Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
late style and we then climbed steep mixed ground in a couloir for a further four
pitches. That evening, we left any remaining equipment at the base and raced
down the glacier by the light of a full moon.
For two days we binged on food and daydreamed about anything except what
horrors the climb might hold. Rain and snow fell sporadically. In the dark hours,
our dreams were spotted with anxiety. Gusting gale-force winds roared unexpec-
tedly down from the mountains. I lay in my sleeping bag, kept awake by fear and
indigestion. Tomorrow we would start on the wall.
1. The tall chimneys and factories provided highly paid but difficult high access work for many Polish climbers. They came to Katowice for better
pay and to be part of the scene led by the rising star Jerzy Kukuczka.
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2. In 1976 on our way back from our winter exchange, our plane was routed from Warsaw via Krakow where on landing we skidded on sheet ice
off the runway into a frozen cow pasture. Looking down from the window, my eyes met a cow staring up at me with a 'not again' expression. On
entering the terminal building, we were told we must stay in the departure lounge until further notice. There was a snack bar selling food and
drink, but it only accepted zloty. All zloty had to be exchanged before entering the international lounge and this we had done in Warsaw. At the
bar in the lounge, we spotted a group of lads buying loads of beers and sandwiches with zloty. They were conversing in a mixture of Polish, Welsh
and English. The Burgesses struck up a conversation with them and soon we all had beers aplenty. They were a Polish-Welsh rugby team on tour
in Poland. When asked why they had so much zloty, they said they always kept some for emergencies should the plane be delayed or crash. Lesson
learned.
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3. Porters were paid double for double loads but nothing extra for two stages in a day. However, a double stage did mean they had a food and
bidi
allowance spare.
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