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Vittorio Barbera

Also the fact that you have to make the climb with so much weight only makes it that much more difficult. I do not think I am one who would take the risk of my own life for such a cause. However, the world needs people who are willing to risk it all to make discoveries.

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I think that a climber must be in top physical form in order to make such a dangerous journey. The fact that one must face lightning storms and such strong winds makes this adventure test one's bravery.

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It's 8am - deadline for timely submissions has passed

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In the line of work that is described in the article, not only do you have to be very skilled at rock climbing, but you also must be able to operate technology while on your expedition in the air. This requires a new level of skill,  and also a new level of courage. Usually they only have to worry about their climbing, but then a new aspect is added where they have to try and record data while being suspended hundreds of feet in the air. I believe that you need courage, but you also need patience, because if you try and rush yourself, you could make colossal mistakes. Bill Lokey is a perfect example of a man that posses all the qualities that a person needs for this line of work. The most astonishing part is that he is 67 years of age and still is able to push his body to that kind of limit. It takes major conditioning and it's no small task. It just goes to show how if you are passionate enough about something, you can do it no matter what.

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Working in not only Mount Rainer, but also other natural environments is quite dangerous. One must be passionate about what they do, and are willing to take a risk to discover the undiscovered. Even at the age of 67, Bill Lokey is still passionate about exploration. The fear of danger will not stop him. He is a driven and daring individual, and is eager to adventure. Bill and his crew exhibit all of the necessary character traits that allow them to work in this incredible natural laboratory. What they're doing is great for our understanding of nature, which is essential for the good of humanity.

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Hiking on its own is quite dangerous, however it is the adventurous and curious side of most people that compel people to hike regardless. Mount Rainier, on the other hand, is on a completely different level. Not only does it take the previously mentioned traits to explore the mountain, but it also takes tremendous amounts of courage and passion. This point is perfectly proven by Bill Lokey and his team of scientists.

On their first expedition alone, the team faced many deadly perils and dangers, such as heavy thunderstorms and large crevasses. Later expeditions included miserable "freezing nights" and toxic fumes. Knowing full well of the dangers that they were about to plunge into, the party had to prepare accordingly. This leads to another trait that is needed to be able to work in such as a natural laboratory: foresight. Lokey's team equipped themselves with camping gear, phones, food, fuel, gas monitors, rescue equipment, and plenty of medical equipment, in case of the unexpected. Of theses pieces of equipment, they made full use of the gas monitor, in order to measure the toxicity of the gas in the caves, the tents for shelter from the many storms that hit them, and the phones, which were used as a method of communication and to predict the weather forecast. A lot of thought, effort, and courage were put into the expedition, highlighting the passion that Lokey had in exploring Mount Rainier.

There is still much to be explored on the mountain, and every expedition takes just as much effort as the last to reach the natural laboratory. Every trip only leads to new questions and new places to explore. This brings up the final trait that someone needs to work in such a difficultly placed laboratory: perseverance. Lokey was in his 60's at the time of the article, which is an impressive age to be traveling through such harsh conditions. He still plans on leading many expeditions in the future, however. Most people would give up in the face constantly taking that life risking trek to the caves, however, despite his age, Lokey has the perseverance to climb the mountain however many times it takes to satisfy his passion.

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To work in a place that is as dangerous as Mount Rainier, you can't faint of heart. Hiking in any circumstance can be dangerous, but when you're dealing with blizzards, lightning, high winds, and the bitter cold, it gets significantly more dangerous. Something everyone needs to have is preparedness. If you don't prepare properly for something, you will regret it later on. Another crucial trait one needs is quick thinking. As Eddy Cartaya said during one storm, "We grabbed our packs and ran for the nearest cave entrance". This kind of quick thinking saves lives in dangerous situations. However, I think that the most important thing to have is determination. You have to want to get to the summit, or you probably won't. If something happens along they way, like say, a storm comes in, you can't just give up. You have to have the determination to push forward no matter what.

