The mountaineer's lunch

G. GEORGE OSTROM / For the Hungry Horse News

Sort of promised family members I would not tell anyone what happened on my 82nd birthday last Saturday; however … it is the only recent happening that seems like column material, so will make an honest disclosure after providing a brief background.

GMS stands for Glacier Mountaineering Society. That group is mostly Montana people but has other members all over the U.S. and Canada, hundreds of 'em. What holds them together is a character abnormality. They have overpowering urges to climb horrendous Glacier National Park peaks so they can collapse on the very tippy top, stare in all directions then stagger back down, beat to a bloody frazzle and badly in need of liquids. In the '70s there were just a few people, but numbers have grown at an alarming rate.

Because I am a news research person, I early on got involved in GMS for one simple reason, to find out "What the hell those people were up to?" By buddying up with a founder, Dennis Twohig, and his guru, Dr. Gordon Edwards, I eventually infiltrated their ranks to the point where I was asked to lead climbs and emceed annual luncheons … at St. Mary. They had no idea I considered all of them "a bit off center."

That luncheon culminates a busy "GMS Week" of climbs on many peaks, with challenges for all levels of skill, endurance and lack of knowledge. Some tougher climbs involve teams tied together on perilous exposures. Ropes are to prevent smarter ones from going home. At the annual luncheon in St. Mary it's a highlight to give "Alpine Awards." There is recognition to, a) those few who have climbed all six Glacier peaks more than 10,000 feet high, b) "J. Gordon Edwards Lifetime Achievement Awards," c) Outstanding Individual Achievement, d) William Wanser Honorary Award and e) Technical Peaks.

Since the awards program began in 1987, about 90 people have received the "10,000-foot peak" recognition, less than 20 the "lifetime achievement," and about eight "The William Wanser," which goes to a person more than 55 years old, "For mountaineering achievements, or achievements of excellency over decades, related to Glacier and mountaineering environments. Categories include writing, photography, teaching, research, etc."

First one went to Warren Hanna, a prominent California lawyer and writer. Second was Mel Ruder who started the Hungry Horse News. Third was Bob Frauson, outstanding Glacier Park Ranger for many years. Then we have Doug Follet, who taught school in Columbia Falls and has done park ranger duty each summer for almost a hundred years. World-class ranger Jerry DeSanto is listed as well as climber Lew Sabo. The "Wanser Award" went to George Ostrom in 1999.

I was very excited and looking forward for the 2010 Annual GMS Luncheon in St. Mary July 24; even thought it meant maneuvering family affairs because of my birthday that same day. Got that all worked out and I arose early for a sunrise drive over Going-to-the-Sun Highway. At Logan Pass I met Kim Schneider whose father was Monty Parratt and whose uncle Mark was speaking about the wonderful Parratt family book on their lives in Glacier Park at the GMS luncheon.

Leisurely drove down to St. Mary, arriving at 10:30 a.m. A pretty girl at the Lodge told me, "We have no luncheon scheduled for the GMS." Pure panic! Back at St. Mary Visitors Center, asked if they knew where the GMS Luncheon was. Told me they'd find out. After ten minutes a ranger told me it was at the Glacier Park Hotel in East Glacier, then she started to tell me how to get there.

I received early information about location for this year's luncheon. It was stressed twice in Going to the Sun, Journal of the GMS, done by Brian Kennedy. Brian sent my an extra copy months ago. How I got it wrong I don't know, but did get to East Glacier just in time. Half way through the meal I realized I wan no longer the oldest person there, because Doug Follett came in. Thought, "I'll bet he went to St. Mary first."

For those of you who might wonder about my going to the wrong place for the GMS Luncheon, let me leave you with a quote from George Bernard Shaw, "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."

So there! Neener! Neener!

G. George Ostrom is a Kalispell resident and a national award-winning Hungry Horse News columnist.