This story isn't me, but my Dad's and it is so worth telling. To paraphrase his better in-person recollection:
My Dad and his two best buddies got together for a mini reunion. The three of them were 'old school' mountaineers and climbers in the most extreme sense; they put up first ascents in the Karakorum and Antarctica. One of them held five falling men on K2 - we'll call him 'The Eagle' -one did the west traverse of Everest - ' WT' for this story, and my dad tended to be the expedition leader. Around this time they were probably in their 70's and the three of them figured they had 150 years of mountaineering experience.
These three clowns decided to go for a simple day hike to - wait for it - 'Lake Serene'. Nothing to it. Just a few easy miles.
First they found that the trail was closed, but being who they were this didn't stop them one bit. Off they went bushwhacking. Then they got lost, but again, dauntless, they kept. Going. At one point WT was scrambling ahead up some steep incline, the others called out out to him. " It eases off after the next 15 feet!" WT hollered. Yup they kept going.
The Eagle said they'd run into a logging road which they could follow out, and sure enough they finally came to a clearing. Tramped down earth with a couple of beer cans strewn about. It must be the logging road....where is the exit....ah no. It was a helicopter landing site.They were scampering around the helicopter logging backcountry.
So they started bushwhacking down. The hours wore on, it was starting to get dark, they had brought no extra food or warm clothing or anything of extra use because all they were doing was hiking to Lake Serene. HA!
Further motivation to return in one piece was amplified by the fact that if these particular three had to be rescued, they would never, ever hear the end of it. Finally at dark they found their car, completely exhausted. They marveled that out of their combined 150 years of mountaineering experience, they managed to do literally EVERYTHING WRONG on a hike to a place with such a ridiculously gentle name.
On the drive out my dad said, " I'm never going out with you guys again!"
" Oh yes you will!" Retorted WT.
Dad: " And why is that?"
WT: " Because you're STUPID!"
Ahh friends.
I begged my Dad to submit this story to a magazine, my argument being it would make virtually everyone feel better about stupid stuff they've done. He never did so I'm sharing it here for all to enjoy.