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Exploring a mountain like Mount Rainier, with its one of a kind ice tunnels, would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but then why don't more people go and explore this natural wonder. The answer is that it takes a certain kind of person to go to a place so dangerous and unpredictable. This person must be the person chemist Irving Langmuir was describing when he said, " The scientist is motivated be curiosity and a desire for the truth." In this story, that person is Bill Lokey, who, at age 67, climbed the 15,000 feet tall mountain for a second time.
After climbing the mountain for the first time in the 1970's, and then for a second time in 1999, Lokey still wanted to be apart of this expedition because he wanted to find what was still under the snowy mountain top. Even though that during the trek there were severe lightning and snow storms, Lokey, along with the crew of fifteen others, stilled wanted to push on to see what truly was beneath the top of the mountain. This is something most people would not do in good sense, but these people did it because they had the determination and grit to face the elements and go were very few have went. In the end, there case shows that there determination and yearning for the truth paid off. They found caves and passageways that Lokey didn't find on his first mission into Rainier. This is what it takes to, at age 67, not only go into a dangerous situation you have already gone into, but to want to do it again. The curiosity, determination, grit, and yearning for the truth led this group to their success.

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Scaling a mountain like Mount Rainer is one of the most physically and emotionally demanding tasks a person can do. To put it in perspective, scientists go there to study microbes because the conditions are so bad that they feel it mimics the conditions of other planets that could possibly habitats life, like Mars, where the average temperature is -67 degrees Farenheit. On top of the extreme cold, there is the risk of immense lighting storms, snow, poisonous gases, and uncharted areas. There a ton of natural components that the climbers have to account for, if they want to survive.
The climbers have to endure all of these obstacles with 75 pounds on their back. The task would have been hard enough, but with the extra weight, it's near impossible. One of the men on the climb, Lokey, was 67 years old. Many young, fit adults would cower at this challenge, but his determination and passion for discovery led him to Mount Rainier. All of the people on this climb had to be completely focused for every second of the trip, or it could've ended badly.
Overall, if you want to work in a natural laboratory like Mount Rainier, then you'll need cutting-edge equipment, grit, determination, focus, and a passion for science. And a little luck, too.

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Climbing a mountain is no easy task, let alone one of the biggest in the United States. This is hard for the body, but even more the mind. Someone has to be quite dedicated to their mission in order to do this. You face injury, death, and many more horrible things on this journey and one must be absolutely willing to do such a thing for science. In the article, Bill Lokey faced this in order to conduct his research.
In addition, perseverance is another quality you must have in order to complete such a task. As Lokey and his team battled through blizzards, thunderstorms, physical exhaustion they didn't think once about giving up and going back down the mountain. Instead, they remained persistent and eventually made it to the cave.
Also, you have to be at least a little crazy in order to do something like this. Even after the insane journey that is going up the nearly 15,000ft mountain, you have to work inside of a cave. You face wildly differentiating temperatures, with dangerous gases all inside of an active volcano. I sure wouldn't do that.

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Many people attempt to climb Mount Rainer, but not everyone succeeds. People have been critically injured and some have died. Some people attempt to climb Mount Rainer but are not prepared like in 1954 when climber had to turn back from the ice caves due the fear of toxic fumes. Of course now technology has evolved and is much better than in was some 60 years ago. The difference between Bill Lokey and other climbers is that he was prepared and is far more courageous than other climbers. Lokey navigated he and his team through lightning storms, heavy winds, and the bitter cold, something only dedicated climber would do. Also while doing this at almost 15,000 feat is and accomplishment of its own. Bill Lokey only had one thing and only one thing on his mind and that was to get to the ice caves and learn as much as possible. A true and committed scientist only does that.

