When assembling the team, Robert Bates writes that the climber’s character is more important than their climbing ability. They were looking for humble men; men who would not put their own personal glory above the expedition. I believe that they found the men they were looking for. Peppered throughout the book are instances in…
Reading Response, Week 9
Well, shit happens.
by mel •
After reading many works about experienced climbers, who train for climbs, bring proper equipment, travel companions, and have knowledge about the risks they are about to endure, reading “‘Shit Happens’: The Selling of Risk in Extreme Sport” by Catherine Palmer is an interesting take on extreme sports, including mountaineering, and the commodification behind them. Not…
Reading Response, Week 9
Week 9
by ahs •
Shit happens, but most of the time it does not. In Catherine Palmer’s article, “Shit Happens, The Selling of Risk in Extreme Sport”, she paints an oversimplified context of extreme sports and the risk takers who endeavor on them. Palmer creates an argument that would have you believe that these sports exist in only her…
Reading Response, Week 9
Week 9
by mmd •
Final Papers
Evolution of Risk
by The Crooked Spoke •
This class has philosophized circles around mountains and the folks who climb them. The concept of risk (and mountaineers’ penchant for exposing themselves to it) has been vilified, romanticized, and dramatized in the literature we’ve read as a class. For my term-paper I’d like to focus on the objective risks of mountaineering, and how the…
Final Papers, Uncategorized
Final Paper Topics
by Matt •
I’m going to focus on mountaineering and the environment. Particularly using Mount Everest as a case study and how it received its nickname “the world highest junkyard.” I’d like to not go down the dark hole of being pessimistic and negative, but rather make it as positive and optimistic as I can focusing on mountaineering expedition…
Reading Response, Week 9
K2, The Savage Mountain
by Matt •
What a disaster. I enjoyed the first three chapters and the appendix of the book because they were so detailed. I think this is the first book we have read that went into that much depth about the history and geography of the mountain and the planning before the expedition in one book. Though it quickly…
Final Papers
Final Paper Topic
by lcm •
For the final paper, I am going to focus on the imperial aspect of mountaineering and the effects of westernization on the Greater Ranges’ indigenous peoples. When comparing specific European nations, such as Great Britain and France, there exist distinct narratives that accompany their expeditions. I plan on continuing to examine the difference in the…
Final Papers
Final paper proposal
by ahs •
For my final paper topic, I’d like to do it on the psychology of deadly mountaineering situations. Once a rope snaps, or a leg breaks, instantly an outing of adventure and fun is changed to survival and animalistic tendencies. What are people thinking when they are in a situation they know there is a high…
Final Papers
Final paper proposal
by Colton •
For my final paper, I am thinking about writing how various ancient societies viewed the mountains. We have discussed it a bit in class, and I would like to explore it further. I want to know different philosophies, religions practices, as well as each cultures reason for bedding near the mountains. I will to try to…