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Mountain climber on another high
By KRISTEN LEIGH PORTER It was perfect weather and conditions for a climb: a cold, clear morning with a light breeze. From the top of Oregon's Mount Hood, one could see all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The view from 11,239 feet sure looked different than from anywhere in Citrus County, where the average elevation is less than 90 feet. Inverness resident Chris Moling lived this scene in early June, and has many others like it during his mountain-climbing adventures. He has topped seven mountains in the lower 48 states, 5 in Alaska and 1 in Hawaii. Although it took three weeks for him to scale 23,000-foot Mount Aconcagua in Argentina last year, Moling needed "just" 12 hours to reach the apex of Mount Hood. Unfavorable weather had thwarted four previous efforts, but his six-member team accomplished the feat on June 11. "I felt more excitement than relief, but the relief was there too because we had finally gotten it done," said Moling, 37. Such an undertaking is not without risk. A snowboarder died on Mount Hood the previous night, taking a 300-400-foot drop onto rocks. A member of Moling's group carried the fallen snowboarders' gear down the mountain. "You have to understand that adrenaline and fear go hand in hand; if you do it without fear than you're likely to make mistakes and be dangerous," Moling said. "These types of adventures always have a risk," he said. Right up until the moment they left, Moling said the team made small decisions, taking into account trip reports, crevice size and wind direction. All were factors in deciding when and what time to depart, the route and what equipment to bring. "It's like skydiving, not everybody should do it even if they want to," Moling said. "It takes a certain amount of skill and logic. You're not falling out of the sky, but you have to very quickly make a decision, say like going to the left or right." Moling's motivation is doing the things he enjoys, which includes mental and physical activities of all kinds. He started running to stay fit, then smaller races such as 10Ks became the Boston Marathon. The president of the Citrus Road Runners is in the middle of the summer triathlon season, and he will be competing in the Ironman Florida triathlon in November. "I work a lot and play a lot," said Moling, who runs a public safety training business out of his home. He is working toward one of his goals, a 2,600-mile cross-country bike trek in April of 2004. Moling never has flown a plan, and would like to get a pilot's license. But no matter what altitude he reaches, Moling places the highest importance on the view from familiar territory. "It's always good to come home," the 1983 Citrus graduate said. -- Kristen Leigh Porter can be reached at (352) 564-3628 or porter@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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