http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/188922130

Pete (Leon R.) Sinclair is interviewed by Dave Krupa on May 8, 2000 in Seattle, Washington

Leon R. "Pete" Sinclair is interviewed by Dave Krupa on May 8, 2000 in Seattle, Washington. Sinclair discusses his background and growing up and moving around during the Depression; hiking in New Hampshire's White Mountains and getting into rock climbing in college; meeting friends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and planting seeds for a Denali expedition; routes up Denali, saving money, and preparations for the climb; getting a permit and a physical to drive to Alaska; what climbing has become today and the drive to Talkeetna; flying with Don Sheldon and his expression "waiting for parts"; Sheldon relaying in the team; some problems due to change in altitude and the beginning of the climb; inital climb obstacles; inspecting routes and deciding whether to turn back; climbing on steep, hard snow, and his first time using crampons; the decision to move on and the view from Balcony Camp; reaching the summit and beginning the descent; searching for and eventually finding a buried cache and descending in white-out conditions; crossing the glacier and group dynamics; coming face to face with a huge crevasse, Don Sheldon's arrival, and the story of Jake Breitenbach nearly getting strangled; Breitenbach's innovative equipment and the team's "chemistry"; what holds a team together and what can split it up; dealing with fear as things get rough and being aware that there is no backup plan; finding a famous photographer and showing him Alaska; climbing as an inspiration for writing and the works of Tilman and Shipton; becoming a professional climber and its disadvantages; his interest in philosophy and literature and his decision to teach; sending a manuscript to the New Yorker and the reception of his writing; the changing attitude toward publicity and fame in climbing; the problem of overcrowding on Denali and the resiliency of the mountain; the attitude of rescuers and skills of older and younger rescuers; an exceptional moment in his climbing career; and the role of intiution in risk taking.

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