Rock of Ages Home for Old Climbers
This thread reminded me of a funny piece by Warren Harding titled, "Reflections of a Broken-down Climber". It was in a book titled, "The Armchair Mountaineer".
It starts with:
"As I sit on the veranda of my quarters at T. M. Herbert's Rock of Ages Home for Old Climbers, enjoying my graham crackers and warm milk, I think about the past eighteen years... my rise and fall as a rock climber... what a fine person I used to be... where did I go wrong?"
He then reminisces about his epic climb of El Capitan's Wall of the Early Morning Light, consuming great quantities of cheap wine, his opinion of Royal Robbins, to bolt or not to bolt, etc.
It finishes with:
"Perhaps this turned-off feeling will pass; the relaxed atmosphere in the foothill location of Rock of Ages is conducive to mending the soul. It's good to be in such fine company: Al Steck and Steve Roper sitting at a table playing checkers, mind and vision too dim to cope with the rigors of Chess... Chuck Pratt whiling away the hours conducting some imaginary symphony orchestra. Truly beautiful to see Earth Mothers, Jan and Beryl, bustling about in their long pioneer gowns, looking after the old fellows...
The sun is slowly sinking. Another day is drawing to a close. All the old climbers are putting away their toys and games, soon will be drifting off to their quarters to await the cheery call to dinner. Perhaps some of the more daring will have a small glass of Red Mountain.
I remain in my chair a bit longer - I try to probe further back through the years... before the Wall of the Early Morning Light... but it all seems like "I've seen this before"... always the good guys versus bad guys. Maybe I should have played cowboys and Indians; only trouble is, I'd surely have been an Indian!"
The book is full of short pieces by many famous and infamous climbers.
