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For many years I was struck by the
trend in mountaineering to do the first ascent of this mountain or that,
then the first unsupported ascent, or the first women's ascent, or the
first British or Canadian ascent, or the first winter ascent, or the first
night-time ascent, or the first ascent in boxing gloves and roller skates,
....
In imagining what my own contribution could be
it struck me that I was (and remain) intimately bound up with academia,
even to the extent of owning my own (albeit basic and unadorned) academic
gown. So I began a series of "first Academic Ascents", the signal
feature of which was the wearing of my academic gown on the summit (and
occasionally on the approach to the summit).
In this picture I am on top of Alexandra Peak in
eastern Strathcona Park. The peak just left of my right boot is the Golden
Hinde. Various other peaks have had Academic Ascents, including Elkhorn,
Wedge Mt in Garibaldi Park, Mt Matchlee, and some others. |
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