Chapter 4 2

April 11, 1914 Golf Weatherford Inn North West Wales, Snowdonia * At four o'clock in the morning, everyone was asleep except Price.He went to bed after the shower, opened the curtains, and opened his eyes every few hours to watch the crescent moon on the side of the mountain and see where it went.The Chamonix guide in Switzerland doesn't look at a clock when he sets out early in the morning, and neither does he. Last night, the piano downstairs was still playing past midnight, and then the piano stopped playing, but the sound downstairs could still be heard.Price could hear who was speaking and had some idea of ​​what was being said, with the occasional crash and laughter.Finally, those people gradually lowered the volume, and he fell asleep, and dreamed as soon as he fell asleep.In the dream he walked into his father's house in Cheshire, still wearing his hiking boots and the studs still scraping the floor.Walking into the dining room, I found that the whole family was there, father, mother, brother, and my sister Bello who passed away six years ago.Mom was in evening gown, Dad was wearing a white tie, but Price was in full hiking gear, with snow on his coat and hat.They told him to sit down to eat, and Price looked at Bello, who opened her mouth to speak when he woke up.

Price didn't turn on the light, and put on his clothes and leggings in the dark, trying to keep his pupils dilated so that he could see clearly in the mountains.The hemp rope wrapped around the feet of the two beds was still wet. He rolled up the rope and hung it on his shoulders. Wearing only socks and no shoes, he walked out of the door gently and walked into the next room. Ashley was lying on his side on the bed, his mouth was open, and his forehead was covered with unkempt hair.Price shook his shoulder lightly, and he only turned his head, not waking up.Price pulled back the blanket, and Ashley curled up facing the wall, fully dressed in half trousers and a Shetland wool sweater.

Did you go to sleep after getting your equipment ready? Ashley grabbed back the blanket, eyes still closed. You come too fucking early every time! So is the sun. Price picked up his backpack, and the two met in the downstairs foyer.There were a lot of boots lying on the parquet floor, and Ashley picked them up one by one and brought them up to him, each looking the same except for the style of the studs. Damn, two left feet, I don't know which one is mine. Either way. Price lit a candle, and he and Ashley groped in the shoe pile for a long time, finally finding his own shoes.Ashley put on his Norfolk coat,3 Price put on his deformed hat, and opened the door to let in a gust of cold wind.

3. In the 1860s, it became popular among high-society sports enthusiasts in England. It is single-breasted, with creases on the front and back, and a belt around the waist. "That's the coldest time of the night," Price said. He walked briskly, as usual, up the Whitestone Path, a miners' walk that winds its way up the hill.Ashley followed a few steps, wrapping his scarf around his neck.They walked along the edge of the narrow lake, which shone silver under the stars.Price looked back at Ashley. Who is the last to sleep? It should be Fraser and Corson.David, brothers.They were still on the rafters when I went to bed.

Still playing climbing rope in the competition? That's right. After another lake, there is a steeper trail that leads to a broad couloir.There was a faint light of dawn behind the mountains in the east, but it was still dark on the big cliffs in the north.Price left the trail, and the slope got steeper and steeper until the two of them came to the east side of the thousand-foot cliff, below the towering twin peaks and the face of the mountain.They intend to cross this cliff. Price said: "It's still a little snowy. He unrolled the rope he carried, and the water on the rope had already frosted.Price took off the gloves and ran the strings, then tied them to his belt.Ashley also tied the rope, and then looped the rope around the firm boulders, leaving some room for Price to pull across a stone crevice and lightly step over the snow-covered cobblestones in the smooth gully.

They moved quickly, and Price moved like a piece of milky white quartz, moving rhythmically, shouting behind him from time to time. Hold on tight, it's wet in here It's very cold, don't touch the slate below Please, loosen the rope, Ashley! Ashley went first on the next section, and they took turns taking the lead in this way, one of them moved westward across the cliff on a very small foothold, and the other was responsible for securing it.The rocks are icy and melt water in the sun.Neither of them wore gloves, their fingers turned white from the cold, and they had to stop to wipe the blood from their hands from time to time.

They rested briefly on a small flat piece of quartz, and Price lit his pipe.The howling wind pulls clouds and mist across the valley, and the scenery is very magnificent.Suddenly, the sun illuminated the entire Snowdon Mountain, and a narrow beam of light crossed the mountain, and both of them gasped. The sun is coming out.Price murmured: Sometimes I really wonder if we are idiots, why do we always want to climb foreign mountains, there are such mountains in China, right?Are you hungry? Price opened his rucksack, took out his jackknife, and spread anchovy sauce on two crackers. Ashley, how would you describe this scene?beautiful or sad?

ominous. Price gives Ashley a biscuit.Don't say that when climbing a mountain. Then be sad.The British Hills all looked sad. Why? Ashley looked down at his boots. Don't know because it's mostly wilderness, black rocks and clouds, it feels like it was made for us Or make us. Price stood up and buttoned his backpack. next you first Ashley stepped on the thin stone flakes and moved little by little, his cheek brushed against the snow-covered plants, the rock ledge became smaller and smaller, only the tip of his toe could be accommodated, and finally there was only the grip of a shoe spike.He looked down at the five-hundred-foot-deep gravel slope and the clear, calm water of the lake, hooked the rope to a ledge, and crawled westward like a spider.Plath's pipe, which was in charge of making sure, was still in his mouth.

