Hi all,
Bill Wright here, posting to Homie's blog for the next few days, I hope.
It's a common thing for people to enjoy and somehow have an inflated sense of self-worth when you know famous, elite people. Even more so when you are friends with them. I take pride in being friends with Hans Florine, Roger and Bill Briggs, Greg LeMond, Buzz Burrell, though it shouldn't inflate my status one iota. Even being acquaintances with famous people is cool, though. I claim among my famous acquaintances Roger Briggs, Alex Honnold, Anton Krupicka, and Rolando Garibotti. My brother had Milton Friedman at his house and he rubs shoulder with countless famous people, including former presidents. It seems that just getting to meet these people somehow makes us feel better about ourselves, since these people have granted us some of their time.
With some famous people I have even more pride. I feel like I "discovered" Stefan Griebel and Stefan is one of the most amazing overall athletes I've ever known. I take great pride in calling him a close friend. But Homie is something else. I mentored this guy on his first mountain climbs, his first rock climbs, his first backpacking trips, his first glacier peaks. And now... now he is a superstar. He is attempting something now that is so far beyond what is possible for me that I barely have the frame of reference to realize how difficult it is. And this guy is one of my closest friends.
As I become older, weaker, slower, I have taken great interest in turning my efforts to helping my friends. Admittedly, this is selfish. What is the greater joy in life: getting a great gift or giving it? Receiving one I'm overcome with the tremendous feeling of being loved, but giving one is probably the greater joy, as that is the truer measure of the person you are. I received a lot during my life and I'm now turning my attention to balancing the books...
For Homie's attempt at the Colorado 14er record, I'll be his crew chief for the first five days. Out with a shoulder injury and unable to run or even use my right arm, I'll be little more than a chauffeur, but a critical, important chauffeur! I will also fill such important and satisfying roles as camp cook, maid, errand boy and cheerleader. My biggest fear is making a driving mistake or forgetting to fill up with gas or missing a critical detail. I know with the right support and good luck with the weather, Homie can break the record, which is daunting at 10 days, 20 hours, and 26 minutes. It involves climbing 58 summits over 14,000 feet, entailing 140,000 vertical feet of climbing, going continuously on an average of less than 4 hours of sleep per day. If you can't conceive of such a thing, don't worry, you're in good company. There aren't many people who can. I can't.
I'll post updates here, as my Internet connection allows. You should also be able to follow this progress on his SPOT page here:
Good luck to Homie!
Bill
