I have a friend, that thought he was a pretty good skier, and tried the
speed run at A-Basin. He wiped out, about half way down, and left a
trail of skiies and gear scattered along the almost mile long runnout.
When he stopped sliding, he just lay there, and we thought that he was
dead. Afterwards we ask him, and he said he just laid there because
after sliding for approx 3500 ft he was not sure himself whether he was
alive or not. Says he won't do that again! Gives you a real
appreciation for the masters!

Another book that I got to thinking about that I read, and which had a
major impact on me, was "Into the Void." It is amazing what the human
form is capable of bringing onto themselves, and how tough,
enterprising, and foolish we can be, all at the same time! I love the
mountains, and the high places, but I decided that the technical
climbing was for someone else, though I enjoy randonee skiing totally!
TnT