Mountaineer
By Tim Clifford Illustrated By Ken Hooper Colored By Lance Borde
Vero Beach, Florida 32964
© 2010 Rourke Publishing LLC All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher. www.rourkepublishing.com PHOTO CREDITS: © aeropw: Title page, pages 4, 5, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32; © filonmar: © ProPhotos: pages 4, 5, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 Edited by Katherine M. Thal Illustrated by Ken Hooper Colored by Lance Borde Art Direction and Page Layout by Renee Brady Photo Credits: © Philippe Widling: Title Page; 4, 5, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32; © filonmar: 4, 5, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32; © Claudio Baldini: 4, 5, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32; © David Samindl: 26; © Stuart Murchinson: 28, 29; © Associated Press: 28
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Clifford, Tim, 1959Mountaineer / Tim Clifford. p. cm. -- (Jobs that rock graphic illustrated) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-60694-373-1 (alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-60694-556-8 (soft cover) 1. Mountaineering--Comic books, strips,etc. 2. Mountaineering--Vocational guidance--Juvenile literature. 3. Mountaineering--Juvenile literature. I. Title. GV200.C583 2010 796.522--dc22 2009020483
Printed in the USA CG/CG
www.rourkepublishing.com -
[email protected] Post Office Box 643328 Vero Beach, Florida 32964
Table of Contents
Meet the Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Chapter 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Discover More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Websites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
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Meet the characters
Joe Hudson Joe is a mountaineer and Libby’s father.
Libby Hudson Libby is an experienced climber and Joe’s daughter.
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Susan Clark Susan is Andy and Tessie’s mom. She takes them on a mountain climbing vacation.
Andy Clark Andy, Susan’s 12-year-old son, is excited to go on a mountain climbing adventure.
Tessie Clark Tessie, Susan’s 9-year-old daughter, is better at following rules than her brother.
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chapter 1 The Clarks arrive at Mount Elbert in Colorado for a weekend getaway.
Isn’t it great, kids? Have you ever seen anything like it?
It’s huge! How soon before we can climb it?
Don’t worry, honey. We’re not going all the way up. We’re just beginners.
We’re going to climb that???
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Here's the mountaineer's cabin!
FINALLY! Let’s get moving! Hold your horses, mister. First, help me move all this gear into the cabin. Oh, brother!
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Whoa, young man. Just where are you running to?
...here!
I’m here to climb!
Hello, Mrs. Clark. I'm Joe Hudson, your mountain guide. By yourself?
No, I’m here with my family. They’re right…
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Nice to meet you. This is my daughter, Tessie. I see you’ve already met my son Andy.
Hello, Tessie. The first thing you and Andy need to learn about mountain climbing is that we always work together as a team.
Tell that to my brother!
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No, you aren’t. Well, if that’s all settled, let’s go! I’m ready to climb!
You're looking at Mount Elbert. It's over 14,000 feet high. It might not be cold and snowy down here, but up there the weather changes rapidly.
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It can be dangerous. You have to know what you're doing.
How long will it take to learn? I want to get to the top!
We'll climb a few thousand feet up the mountain on your first trip, and then we'll camp out overnight.
Meet my partner, Libby. She's our safety instructor.
Andy's going to love having to listen to a girl!
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I’m Libby, Mrs. Clark. It’s nice to meet you.
My pleasure.
You’re the safety instructor? Yes, I am. But you’re a girl!
I sure hope so! She’s my daughter. She’s also an expert mountaineer. She started to climb almost as soon as she could walk.
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That’s so cool!
That’s so wrong!
I’ve been doing this for two years now. She’s such a good instructor that no one,
…and I mean NO ONE, gets to climb until Libby says they’re ready.
Oh, all right.
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chapter 2
Libby begins the safety lecture.
The most important thing in mountain climbing is teamwork.
We’ll all be connected to a single rope. We’ll need to depend on it, and each other, to make a successful climb.
