Here's a picture of Campy, my ol' penpal.
He was climbing mountains before I was even a glimmer in my mother's eye.
He's the guy who started a very recently defunct climbing gear company, the likes of which the world had never seen before, and probably never will see again. He could sell gear cheaper than anyone, which kinda teed off some of his would-be competition, I guess... anyhow, it's all gone now, but y'know, that's just part of a new millenium. I guess.
(Rest in Peace, Mtn High Ltd!!!)
So let me tell you what I know about Campy, besides having only actually seen him in person once, but having been a penpal since about 1983...
When I was aspiring to become a mountaineer, and my vision clearly surpassed my experience, it was Campy who advised me in many a subtle word, about the ways of education in the mountains. From time to time, I would send him cartoons about the numerous misadventures I learned from in those early days. In fact, when ever I ordered gear from MHL, I sent a cartoon, for which he would feed me kudos, laughter & thanks, which made me belch out cartoon after cartoon in response.
Would you believe that back in those early days of the 80's, any schmuck with a pen and paper could get an interesting article, or even a cartoon, published in such rags as Climbing, or Rock & Ice, or Summit?? Unbelievable, but true! Thanks to Campy's encouragement, and who knows, maybe a good word here and there, I had a couple of cartoons published in Rock & Ice magazine. This little push he gave me has even gotten me a number of spots in Journal of Nursing Jocularity.
There's another one of Campy's Cartoonists on the Web.
Hollan Holmes, creator of Ricky Rock Rat, has a website wherein one can link to Ricky, get cool graphics, and even some T-shirts bearing the Famous Rat's likeness. Ricky was The Chosen One to represent Mountain High Limited. I strongly urge anyone reading this to
CHECK OUT RICKY ROCK RAT!!!
There are so many other amazing things about Campy. He has a history as a climber that is both beautiful and sublime, of which I don't know the half of. He's been to high altitude (naturally!), he's been in Death Valley, and he's built a duck pond. (I know that sounds strange... but...)
One day I recieved a postcard from one of his best friends, a man of whom I know more with regard to the climbs he has done than I know of my own penpal. Campy's friend has an illustrious, highly-publicized alpine and super-alpine career. His friend, with Herman Buhl, and two other Austrians made the first ascent of Broad Peak in the Karakoram Range back in 1957. I think it was Campy's friend who first completed the entire Peuterey Ridge on Mont Blanc. And Campy's friend also survived the terrible storms of 1986 on K2. Imagine my delight when I beheld the very signature of Kurt Diemberger on the postcard. Somehow, it brought me closer to a whole generation of veritable gods. It made me realize how closely related each one of us is to one another on this Earth.
When ever I ask Campy about his climbing career, he doesn't give me the kind of yarn I'm looking for. In fact, he's downright low-key about it, to the point of short, sparing sentences, nonspecific non-details, and a far-away look in the eyes. I guess you might say he's quite good at telling a cliffhanger story.
Hey! It's almost breakfast time. Quick: take a hike up that mountain that's practically in the back yard. Yeah, that one, that 13er... we'll be back way before the eggs're cold...
(Oh. You must be spending the morning at C & Ski's...)
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