Show Scales The An Italian mountain climber recently became the first huI human human hu hu- man to stale sale the famous peaks peak's I sheer north wall in winter He achieved this remarkable feat alone over over a a period of days picking his way into the stone cliff foot by foot THE TIlE WEATHER in February February ary is not exactly pleasant on the way to the top of the 14 foot fo t mountain peak and so Walter Bonatti's accomplishment accomplish accomplish- ment is one for the record books and something to excite the admiration of the world Such personal courage and determination is always com com- Yet on the other hand this business of risking ones one's life to get on top of a big pile o of cc rock and nd then come comedown comedown down again is one of the mysteries mysteries mysteries mys mys- teries of life IT IS THE TIlE old story of course cours of man against the ele- ele ele I ments But in sailing salling the aid old ships in discovery and excavation excavation excava excava- tion one often achieves something something some some- thing of lasting value to the scientific world In climbing mountains it is usually something something something some some- thing more akin to personal satisfaction and a personal demonstration of of courage and perseverance For this too many climbers are killed and their families gain little satisfaction from the fact that a noble effort was made |