|
Mountaineering Experience - German Alpine Climbing Club - Climbing the World's Highest Mountains since 1850 *
* * |
* * *
* * *
|
"Quite
frankly, a
remarkable
feat."
On June 3, 2000 twelve-year-old Anna Purna from Hauenhorst and ten-year-old Moritz Herzog from Elte, members of the local Wadelheim Mountaineering Experience climbing club, finally arrived at the summit of the Waldhuegel. It was their seventeenth attempt. With a stunning elevation of more than 295 feet the Waldhuegel, situated south of Rheine, is one of the major mountain peaks in northwestern Germany. However, it is not part of the Teutoburger Wald, a mountain range some 20 km off to the northeast, also known as "The German Himalaya". The climb had started at 2 a.m. from Base Camp just above the Buehnertstrasse. From there the two young local mountaineers steadily proceeded to Advanced Base Camp, situated Am Hang, which is just below the treacherous north face. They topped out at 1.30 p.m., hugging each other and enjoying the terrific views. Both were back in Base Camp by 7.20 p.m., having lost not a single toe or finger to frostbite. Remarkably, they had insisted on climbing Alpine style, i.e. without fixed ropes or bottled oxygen. Asked what had helped them endure all this, Moritz Herzog said, "Well, I figure what was most important to us was Ed Viesturs' famous motto: Getting to the top is optional, getting down again is mandatory." Regarding their future climbing plans, Anna Purna replied only half-jokingly, "Jeez, after what we've been through on the Waldhuegel, El Capitan [Yosemite Valley, California] should be a cinch." * NOTE: The famous though somewhat rudimentary drawing was presumably made by Khumbu Norgay, a local Sherpa from Wadelheim, on the day of the ascent. |
* * *
| This is the only
photo of the ultimately successful Waldhuegel summit attempt. However, it remains a mystery who
actually took it; according to Johannes Krakauer, a well-known reporter from Mesum,
there was definitely no one else on the mountain at the time, let alone so
close to the summit.
Then again, this might possibly be another example of the so-called Third Man factor or Third Man syndrome, referring to situations where an unseen presence such as a "spirit" provided comfort or support during traumatic experiences. Among those who reported such experiences were famous people such as Ernest Shackleton, Reinhold Messner, and Peter Hillary. (cp. also The Third Man Factor by John Geiger) |
* * *
Support the Himalayan
Trust
founded by Sir Edmund
Hillary
* * *
|
|
* * *
© 2010-2011 by Bernd
Wahlbrinck, Home
of the Wadel, Germany.
This work /website, in its
entirety, is protected under the copyright laws of
the Federal Republic of Germany.
No part or
portion of the contents of this site can be
reproduced without written permission of the
author.
hügel berg bergsteiger bergsteigen sauerstoff aufstieg klettern gipfel lager basislager seil nordwand dritter mann dutum jumar erstbesteigung