MOUNTAINEERING QUOTE OF THE WEEK

No doubt Santa is going to bring each fossil some more gear in the next 36 hours. Never forget, it was our antiquated gear that gave us the name Fossils. These days though it is safe to say, our gear is more hi-tech than it used to be ... Gore-tex, wire gate biners, specters, as well as super-light ropes, tents, packs, and boots. So, please let's not forget our roots; swami belts, 70cm axes, and leather boots.

The quote today comes from Harold Raeburn, a Scottish hardman of the late 1880s and early 1900s. He put up many rock routes on Ben Nevis, the first winter ascent of Observatory Ridge, and he was the climbing leader on the 1921 Everest recon.

"Think of everything you could want on a climbing expedition, say, of thirty hours. Cut out from this all you think might be fairly easily dispensed with. Take with you 50% of the remainder."