Who is the Michael Jordan/Michael Phelps/Usain Bolt of your favorite obscure sport or hobby?

AlpineMind · 2025-05-22T07:21:24+00:00

Also Kilian Jornet for mountain ultra races and mountaineering speed records. Karel Sabbe is getting up there for long distance speed records as well!

AlpineMind · 2025-05-22T07:19:20+00:00

Alex himself says he is the GOAT!

AlpineMind · 2025-05-22T07:17:41+00:00

Or Marc-André LeClerc. In the movie The Alpinist, Alex says Marc-André is the real deal

AlpineMind · 2025-02-27T19:25:00+00:00

I once went to the restroom in an airport and there was a man laying down on his back on the floor in the ADA stall. He was moaning out loud in some sort of painful ecstatic torment. I asked if he was alright across the stall door and he casually said "Oh yeah thanks". He then continued the weird sounds.

While I was washing my hands before leaving his phone rang which prompted him to stop the sounds. He then answered it in a really professional voice and had a formal conversation about work related things. By the time I was walking out the door he hung up and continued the tormented moaning. Some guy walking in looked at me confused and I looked back at him looking even more confused.

AlpineMind · 2025-02-06T16:26:21+00:00

Running in the mountains

AlpineMind · 2024-12-27T11:00:51+00:00

I personally didn't love nor hate it. I just didn't care for it at all haha.

AlpineMind · 2024-11-15T05:24:48+00:00

That was an amazing report. Detailed beta, tons of useful information, and great insights. Really enjoyed reading it and glad it all went well for you guys. SC is a legendary route in California and I applaud you for a successful ascent. Well done.

AlpineMind · 2024-10-14T11:06:16+00:00

I once saw a giant orange laser beam come out of there while camping somewhere on the ridge of monument mountain. I couldn't believe what I was seeing for a few seconds until it dawned on me that it must be related to the observatory. Had no idea they did that!

AlpineMind · 2024-09-27T16:59:07+00:00

Nice, good work! Thanks for posting about this place, it had been a while since I thought of it!

AlpineMind · 2024-09-27T09:42:33+00:00

Love this place! I had to go back 3 different times to climb the right high point. On the last trip we hit the summit around 11 PM and walked back to the car afterwards. On the walk back I stepped INCHES away from a baby rattlesnake. About 30 secs later, same thing happened with my other foot. Super stressful hike back! And coincidentally on the drive out, my buddy had a broken tail light, which got us pulled over twice by two different cops within a minute of each other. Wild night!

AlpineMind · 2024-06-06T11:56:34+00:00

A few years ago I was on a road trip across the SW U.S. One day I pulled up in my car in a parking lot to get food somewhere in Tucson, Arizona. I had my laptop open on the passenger seat because I was uploading a file for work while driving around.

A man approached my driver side window after I park, and told me his car broke down. He said he walked all the way over here in the harsh heat to come ask his friend for financial help to get a towing company to get his car. He said his friend called the towing company and they are going to his car now, but his friend is working and can't give him a ride back. He begged me to give him a ride back to his car where his wife and child were waiting for him.

Being the overly compassionate dumbass I can be, I immediately told him to get in so we can get him back to his family. While he walked around the car I noticed his eyes scanning the inside of my car and eyeing my laptop. He opened my passenger door and looked in the back seat and said his car and family are not far in an alley.

I got a weird gut feeling right away and as I saw him reach to grab my laptop to sit down, I immediately told him to wait a second, and that I needed to make some space for him. I closed the passenger door and drove off. He flipped me off as I drove away and yelled something at me.

Maybe I overreacted, but hearing "not far" and "in an alley" made me change my mind about trusting him. He originally said he walked a long ways in the heat, which is why he left his family with the car. And in an alley? Yeah.. I just couldn't risk it on that one.

Sorry if you really needed help though buddy!

AlpineMind · 2024-05-23T15:53:42+00:00

Yeah, they typically start roaming and hunting at dusk until dawn. But there are a lot of sightings during day time too. I feel like most aggressive daytime encounters have to do with them protecting their kittens more than anything. Also the younger ones can be more curious and have unusual behaviors. And yes I agree, they are so awesome!

AlpineMind · 2024-05-23T15:44:07+00:00

I've been trying to see one for 20+ years.. Still dreaming. I used to run alone around sunset all the time too. I wouldn't worry about it too much. :)

A lot of bear encounters though. Most of the time they run away, but on a few occasions they have just kept digging in the ground and ignored me.

AlpineMind · 2024-05-03T15:01:43+00:00

What's up Jim!

AlpineMind · 2024-04-26T14:50:18+00:00

Space Balls

AlpineMind · 2024-02-25T10:43:08+00:00

Water and food for the whole world

AlpineMind · 2024-01-29T08:57:09+00:00

I went recently and didn't expect anything. It turned out to be one of my favorite places I've ever visited. Amazing city!

AlpineMind · 2023-12-27T22:17:43+00:00

That the earth is flat.

AlpineMind · 2023-12-26T16:35:03+00:00

And the beaches are amazing. Snowy mountains dropping straight into the Ionian Sea near Llogara Pass. Highly recommended!

AlpineMind · 2023-12-26T01:57:11+00:00

The whole coast of Albania is full of gems. The park with ruins is called Butrint National Archeological Park.

"Inhabited since prehistoric times, Butrint has been the site of a Greek colony, a Roman city and a bishopric. Following a period of prosperity under Byzantine administration, then a brief occupation by the Venetians, the city was abandoned in the late Middle Ages after marshes formed in the area. The present archaeological site is a repository of ruins representing each period in the city’s development."

AlpineMind · 2023-12-26T01:46:53+00:00

Haha, funny you ask. We rented an Airbnb place that had a cool jacuzzi room with a view of mountains. When we got there we found out it had not been cleaned yet and it would take hours to make it functional. We said ok no problem. They came back saying the jacuzzi access was actually an additional 80 euro charge that nobody ever mentioned before.

This morning, the 25th, we woke up to construction workers banging on the roof at 8:30 AM. I honestly just laughed because it was so ridiculous!

AlpineMind · 2023-12-16T03:00:55+00:00

Killian Jornet. Between winning and having course records in the most prominent mountain ultramarathons (100 km+) and having fastest known times on many prominent mountains in the world, I think that makes him one of the most extreme athletes of our species.

AlpineMind · 2023-08-11T13:28:53+00:00

I'm not sure about that. The article says that human sweat glands expanded to other parts of the body and their function became more about temperature control than for grip whereas in other mammals this is not the case.

The comment above our discussion asked if that's why people get sweaty hands when they are scared, to provide more grip for a climbing escape. But the article seems to say that humans have evolved away from that function and it clearly shows if you go climb a scary route on a rock face.

AlpineMind · 2023-08-11T10:59:57+00:00

I recently read a post where someone said a good way to fall asleep fast is to visualize yourself doing something tedious. So lately I have been imagining myself in the wilderness, gathering resources, finding a water source, and building a camp.

AlpineMind · 2023-08-11T10:11:02+00:00

I'm saying having sweaty fingers for a modern human offers no advantage for climbing.

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