Pico Cão Grande

[huinare]

Fonstad (Atlas of Middle Earth) posits that Orthanc was hewn into a volcanic plug.  Which seems very sensible.

Especially in light of Pico Cão Grande (São Tomé and Príncipe).  DUDE.

Comments

[huinare]

'ere. (Yeah I had to look it up too, and I was supposed to be a geography major...me and small islands were never on the clearest of terms..)

[engarian]

Oh wow, I never would have put that outside of continental Africa like that. It is really, really kewl though. I can't figure out why anyone in their right mind would want to climb this thing, though. I guess I just appreciate my feet solidly on the ground, not hoping that ropes will hold :-)

- Erulisse (one L)

[huinare]

One of my professors had (still has, one might hope and assume) a son who is an extreme rock climber--like, is actually featured in rock climbing magazines for climbing insanely sheer rocks without any ropes..

[engarian]

My cousin used to rock climb until he took a bad fall. He is no longer living, but I still remember my Aunt's reaction to the news. I have admired mountain and rock climbers for most of my life. In fact, I have two posters of Everest on one wall and a map of Antarctica on another in my computer room, so I like and admire adventurers. But this - going almost straight up - is absolutely frightening to me. Of course, I'm used to sandstone, so not very sturdy and prone to falling apart under your hands (or your feet if you are standing too close to the edge on a mesa top). I'm sure, since this is volcanic in origin, that this is much sturdier in nature.

- Erulisse (one L)

[huinare]

The fall is how he died? How terrible for your aunt. Yet at risk of sounding cliche, he passed doing something important to him..

I've always liked climbing around on stuff, but there is no way one could get me on a sheer rock face with no ropes. But yes, volcanic rock is much more solid. Rockfall would be the least of one's concerns at a steep angle.

[engarian]

No, he didn't die in the fall although he was badly injured. He went on to live many years of chemical and emotional abuse and finally died of a heart attack before he turned fifty from years of abuse. It was a kicker because he was the smartest of us all - awarded a full scholarship to Columbia University, qualified for a Fullbright scholarship, and other awards. But he never used his brain, preferring the bottom of a bottle or begging with his guitar on the street corner. Not good.

- Erulisse (one L)

[huinare]

Ohh.. That must have been difficult for your family to witness, I'm sorry.

[engarian]

It's history of long ago and certainly wasn't easy but affected my aunt and his sister far more than it did me.

He was my side of the family's issue, and my DH's brother was his side of the family's issue. There is always someone who just can't get their act together.

Most families have some tragedies associated with them and mine is no exception, especially when you dredge back into my own Jewish ancestry during WWII. So...having a cousin who could never get his act together wasn't the worst thing.

- Erulisse (one L)