Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
expeditions from around the world; Mike's problem was they always want them for
free.
'Alex was brilliant when it came to simplifying design to a minimalist size and
weight yet ensuring that it functioned as it was meant to do. What really impressed
me is that he could also look at the needs of other sports' specialisms and have a go
at designing for their requirements. That greatly endeared him to me.'
Understanding the needs of other sports included both making suggestions on
design and taking part. After just a couple of hours' instruction in Nordic skiing,
the following day Alex entered the König-Ludwig-Lauf, a forty-two kilometre race
in Oberammergau, and completed it. Alex told Mike about it. 'I was pretty much at
the back of the field until around thirty kilometres. Then I got the hang of it, and
began to overtake many surprised people right up to the finish line.'
Otto Wiedemann, head of training for the German guides association had given
Alex his Nordic ski lesson, so to return the favour, Alex took him up
Slav Route
on
Ben Nevis. Otto recalled the experience. 'We had one 8.8-millimetre rope, one
deadman for belays and a couple of ice screws. Watching Alex above climbing a
very steep gully on very thin ice with no protection, I could not help but wonder if
the run-out of snow in the gully beneath was long enough to eventually slow our
fall if Alex pulled me off?'
But Alex had no intention of falling off. He was in his comfort zone even if Otto
was not. Otto asked Alex after the climb how he had managed to stay in control in
such difficult conditions with no protection. Alex replied: 'I just switch off the usu-
al safety thinking and feeling. Protection is a relative concept at the best of times
and for the most part safety depends very much on the individual and his strength
of mind.'
Mike and I concluded our reminiscing about Alex's work at Karrimor with a dis-
cussion of the products that had been supplied by Mike to our expeditions togeth-
er: 'Sending equipment with your people on expediitions was a great responsibility
and a great worry for me. I trusted Alex to be part of their creation. I gave Alex
some basic training on our test machinery and then left him with my development
staff. The only proviso was that I would make the final check on all items he made
before he took them away. I remember going through the design and feel of the
very first rucksack he made, including the stitching, with a fine tooth comb to see if
I could find any weakness. There weren't any.'
Mike also appreciated the futuristic nature of Alex's vision, his ability to think
ahead. 'Looking back on that letter I received from Kathmandu, it strikes me how
prophetic he was, in particular about future media involvement. Remember that
letter arrived on my desk long before the internet, satellite phones, digital cameras
