| The arrival: The first sidewinder to reach the top rests in the
small stonewalled enclosure at 12,400'. Oxygen is scarce here, and
every molecule will be needed to match wits with the opponent.
East summit of Mount Sopris, 12, 958', is in the background. No trees, and precious little vegetation live in this harsh, forbidding clime where nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing year around. |
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| Sidewinder No. 2 is only a step behind his counterpart. He too concentrates on a rapid recovery, lungs sucking air, and willing the heart to ship precious oxygen to the brain even as the legs cry out for all. |  |
| Experience has taught these worthies to ignore the pleasantries
and get after the goods. One never knows when a third party might appear
to disrupt a nearly done deal!
Hmmm, not bad, an original, nearly flawless, original Elgin lodge dial, double sunk! |
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| Here's a closeup of the goods. Needless to say, this is no occasion
for the exchange of "common" watch stuffe.
The traders' seconds are on the shoreline of the lake 2000' below, just under the well-known Mount Sopris Rock Glacier. Snow lingers late on the spine of the Rocky Mountains, thrust high into the troposphere. |
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| Experienced traders NEVER travel without a loup! Tension mounts as careful observation of the goods is completed. |  |
| YES! After brief negotiation, a deal is in
fact made. See the long green - yes, experienced traders NEVER travel without
a stash for emergency acquisitions.
Sorry, but to protect the innocent and the guilty, the actual dollar amount of this transaction has not been shown accurately. Note the hardy lichen on the rocks, and a few sentinel trees on the very boundary of timberline in the background and far below. |
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