I work for a niche television station in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. We are surrounded by ski areas, resorts, fabulous old hotels and granite mountains with waterfalls unsurpassed except by Yosemite's.
One of my co-workers is a risk-taking wild man; a climber who fell one hundred feet from a rock ledge two summers ago when he became dehydrated, dizzy and inadvertently released his belaying rope. He survived with a broken clavicle & a few ribs. It was a minor miracle to say the least.
A few months ago, he ascended Mt. Washington, tallest mountain in the northeast at 6288', via the Mt. Washington Auto Road, on stilts. Yes. Stilts.
Last weekend, he ascended the Auto Road again, all 8 miles of it, walking backwards, barefoot, jumping rope. Swear to God.
Top of the Summit Finish
(Mt. Washington OBS in background)
Storm Trooper Guy Finish
(Clouds descending)
People up here are die-hard, rough and ready competitors. If they're hardy souls, gifted with athletic ability, they'll try anything.
Pre-race participants Alton Weagle Day Mt. Washington, N.H.
Inotherwords, they're crazy.
