Vol. 30, No. 1 #5 (February 2007). Survival of the Fastest.

• Author: By Melvin C. Orchard, III

Wyoming Bar Journal

2007.

Vol. 30, No. 1 #5 (February 2007).

Survival of the Fastest

WYOMING LAWYERFebruary 2007/Vol. 30, No. 1Survival of the FastestBy Melvin C. Orchard, III

I was asked to tell this story in the Wyoming Lawyer because my colleagues seem to find it funny. But because of how the story ends, it never seems quite as hilarious to me. So, in the spirit of self deprecation, I'll tell my tale of man versus nature. I'm no Mark Jenkins, but I have been hard-headed enough to find my way to the summit of a few peaks of interest, always reminded by my friends that I'm too big for a climbing harness to ever consider quitting my day job. I've seen the view from the top of Mt. Rainer in Washington, King's Peak in Utah, the Grand Teton and Mount Moran several times, and of course, the crown jewel in my book, Gannett Peak. At 13,802 feet, nestled in the northern heart of the Wind Rivers, Gannett reigns as King of all Hills in Wyoming, and by humble accounts, to summit Gannett is a hard earned feather in the cap.

This story takes me back to when I was a law clerk for judges Betty Kail and Terry Rogers, living in the wonderful town of Lander, and secretly dreading the day when legal puberty would end, and I would actually have to take sole responsibility for my work. From the court's sidelines, I saw a lot of lawyers, and from time to time, a few would chat with me about law and life. My interest in Gannett was "peaked" by Bill Miller, an outstanding Fremont County lawyer, and a very competent mountaineer.

Each time Bill finished in court, he would engage me in conversations about maps, ice axes, coveted route information, and enticing tales from the trail and the top. After learning as much as I could from Bill, and borrowing six sets of crampons from NOLS (thanks Dan H. and Christine L.), I decided I could lead myself and five other proud Evanston High School buddies up Gannett Peak. What could be so difficult? With backpacks stuffed with alpine climbing gear, helmets, food, fishing poles and camping equipment, we set out for our base camp at Ink Wells.

The next morning, we packed two tents, sleeping bags, minimal food, and climbing gear and set off for the ten mile trek up the Dinwoody Drainage to the base of Gannett Peak. Late in the day, we camped a few hundred feet from the glacier. The next "day," we left at 4:00 am, and...