This diagram will help you understand a basic climbing technique called belaying. The belayer connects himself to an anchor, while the climber goes up the mountain. By controlling the ropes properly, the belayer can stop a fall.
climber
Looks easy. Can we get started? Sure, in about an hour. That is, if you're paying attention. It will take longer if you don't.
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belayer
About one hour later...
Andy! Wake up!
Andy! I hope you heard everything!
And that’s how we use friction on the rope to rappel, or descend, down the mountain. Any questions? Yes. Is it over yet?
So, what’s the verdict? Are they ready to climb?
I think so. But let’s keep a close eye on Andy, just in case.
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chapter 3 The family begins their climb with their instructors at the base of the mountain.
Let’s get going! Remember, we need to keep an eye on each other and follow all of the safety instructions.
Need me to go over anything before we start? No. I bet I'm a faster climber than you!
The higher up we go, the steeper the climb will be. And the colder it gets.
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Come on, Tessie.
I guess we’ll have to be content trailing behind the great Andy.
Last one to the top peak is a rotten egg!
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On Mount Elbert...
Well, we made it! Good work, everyone! Let’s set up camp. Libby, you help Andy and Tessie set up one tent, and I’ll set up the other with Mrs. Clark.
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Psst...Tessie. Want to go climbing later while everyone is asleep? I didn't come this far to sit around roasting marshmallows.
We have climbed high enough for this trip, and it's too dark and too cold to go any further.
Remember, we do everything as a team. Tomorrow we'll descend the mountain together.
I should have figured a girl would be too scared to try.
I’m not scared. I’m smart. I hope you listen to me. Good night.
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chapter 4 Despite the warning, Andy decides to continue the climb alone.
I’ll show her! Hey, this is easy! At this rate, I’ll make it to the top in no time.
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My hands are so cold! I don’t know if I can hold on much longer! If I can just make it up to this ledge…
Owww…my leg!
HELP!
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H E LP! Maybe I should tell dad.
Andy must have gone climbing alone. I hope he is ok.
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P! L E H
You can stop shouting now. I’m here. Help me up onto the ledge!
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I know you are hurting, but your leg looks fine.
Let it be a lesson for you. You shouldn’t have broken the first rule of mountaineering.
That's true. But two wrongs don't make a right. You could have been seriously injured or worse. It's easy to get disoriented at night. But look! We're actually very close to the campsite!
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You mean I could have gotten back all by myself?
Wait a minute. You didn’t follow the rules either. You came alone!
The fastest way back to camp is to rappel down. Are you up for a little teamwork, Andy?
chapter 5 Hi, mom! Can I carry your gear to the car?
The next morning, the Clarks are packed and ready to return home.
Well, Mrs. Clark, how did you enjoy mountain climbing?
It was quite an experience. And it seems to have had an amazing effect on Andy!
Wow! It looks like Andy has changed!
I love it when we work as a team. The mountain can be a pretty good teacher. I’d say the mountain isn’t the only good teacher around here.
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discover more Getting Outfitted for a Climb No matter what the weather conditions, it’s important to have the right clothing before you attempt any kind of mountain climbing. Here is some of the gear you might need. Remember, the higher you climb, the colder it gets!
