Well, I have about four days’ of photos left, and if readers don’t come through, this feature will disappear. You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you? You know what to do!
Today we have more adventure travel from my French-Canadian friend Anne-Marie. Her captions are indented, and click on the photos to enlarge them.
The call of the mountains
Other souvenirs from past trips.
The mountains gave me my life back. Climbing them was not a sport but an art form helping me opening both my mind and heart. Sharing my passion with other people was a natural thing to do.
As John Muir once said: « the mountains are calling, and I must go ».
Peru.
Play of light and shadow in the mountains of the Sacred Valley (Urubamba Valley). Find the donkey!
A 14 day trek in the Cordillera Huayhuash (Peruvian Andes) where our equipment was carried by valiant donkeys. As Ron Kauk said: « the way I see it, there are two worlds: there’s the world where nothing is sacred except money, and the world where everything is sacred ».
Ecuador, avenue of volcanoes.
Here is El Altar, an extinct volcano in the Sagay National Park. In its crater lies a beautiful turquoise laguna surrounded by a ring of glacial peaks .
This gentleman was suffering from AMS (acute mountain sickness), so guiding him down the mountain was quite a challenge. The volcano pointing at the horizon is the Antisana (5753m) .
Quebec, Canada.A view of « Mont de l’Ours » in autumn, « Parc National des Grands Jardins » in the beautiful region of Chalevoix. These mountains, part of the Canadian Shield, were once as high as the Himalayas!
Nepal.
Everest (8848,86 m).
Interesting fact: due to Covid, both China and Nepal banned all foreign alpinists on the mountain in 2020.
While trekking through Gokyo and Khumbu valleys, I took a liking at drawing the surroundings. My good friend Babu Chiri Sherpa (one of the greatest Everest climbers always wanted to add the finishing touch to my drawings!
Canada.
Mount Victoria (3464m), located on the border between British Columbia and Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. A technical climb with my friend Chic Scott. Walking on a such beautiful ridge was a wonderful reward by itself.
Fun fact about Chic: for seven weeks during the summer of 1972, he took part in the filming of « The Eiger Sanction » starring Clint Eastwood.
« Getting to the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory. » Ed Viesturs
These are wonderful photos! Thank you.
Avec plaisir!
Beautiful photos Anne-Marie! Do you still do technical climbing? I’m too old for that now (and my wife would veto it anyway!) I visited the Canadian Rockies (Jasper, Banff, Mt. Robson Prov. Park) when I was 20 years old, and loved it.
Thank you!!
Yes and I used to be sponsored for doing it!
Snow climbing was my thing, but also trad rock.
Those were the good old days 😀
I meant Ice climbing, not snow climbing.
Living in Minnesota, I started out on waterfall ice. 😀 I still have my old ice hammers. I can’t sell them or give them away. They’ll end up as decorations on my shop walls!
Good for you!!
I used to climb with Foot Fangs monopoint.
And you?
First hinged crampons, then non-hinged steel crampons (many, many years), then, eventually, much later, first-generation Footfangs, mostly for the convenience of the binding system!
🙂
Cool. I was a (very enthusiastic) amateur back in the 1970s-1990s. Everything trad., all the way. “Friends” were the big innovation in my time! 😀 😀
Thanks to Ray Jardine !! The ultimate climbing anchor for crack-climbing, even with its rigid stem.
What a friend a Friend 😁
Indeed! 🙂
My rock rack (hasn’t been used in a long time) still includes 3 or 5 large Chouinard Hexentrics on webbing or 9mm nylon! (I’m an old fart 😀 .)
Exhilarating photos! I love those purple colors in your top photo, the Urubamba Valley. The climber on Mount Victoria is thrilling. Not sure I
could stand up there….
Thank you Debra!
Beautiful adventures, thank you for sharing.
Avec plaisir!
All beautiful!
Thank you! Merci!!!!
Pas de quoi😻