The Umman Manda is a group of people who had mostly disappeared into history. In fact, even the translation of their name is a matter of ambiguity. Umman Manda is translated as The Scourge Of The Gods, or my favorite, The Horde From Who Knows Where. They were known as a "particularly noxious band of warriors" and over all, a untamed mass of savages who ravaged the civilized tribes world.
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"What on earth are you boys carrying?" We turned and saw the lift manager for Snowbird. We explained how we were going to take the lift up and use the ice tools and crampons on our packs to climb some ice that evening before it got dark, and his eye grew wide. "Well I'll be...that's crazy!" As we rode the tram to the top of the ridge, the face of every parent and child matched his. With our radical gear and intentions, we were certainly the untamed horde from who knows where. In the end, we missed the tram because we started so late and had to walk down to the road. I'm sure the parents that took their kids up to the top were grateful, they didn't have to try to explain what we were doing.
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| This tram ride is so civilized! I think I'll move to Chamonix. |
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"If it weren't for foreshortening, no one would get up anything". Barry Blanchard.
It's not big or hard, but definitely foreshortened. |
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Matt showing me how to ice climb after our
summer hiatus from the frozen medium. |
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| This is colder than I remember! I always dress to light the first few times. |
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| The ice was pretty hollow sounding through the steep portion. |
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| Topping out with the South Ridge of Superior in the background. |
1 The Cambridge Ancient History, Volumes 1-2, pg 39
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