Half an hour later, they stood under a smooth chimney.The chimney was about four feet wide, almost perpendicular to the ground, and a thin layer of water flowed down the wall. 4. A climbing term that refers to a longitudinal rock crack.The width is usually wider than the human body, and the limbs must be stretched to support the wall to climb. Ashley said: "It looks slippery. good. Price stepped into the narrow crevice, put his back and boots on one side of the rock wall, and climbed up with his back and legs, his hands just touching the wall for support.Ten minutes later he was at the top, hanging the rope over a ledge to secure it.

It's your turn. Ashley went deep into the chimney and began to climb up, putting his weight on his legs as much as possible, but the place his hands could grasp was smaller than a fingernail, and it was very slippery. Price yelled, "You're going too deep, come out, come over to the side!" Ashley didn't listen, and continued to go up, his arms became more and more tired, and the spikes slipped on the wet stone.The chimney was getting steeper and steeper, and there was a protruding rock blocking the way.Price was eight feet above him, holding on to the rope, looking down at him.

Look for a foothold to the right. Can't make it. Walk along the crack!too slippery on the left Ashley used his left foot to find a foothold, but his right hand was too long, so that when he put his weight on his foot, he realized that it was a boulder, and when his boot slipped, he slipped down.Price folded his arms across his chest and clung to the rope; Ashley stopped his fall by bracing himself on his arms and legs before the rope tightened. How are you? Ashley's elbow was burning like fire. He rested his weight on his back and climbed up the chimney from the right as Price instructed.When I went up, I looked down and saw that my knuckles were covered with blood, a nail was split, my left elbow was broken, and my knee was wet and dirty. Fortunately, it's not a big problem.or you choose the better way Price shook his head. idiot. An hour later, they ascended the western ridge, descended immediately, and returned to the hotel by noon.A group of mountain friends were smoking pipes on the benches behind the houses, and the thickening clouds and mist enveloped the white gables of the hotel. Were you two on that rope just now?I say Worthingham, is that you that trout that was struggling on the ridge just now? The other mountain friends laughed. As we climbed the western ridge, we saw someone behind us clumsily cross the summit and then lay flat on the flagstone, like a trout out of water, unable to move but staring at the sky.I said it must be Worthingham Ashley held him back: I guess I'm right, but not like trout, more like salmon. Parked in front of the hotel was a very new Ford station wagon, its black enamel painted body spattered with mud. Price pointed to the car and asked: Is anyone here today? Mountain Friends said: Just passing by, a young man from the Mountain Friends Club, and a pair of sisters.What is the boy's last name? Another mountain friend said: Grafton. When Price and Ashley walked into the hotel, the lobby was eerily quiet, and the boots, which had been scattered all over the floor, were now neatly arranged.Because of the fog, all mountain friends are in the house.They were walking towards the smoking room and heard someone playing the piano, which was a slow song. Price said: Strange, there is no such song in the sheet music Price pushed open the door and stood there, raising his right hand to tell Ashley to be quiet.Ashley stretched her neck behind him to watch. A large group of mountain friends surrounded the upright piano, some sat cross-legged on the ground, some lay down.Some people were smoking pipes, and the room smelled of cheap, cheap tobacco.There is a row of spectators, several of whom are women, sitting in chairs along the walls.Ashley could only see the back of the performer. She was wearing a cream-colored top, a long black skirt, beautiful hands, and a silver belt around her waist. Ashley and Price had been standing by the door watching, but did not go in.The piece returns to the main theme, playing a cascade of notes, then slows down and ends.The woman raised her hand and left the key, cheers and applause rang out. Encore, Encore! Startled by everyone's enthusiasm, she sat on the piano chair and turned around.She was slender, with dark hair coiled high and light freckles under her blue eyes. She said: It's nothing. Price yells: "Great, Encore!" She smiled and nodded slightly, flipping through the sheet music, but her two companions stood up, one also dark-haired, the other a man in a driving dust smock.At this time, the performer stood up and bowed to everyone, looking very embarrassed, and the applause continued for a long time. Price leaned into Ashley's ear and said: She will never forget this hotel. A group of three players left amidst cheers.A young man with a pipe in his mouth opened the piano chair and played a lively tune with the lyrics written last night, and the audience sang along.Price reached out and grabbed Ashley's shoulder. Listen, Ashley, I hope you're on the right track.Climbers often start out like fire eaters, always swallowing things they shouldn't, and I think I've made that mistake myself.But you have to learn from the experience of others, or you will get yourself into trouble.It's not about how good your skills are.I clearly told you the safe way, but you insisted on going your own way, and you fell down in the end. I stopped later and didn't fall But something almost went wrong.True mountaineers don't rely on luck. Price released his grip on his shoulder. Ashley, I would like to ask you a question, which of the following is the most important to have a successful life?Talent, judgment or perseverance? Ashley thought about it. I think salmon has all three, but it took so much work along the way to end up dead where it started. Come on, seriously. Seriously I don't know.Which is the answer? Price took the rope from Ashley's shoulders and walked up the stairs, shaking his head. Which one is it?I also want to know.