Ripcord Adventure Journal 1.2 Second Edition
In this issue, our second, we venture widely in our quest to find great adventures. From an article written and sent from Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica we venture along the Omo River to meet Ethiopian tribes who are holding on to their authentic way-of-life in the face of commercialisation and tourism. We send a couch potato to climb Mount Fuji in Japan while others wander the ancient Roman roads in Transylvania, venture up Mount Toubkal and taste wondrous epicurean delights in Morocco. Finally we hear of the exploits of the explorer Charles Howard-Bury and the Everest Reconnaissance expedition
In this issue, our second, we venture widely in our quest to find great adventures. From an article written and sent from Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica we venture along the Omo River to meet Ethiopian tribes who are holding on to their authentic way-of-life in the face of commercialisation and tourism. We send a couch potato to climb Mount Fuji in Japan while others wander the ancient Roman roads in Transylvania, venture up Mount Toubkal and taste wondrous epicurean delights in Morocco. Finally we hear of the exploits of the explorer Charles Howard-Bury and the Everest Reconnaissance expedition
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Hammam<br />
Siffy Torkildson<br />
only donkeys, for my father. The lady bought a car, my first sale, and<br />
after that I told everyone the same donkey story.”<br />
His rotund belly shakes as he explodes in laughter. Karim is<br />
likeable, in a raffish kind of way, and I can tell he is faithful to his<br />
family and friends. Tor likes Karim, yet, keeps a close eye on him<br />
and corrects him when he embellishes the history of Morocco or the<br />
Koran. This seems to trouble Karim, as a large part of his success as<br />
a tour guide, is based on his authoritative persona. Karim is a driven<br />
man with his sights set on success. The thing I like best about Karim<br />
is that he makes me laugh.<br />
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA<br />
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA<br />
The olive and orange trees are replaced by apple and walnut trees as<br />
we travel up into the mountains. It starts to rain lightly and there is<br />
a wonderful fragrance in the air. Imlil is the gateway town for our<br />
ascent of Mount Toubkal.<br />
Mud houses on the upper reaches of the village remind me of my<br />
visit to the Himalaya the previous year and I am told the movie<br />
Seven Years in Tibet was filmed here. When I saw the movie many<br />
years ago, I thought of Tor, even though I hadn’t seen him in over<br />
twelve years then. Brad Pitt’s character, Heinrich Harrer, reminded<br />
me of Tor, with his toughness, adventurous spirit, interest in<br />
Buddhism and the Himalaya Mountains. Even Pitt’s looks, such as<br />
his thick lower lip and sandy blonde hair reminded me of Tor. Tor is<br />
a tall burly man with crystal blue eyes, wide nose and gapped teeth<br />
(he would cringe if he read this).<br />
This is Karim’s first time on a major climb and he is a little nervous.<br />
He wears a used backpack he purchased in Seattle, hiking books<br />
from Tor, and a pair of trekking poles borrowed from a local guide<br />
in Imlil. Karim is certainly geared up, yet does not fit the image of a<br />
mountain climber. I notice Tor eyeing him up and down with a<br />
smirk on his face. “Off we go in to the wild blue yonder, off we go in<br />
to the sky.” Tor sings his mountain mantra and sets off at his usual<br />
fast pace.<br />
In the morning the five of us hike up the trail, which begins as a dirt<br />
road. I wear my silk hiking skirt and I feel a kinship with Karim as<br />
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