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AR is for \"Pathetic Little Boys\" ... An Irish View

Rob / 13.12.2002

After a press announcement from Brian Elliot on the Irish Championships came this swift and vitriolic response from Chris Avison, the Editor of’ Irish Mountain Log’ (the official publication of the Mountaineering Council of Ireland). It’s been published on the new Irish Championships site and they’ve asked for a response.

Dear Brian

Thanks for the PR and I checked your Web site. I think the whole concept of little boys following at high speed in the steps of the generations of big boys, who slowly explored and found the isolation and solitude for their enjoyment in the mountains, is pretty pathetic.

In these days of “let\'s play at adventure [and pay for the \"pleasure\"] activities\", can\'t you come up with something better than this? Walt Disney would have, that\'s for sure.

How many of your paying entrants will have biked or hiked, climbed and scaled peaks, cliffs and mountains to satisfy their sense of real adventure and exploration? Not many I\'m sure. You are only attracting the sheep who like to follow others in large flocks. Unfortunately, they are also the lambs being led to financial slaughter by the organisers of these gimmicky events and stunts.

If you want to accuse me of being old fashioned and elitist, you can because I am! But there are many others besides me who share the precepts of the UIAA Summit Charter and UN International Year of Mountains 2002.

Best wishes,
Chris Avison

Wow!

I’ll start a forum thread for comments and we can send the replies on to the MCI Press Officer and back to Chris Avison. Fire away!