Comments on: Carbon Tromping with the Sierra Club http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/12/14/carbon-tromping-with-the-sierra-club/ Author James Bovard Tue, 22 May 2012 19:50:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/12/14/carbon-tromping-with-the-sierra-club/#comment-122370 Jim Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:10:22 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=1346#comment-122370 Always good to see someone who gives Petrarch proper respect! As for southern France being the land of heretics - I should try to dig further to learn where in France my kinfolk originated.... A shame to waste a few ounces of good booze, but if that's easier than carrying it back down the mountain..... Always good to see someone who gives Petrarch proper respect!

As for southern France being the land of heretics - I should try to dig further to learn where in France my kinfolk originated….

A shame to waste a few ounces of good booze, but if that’s easier than carrying it back down the mountain…..

]]> By: Larry http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/12/14/carbon-tromping-with-the-sierra-club/#comment-122367 Larry Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:52:50 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=1346#comment-122367 Don't worry, Jim, I don't make a habit of climbing at 14K. It was supposed to be a lark. The secret is tto hyperventilate the entire time to avoid speeding up the heart rate. Otherwise, a passerby might think you are channeling Bush/Cheney/McCain/Obama at one of their greatly "excited" moments--such as when they contemplate the prospect of war-making or lying to the American public (or better yet, both!). At Whitney, to commemorate Petrarch's 14th-century ascent of Mt. Ventoux, I toasted my hiking partner with some Pernot (yes, to southern France, land of the heretics). And in further sycophantic imitation of Petrarch, I pulled out my volume 2 of Augustine's Confessions (despite his nasty support for the persecution of heretics in Africa) and read the first thing that my eyes fell upon--getting a message similar to Petrarch's: basically, "look inwardly instead of at the wonders around you." At 14,000 feet with lots of cliffs and places to fall, I promptly ignored this advice to make my descent. Sadly, the abstemious climbers on Whitney did not want to share the libations (we had extra). Having been raised as a Catholic, I was tempted to become drunk on the few ounces left, but as this was a hazard, I simply baptized one of the millions of rocks at the summit. It did not say "thank you." Don’t worry, Jim, I don’t make a habit of climbing at 14K. It was supposed to be a lark. The secret is tto hyperventilate the entire time to avoid speeding up the heart rate. Otherwise, a passerby might think you are channeling Bush/Cheney/McCain/Obama at one of their greatly “excited” moments–such as when they contemplate the prospect of war-making or lying to the American public (or better yet, both!).

At Whitney, to commemorate Petrarch’s 14th-century ascent of Mt. Ventoux, I toasted my hiking partner with some Pernot (yes, to southern France, land of the heretics). And in further sycophantic imitation of Petrarch, I pulled out my volume 2 of Augustine’s Confessions (despite his nasty support for the persecution of heretics in Africa) and read the first thing that my eyes fell upon–getting a message similar to Petrarch’s: basically, “look inwardly instead of at the wonders around you.” At 14,000 feet with lots of cliffs and places to fall, I promptly ignored this advice to make my descent. Sadly, the abstemious climbers on Whitney did not want to share the libations (we had extra). Having been raised as a Catholic, I was tempted to become drunk on the few ounces left, but as this was a hazard, I simply baptized one of the millions of rocks at the summit. It did not say “thank you.”

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/12/14/carbon-tromping-with-the-sierra-club/#comment-122366 Jim Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:25:29 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=1346#comment-122366 Larry - Actually, I usually wear boots on those kind of hikes - just in case there are any lawyers that need to receive a citation. If you're hiking 14,000 foot mountains, you're in far better shape than me. Heck, the last time I climbed a 10,000 foot mountain - out in Montana - the air was so thin I voluntarily abstained from the stogie. Larry - Actually, I usually wear boots on those kind of hikes - just in case there are any lawyers that need to receive a citation.

If you’re hiking 14,000 foot mountains, you’re in far better shape than me. Heck, the last time I climbed a 10,000 foot mountain - out in Montana - the air was so thin I voluntarily abstained from the stogie.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/12/14/carbon-tromping-with-the-sierra-club/#comment-122365 Jim Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:23:17 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=1346#comment-122365 Dirk - cigars also are 100% effective against prosletyzers, theological and political. Dirk - cigars also are 100% effective against prosletyzers, theological and political.

]]> By: Dirk W. Sabin http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/12/14/carbon-tromping-with-the-sierra-club/#comment-122361 Dirk W. Sabin Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:42:17 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=1346#comment-122361 Cigars are a 100% organic Tick Repellant...and, it would seem they repel nitwits as well. As a supporter of Connecticut Jobs, I smoke as many as possible to do my part Cigars are a 100% organic Tick Repellant…and, it would seem they repel nitwits as well. As a supporter of Connecticut Jobs, I smoke as many as possible to do my part

]]> By: Lawrence http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/12/14/carbon-tromping-with-the-sierra-club/#comment-122360 Lawrence Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:38:23 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=1346#comment-122360 Hi, Jim: Very nice and clear shots. Although you were making a joke to your SC friend, I, too, prefer tennis shoes to boots for a hike. I can't see getting WAY SERIOUS when we take a walk. I recently climbed (and descended) Mt. Whitney in a day, and it is probably the only walk I've taken where ankle-length booties were needed. When I lived near NYC, I, too, used to accompany the SC members on local hikes. PS: while climbing Whitney, it is rare to hear anyone carrying on a conversation of any length because the altitude causes one to be out of breath. You have one guess, however, about the profession of a group of hikers (they didn't reach the top) who carried on a non-stop conversation in the most impressive way for what seemed an incredible lengthe of time: lawyers! Hi, Jim:
Very nice and clear shots. Although you were making a joke to your SC friend, I, too, prefer tennis shoes to boots for a hike. I can’t see getting WAY SERIOUS when we take a walk. I recently climbed (and descended) Mt. Whitney in a day, and it is probably the only walk I’ve taken where ankle-length booties were needed. When I lived near NYC, I, too, used to accompany the SC members on local hikes. PS: while climbing Whitney, it is rare to hear anyone carrying on a conversation of any length because the altitude causes one to be out of breath. You have one guess, however, about the profession of a group of hikers (they didn’t reach the top) who carried on a non-stop conversation in the most impressive way for what seemed an incredible lengthe of time: lawyers!

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