that one gets to do that, is expected to.) Those times rank high among the privileges of my life.

Maybe I'll post some pictures. Thanks to Tom I have PhotoPile, I believe, if I can figure out how to scan them and get them up.

And, thanks for the comment. 'Preciate that, as they say in Florida.