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Show Russell Jacobs 24 February 2010 I haven't lost that desire. I still-ya know, and that's the reason I retired early, so I can visit new places, ya know, and meet new people, and experience different lifestyles. MD: You used the word sacrifice to talk about the kinda-to start a family is to sacrifice a lot of things. Um, but, in some senses, again going back to folks that kind of allow climbing to become an all-consuming lifestyle, what do climbers like that have to sacrifice? Are there sacrifices involved for the climber who is consumed by their passion for this activity? Do you follow me there? RJ: I think I understand where you're going with some of these questions. Um, I can't speak for other climbers. I mean, there is a handful that can manage having a family, and climbing too. But I think for them, they're, they've proven themselves as some of the lead climbers in the world. And so there are companies that will subsidize their living. MD: But they've subsidized their living for, ya know, what, the ten years that they're able to be one of the top climbers in the world. I mean ten years as a, just sort of- RJ: Yeah, I don't think it's a thirty year contract. I mean, climbing's very difficult. And to keep that level up for more than twenty years, is pretty difficult. And it's very rare that anyone can do that. I mean, yes there are climbers out there that-I mean, there's a guide that, climbed the Matterhorn when he was ninety years old. And he'd climbed the Matterhorn three-hundred sixty times during his career. And, certainly he's gettin' paid to do that. But that's extremely rare that someone has the physical ability to make it a full lifestyle. I mean it's, ya know, I mean, we can talk about John Muir and his travels. He was a mountain man too. He just didn't have the experience that we have available, or the means, to do some of these big climbs. But he climbed Rainier with nothing but a rucksack and a pair of boots. 4 |