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To be a mountain climber is one thing, to be a mountain climber who also must conduct research and work within this unforgiving environment is another thing. In order to participate in the line of work which Bill Lokey takes part in, one must have certain character traits. First, one must be self-sufficient and be able to take care of themselves because the conditions that they will face are faced by everyone in the group and one’s inability to handle themselves could affect the whole group. Along with being self-sufficient one must also be able to cooperate well with others because on the mountain you have to be able to have everyone's backs while traversing the tough terrain. With respect to the tough terrain one should be physically fit. In this case we see that Bill Lokey is carrying 75 pounds on his back which is a lot for a person alone, but on top of that they are climbing a mountain with steep slopes, uneven ground and possibly even slippery and wet conditions due to rain, snow and ice.
Patience and determination are two key character traits that one must have, this is shown by Bill Lokey and his group on many occasions. Some examples include when faced by server conditions, in their case gale-force winds and lightning storms, it is necessary to be patience and wait it out, and on the other side of that statement when the server conditions start rolling in they showed determination to find shelter and bunker down. On the research and work side of this expedition patience and determination are crucial especially with the environment and working conditions. This was seen when trying to collect samples for the microbiological analysis you must keep things sterile and with all the dirt and mud one must be patient and determined. Finally and in my opinion the most important character trait which was portrayed most abundantly by Bill Lokey is exuberance, because if you are not enjoying all the hard work and effort that needs to go into working in an environment like Mount Rainier you will have a much more difficult time.

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Saying that climbing Mount Rainier is dangerous is an understatement. Enduring lightning storms, wicked winds, and other life threatening parts of the adventure is something you would here coming from a movie. Four decades added to his life after his first climb up Mount Rainier, Bill Lokey still dared to venture to the ice caves with his new crew of 15. Though Lokey knew this journey would be just as treacherous as his last, he wanted to help other researchers learn more about the ice caves, microbes on the Mount similar to other planets, and the gas emissions that could hint towards volcanic activity.
Any man or woman who thinks they can work in this natural laboratory where most life withers must be aware of what characteristics one needs. To be specific, one must need a quick thinking mind to understand their surrounding area, because people who don't acquire this trait will become one of the "four lives a year" taken by the difficult journey. Little mistakes like taking the wrong step on the trail could lead you to falling 14,411 feet to your death.
Furthermore, great endurance and strength is required to even get to Camp Muir to rest, because at "nearly two miles above sea level, Lokey and many others were exhausted by the seven-hour log". As described in the article, even the young researchers were having trouble getting to the two mile checkpoint. To my understanding, the researchers had to carry a heavy load on their backs as well, some of which weighed up to 75 pounds! Imagine how tired you would be after seven long hours of hauling up a bag that weighs as much as a young child.
Lastly, having a healthy body is a necessity. The air 14,411 feet up is so thin, that it is actually equal to a little more than half of the oxygen amount at sea level. Someone who has poor health could be prone to serious medical issues which could lead to their death. For example, one day someone on the expedition woke up with a rattle in his lungs, so the other scientists used their quick thinking skills and decided to cut their travel short while the other portion of the group continued on. Evidently, the ill man found out "it was pulmonary edema, a life-threatening condition brought on by elevation".
All in all, these 15 people had more guts than most people have to climb a 20 foot tree, let alone the 14,411 foot Mount Rainier. Lightning, winds, and slippery grounds are a masterpiece for disaster, but (most of) the researchers following Lokey's guidance were ready for their travel and accomplished their goals, because of their characteristics described above.

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Mountain climbing may be one of the hardest things to do. Having to conduct research in an environment like this seems much harder. Bill Lokey shows how passionate he is about conducting his research because he knows what at risk that when mountain climbing. The risk of severe injury or even death, and yet he still continues to climb to do his research.
Also, determination is another character trait that you must have in order to be able to do this. This team basically battled through every obsticale that came there way. Like severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms and blizzards, and exhaustion from all the work. Quitting or giving up never crossed their mind, they set a goal and they didn't stop until they got to the cave.
These people go through a lot and to still be able to do what they do is incredible. Not only do they have to climb an enormous mountain they also have too deal with the problems that can occur while doing their research inside the cave. They love what they do, and that's why they keep doing it no matter the cost.

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In order to climb the 14,411-foot-high summit of Mount Rainier to reach the labyrinth of ice caves, one must be fearless. Regardless if one is an experienced climber or not, he or she is not guaranteed to reach the summit alive as the mountain claims an average of four lives per year.

In addition to being valiant, one must also have determination and perseverance. Although there are lightning storms and gale-force winds that one may quite possibly face on this journey, he or she must push through them if they want to witness the resounding beauty of the network of ice caves for themselves. Therefore, one must also be venturesome as he or she explores the unknowns of the ice caves. In the end, after these are explored, one will have created updated cave maps, which would be useful in the future for search-and-rescue missions and for monitoring changes in the system of ice caves over time.