helmet
backpack
jacket harness rope gaiters
climbing boots
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backpack: This holds all of your gear. Make sure it is lightweight enough to carry. climbing boots: A stiff boot helps you climb along ledges. Boots should be waterproof and comfortable. gaiters: Gaiters can help prevent snow and rain from getting into your boots. Gaiters also help protect your feet from the spikes on crampons. harness: A harness is a safety belt with leg loops and sometimes shoulder straps as well. The harness gives you a safe, comfortable way to be tied to your rope. helmet: Made of hard plastic, a climbing helmet not only protects your head if you fall, but it also protects your head from falling rocks and other debris when you are climbing. It is important to wear a helmet that is specifically designed for climbing. jacket: A jacket made of a warm material, such as synthetic fleece, is a must. Wear layers of clothing under your jacket to help keep in body heat. Next to your skin, wear a layer of special fabric that keeps moisture away. rope: Made of sturdy nylon, ropes are one of the essential tools for mountaineering. Ropes allow you to be attached to other climbers and to the cliff you are climbing. Also, they will keep you from hitting the ground if you should fall. 27
Climbing the World’s Highest Mountain Mountaineers love a challenge. The greatest challenge of them all is climbing Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. Mount Everest is part of the Himalayan Mountains and lies on the border of Tibet, China and Nepal. Only about 2,500 Mount Everest is 29,028 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level at courageous climbers its peak. have ever made it to the top of Mount Everest. The first to ever set foot on the summit was Sir Edmund Hillary, a mountaineer from New Zealand. Along with fellow climber Tenzig Norgay, he reached the peak on May 29, 1953. Sir Edmond Hillary was 33 when he reached the summit of Mount Everest. Before this achievement, which brought him great fame, he was a beekeeper in Auckland, New Zealand. 28
You don’t need to be an expert climber to try to reach the top of Everest. You can hire guides to help you. But you’d better have very deep pockets, because a The weather at the top of Everest is permit to climb the never reliable. A snowstorm can mountain can cost as come up without a moment’s notice. much as $25,000! Along with the cost of guides, transportation, and equipment, climbing Everest can be as costly as it is dangerous.
Websites pbskids.org/kws/sports/mountaineering.html www.everest1953.co.uk www.beaconclimbing.com/index.php www.theuiaa.org
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glossary anchor (ANG-kur): An anchor is a device that holds something in place. In mountaineering, an anchor holds the rope securely to the side of the mountain. crampons (KRAMP-ons): Crampons are strapped to boots. They have spikes that help the climber’s feet grip slippery ice. descend (di-SEND): When you descend, you climb down. As you descend a mountain, you go from a higher level to a lower level. disoriented (diss-OR-ee-uhnt-ed): A person who is disoriented is confused, especially about the direction he or she is going in. friction (FRIK-shuhn): Friction is the force that slows down objects when they rub against each other. gaiters (GEY-ters): Gaiters are pieces of clothing worn over boots. They are usually used for protection. For mountaineers, gaiters help protect the feet from the spikes on crampons. gear (GIHR): Any kind of equipment or clothing is a type of gear. Mountaineers use their own special gear to help them climb. mountaineer (moun-tuh-NIHR): A person who climbs mountains for sport is a mountaineer.
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peak (PEEK): The highest point of a mountain.The goal of a mountaineer is to reach the peak of the mountain. summit (SUHM-it): The highest point of a mountain is called the summit. Sometimes it is also called the peak. technique (tek-NEEK): A technique is a way of doing something that requires skill. Mountaineers must use certain techniques to climb safely.
index anchor 14 belaying 14 cabin 7 campsite 24 climbing 5, 9, 14, 19, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 Colorado 6 crampons 27 Hillary, Sir Edmund 28 Himalayan Mountains 28
Mount Elbert 6, 10, 18 Mount Everest 28 Nepal 28 Norgay, Tenzig 28 rappel 15, 24 rules 24 safety lecture 14 teamwork 14, 24 Tibet 28
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about the author Tim Clifford is an education writer and the author of many nonfiction children’s books. He has two wonderful daughters and two energetic Border Collies that he adopted from a shelter. Tim became a vegetarian because of his love for animals. He is also a computer nut and a sports fanatic. He lives and works in New York City as a public school teacher.
about the artists Ken Hooper has been a professional artist since 1985 when he embarked on a career in comics. His list of comic art include Swamp Thing, Aquaman, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Elfquest, and Primal Force, to name a few. Lance Borde earned his degree in English and Fine Arts through the university system in his home state of California. His career includes work in the arts and in graphics and design.
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