Archive for the ‘Opinion’ Category
It’s fast and easy
September 17th, 2010
The workout facility that I use has magazines lying around for those using bicycles etc. the beauty/fitness magazines plaster their covers with the same things every month–promises of great results quickly with little effort. I picked to cover at random to show you what I mean: Get it now! Do it fast! Guilt free! Not boring! Easy! These are the messages that people want to hear, so of course the magazines will oblige. And I’m not just picking on the women’s magazines, but they are probably the most extreme.
Guess what? It takes time and effort to truly improve. Most people will take several years to reach their potential in endurance activities such as marathon running and alpine climbing. Showing improvement in simpler activities (losing weight, gaining strength) will still take months of dedicated effort.
As I watch the many overweight people doing their aerobic workouts and reading these magazines, I wonder what sorts of psychological damage these messages cause: ” If it’s really so easy, fast, and not boring, then why am I bored, why is it so hard, and why aren’t I losing weight? I must be a failure!”
In The Altitude Experience I spend a lot of time talking about how we are all different from each other. No matter how much you want to, you may not be able to go faster/get stronger/be more confident/lose more weight. And this is where the dark side beckons; steroids, weight-loss drugs, and human growth hormone have trapped many with the promise of results without effort.
So you need to set realistic goals, research the best ways to accomplish them, and be willing to put the time and energy into reaching those goals. At some point you need to readjust your goals up or down, depending on your progress.
And ignore the siren’s song from the six pac abs, airbrushed hips, and silicone chests of the magazine covers when they whisper “it’s easy, it’s fast.”
Posted in Exercise and Performance, Opinion | Comments (0)
The Walmart book/DVD price war
November 9th, 2009
I urge you to avoid supporting the Walmart-Amazon-Target price war over books and DVDs. You might save a couple of bucks, but authors lose, publishers lose, and other booksellers lose. Do you really want the big-retailers to control what you can read and watch? Allowing these large corporations to kill off competition is a step in that direction. Please support your local independent book and video stores this holiday season!
Tags: The Altitude Experience
Posted in Opinion | Comments (0)
Farewell Charlie
October 13th, 2009
Dr. Charles Houston died recently at the age of 96. I first started learning about high-altitude physiology from his book Going Higher. He was the godfather of high-altitude medicine and climbed in Alaska and Asia. My book wouldn’t have been possible without the research he conducted and inspired over the years.
Read a fitting tribute by journalist Bill Moyers. Watch the 1953 K2 film there too!
Tags: The Altitude Experience
Posted in Altitude science, Opinion | Comments (0)
Two good books
August 7th, 2009
Neil Heil’s ‘Dark Summit’ and Lincoln Hall’s ‘Dead Lucky’ both describe events on the northside of Everest in 2006. Hall’s book talks about his person experiences (surviving a night out high on the north ridge after developing cerebral edema) while Heil covers the entire tragic season (11 deaths I think).
Also, famed Italian alpinist Ricardo Cassin died yesterday at the age of 100. Ciao, baby.
Photos: Namche Bazaar is the capital of Sherpaland This horse had to wait nerly 15 minutes to get into the Danfe Bar, Namche Bazaar
Tags: The Altitude Experience
Posted in Everest 2009, Opinion | Comments (0)
Farewell Mick
June 6th, 2009
I just got word that Mick Parker passed away in Kathmandu just after I left. I met Mick in 2004 on Broad Peak and hiked out with his expedition. We’d had a few beers together since. My last night in Kathmandu saw several of us coming out of Sam’s Pub after a last drink. Mick was just coming in, but walked me back to my hotel. He asked if I wanted to go to Kangchenjunga (world’s third highest peak); I told him it was unlikely!
Mick had just climbed Makalu with Roland Hunter. As Roland said, Mick was at his best at altitude and on expeditions. I really wanted him on our K2 expedition, but it didn’t happen.
We’ll miss you. dude.
Posted in Opinion | Comments (0)