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Lennart |
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Everything started with Lennart (born 1984). As early as an unborn child he
took part in difficult backpack tours in high mountain regions.
Later on we were surprised about the capabilities of such a child that
showed no signs of declining enthusiasm.
As there were three of us we were happy to be able to continue our outdoor
activities. At the age of three and a half years Lennart walked with us
across the main ridge of the Lower Tatra. We had to lug quite a lot of
equipment, and at that time Petra was expecting Sarah. At the age of nine
Lennart was ambitious enough to lug his personal gear (sleeping-bag and
clothes) across the Chilkoot Trail. I still see him climbing the 45 degrees
steep ascent of the Golden Stairs like a mountain goat, passing a number of adults.
On the South Nahanni River the four of us paddled in one canoe, but a year
later Lennart accompanied us with his own kayak through the "hot" canyons of
the Green River to the Colorado river. |
In Patagonia and in the Andes he carried the luggage like an adult, thus
enlarging the radius of our backpack tours.
Naturally, he was more attracted by white-water canoeing than by paddling long
distances on a calm river. Therefore, the two of us had some discussions in the
wilderness, when I wanted to bypass certain passages for the sake of security,
whereas our “hothead” (or shall I say lazybones?) detected passable routes even
in the thickest brown water. On the other hand, white-water canoeing with
Lennart in a Canadian double is pure joy.
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