Tweet
Note it is not a "native."
St. Thomas man has peak experience at summit of the Matterhorn
By MEGAN POINSKI
Thursday, August 16th 2007
<span style='font-size: 8pt'>Photo Special to The Daily News Brian Morrison raises the Virgin Islands flag at the summit of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps after a 5-hour climb up the mountain</span>
St. Thomas resident Brian Morrison always admired the striking iconic beauty of the Matterhorn, one of the most well-known peaks in the Swiss Alps.
Earlier this month, he packed up his climbing gear - including ropes, waterproof jacket, lights and a Virgin Islands flag - and ascended to the summit of the 14,692-foot mountain. The journey and the payoffs were both incredible, Morrison said.
"The views were totally spectacular," he said.
Morrison, president of St. Thomas-based telecommunications company Specialized Communications, has been interested in climbing since he was involved in Boy Scouts. In the years since, Morrison and his brother Eric have scaled peaks such as Mount Rainier in Washington, the Grand Tetons in Wyoming and Longs Peak in Colorado.
The Matterhorn, which is regarded as one of the most picturesque and distinct mountains in the Swiss Alps, was a challenge Morrison wanted to take on. He and his brother, who lives in North Carolina, traveled to Europe this summer to climb the mountain.
Summertime, especially the end of July through the middle of September, is the best time of year to climb many mountains, Morrison said. On the slope of the Matterhorn, Morrison contended with freezing temperatures and high winds, but not quite as much ice and snow as he would have in the winter.
Morrison said that he also timed his trip and ascent to ensure he would be able to get to the top of the mountain.
Morrison and his brother carefully selected their climb date: Aug. 1. Not only was the weather expected to be better for climbing but, Morrison said, it was Swiss National Day, so there would be fewer people on the mountain.
On Aug. 1, Morrison and his brother packed their backpacks and started their ascent about 3:30 a.m., he said. When climbing the Matterhorn, it is imperative to get an early start so climbers can get up and down the mountain in more agreeable daytime weather. At the base of the mountain, it was 20 degrees.
During his 5 hour climb higher into the heavens, he found temperatures creeping downward.
"On the summit at 9 a.m., it was 10 degrees with 40 mile per hour winds. It was a perfect day," Morrison said.
Morrison said that his climb was without incident, but he found an ice axe on the way. The axe, he said, either was a reminder of how difficult the climb is or was something that fell out of another climber's backpack.
Now back in the Virgin Islands, Morrison said he has not started to plan his next big climb.
"I'll work on that later," he said.
St. Thomas man has peak experience at summit of the Matterhorn
By MEGAN POINSKI
Thursday, August 16th 2007
<span style='font-size: 8pt'>Photo Special to The Daily News Brian Morrison raises the Virgin Islands flag at the summit of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps after a 5-hour climb up the mountain</span>
St. Thomas resident Brian Morrison always admired the striking iconic beauty of the Matterhorn, one of the most well-known peaks in the Swiss Alps.
Earlier this month, he packed up his climbing gear - including ropes, waterproof jacket, lights and a Virgin Islands flag - and ascended to the summit of the 14,692-foot mountain. The journey and the payoffs were both incredible, Morrison said.
"The views were totally spectacular," he said.
Morrison, president of St. Thomas-based telecommunications company Specialized Communications, has been interested in climbing since he was involved in Boy Scouts. In the years since, Morrison and his brother Eric have scaled peaks such as Mount Rainier in Washington, the Grand Tetons in Wyoming and Longs Peak in Colorado.
The Matterhorn, which is regarded as one of the most picturesque and distinct mountains in the Swiss Alps, was a challenge Morrison wanted to take on. He and his brother, who lives in North Carolina, traveled to Europe this summer to climb the mountain.
Summertime, especially the end of July through the middle of September, is the best time of year to climb many mountains, Morrison said. On the slope of the Matterhorn, Morrison contended with freezing temperatures and high winds, but not quite as much ice and snow as he would have in the winter.
Morrison said that he also timed his trip and ascent to ensure he would be able to get to the top of the mountain.
Morrison and his brother carefully selected their climb date: Aug. 1. Not only was the weather expected to be better for climbing but, Morrison said, it was Swiss National Day, so there would be fewer people on the mountain.
On Aug. 1, Morrison and his brother packed their backpacks and started their ascent about 3:30 a.m., he said. When climbing the Matterhorn, it is imperative to get an early start so climbers can get up and down the mountain in more agreeable daytime weather. At the base of the mountain, it was 20 degrees.
During his 5 hour climb higher into the heavens, he found temperatures creeping downward.
"On the summit at 9 a.m., it was 10 degrees with 40 mile per hour winds. It was a perfect day," Morrison said.
Morrison said that his climb was without incident, but he found an ice axe on the way. The axe, he said, either was a reminder of how difficult the climb is or was something that fell out of another climber's backpack.
Now back in the Virgin Islands, Morrison said he has not started to plan his next big climb.
"I'll work on that later," he said.
Comment