Furthermore, one, who dares to trek to these ice caves, must also be patient. For instance, Lokey and his crew had to journey back down to the lowest ground in sight at one point due to the unpredictable weather. They realized that their lives were in danger so they immediately took the necessary precautions. Despite the fact that Lokey and his crew knew of the upcoming storms, they did not know exactly when they would hit. This unforeseeable nature of extreme weather can be fatal at times when a group is in a risky position; for example, an exposed ridge with little shelter. Therefore, one must posses the patience in regards to stopping (taking shelter) and waiting for the weather, and its erratic behavior, to pass.

In order to reach the ice caves, one must also be exuberant, just as Lokey was, because that attitude will then be contagious to everyone else on the journey with him or her. On this dangerous trek to Mount Rainier’s summit, one will surely run into adversity, but one must overcome it in order to reach the ice caves at 14,411 feet. Without the proper attitude for this journey, one will most likely give up and scale back down the mountain, as he or she lacks the excitement and passion for what lies in store at the top of Mount Rainier.

Another character trait that is necessary for a climber is endurance and acclamation to the thinner air at such a high altitude. For instance, whenever a visiting football team travels to Denver, Colorado to play the Denver Broncos, they usually arrive a few days prior in order to get themselves acclimated to playing in high altitude. Thus, before one plans to journey to the summit of Mount Rainier, he or she should practice doing climbing activities using elevation training masks, in order to get used to the high altitudes present atop Mount Rainier. If not, he or she could risk having pulmonary edema, which is a life-threatening condition caused by elevation.

In conclusion, the average person will not succeed in reaching the summit of Mount Rainier without the proper preparation and character traits. If it were easy, the ice caves would have been completely mapped and explored already. However, it is not, so one must prepare both mentally and physically for the unexpected as anything can and will happen, especially weather wise, when he or she is 14,411 feet above see level at the top of Mount Rainer.

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Descriptions of hiking Mount Rainer make out anyone willing to do so crazy. '"Big, blue bolts were landing in the crater all around us," he said. "We grabbed our packs and ran for the nearest cave entrance."' The team must be determined and passionate in their work to withstand these storms that could have easily stopped the team from pursuing the discovery of something new. No one on the expedition is safe, any person could die or be put in a position where the cannot reach the summit. Bill Lokey shed light on this natural laboratory, he mapped out the caves and found clues to the volcanos future, and possibly could origins of the solar system. Anyone who is humble enough to risk their life for knowledge that can befit humanity in the future describes each persons who took the journey to the 14,441 foot high summit of Mount Rainer.

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"To our knowledge, no comparable system … exists anywhere in the world". Many believe this staement. This ice cave is out of this world because of its look amd the factors that are involved in creating it. The cave is actually created from volcanic fumes from in the earth. The fumes melt the ice and it freezes to create the cave. The ice cave looks like an alien created it. There is no other place in the world than this place that is this special.

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Your normal, everyday person isnt able to do what these brave men and women did. There are special traits that you have to posess in order to climb a mountain that takes a number of lives each year. You have to be courageous, you have to be able think on your feet, and you have to have stamina.
Being courageous is just one of many different traits for a person to be able to work on this mountain. As the article said, people are injured and sometimes even killed climbing up this mountain. An average person, like myself, wouldn't be able to climb it. You have to have an adventurous spirit too. The courage will continue even after you climb the mountain, the courage will need to continue as one maps their way through the ice caves.
When you have to deal with the every changing conditions of the rough mountain you have to be able to think on your feet. Obviously, the team of researchers and climbers planned their extensively, but when you are dealing with the extremes of the weather anything can happen. In order to be a successful climber, you have to be able to think on the fly and think on your feet. The team had a set plan but had to regroup and replan to work around and with the weather. When someone was injured they thought through what they had to do to get the most out of their journey.
Lastly you have to have great stamina, health, and body. The hiker said it himself, he was almost 70 years old, and the trip but alot of stress on his body. He has great stamia and health. Going up as high as they do with the low air pressure and lack of oxygen is not something an unhealthy person can do. Also, when you add the weight of your supplies, you have to work even harder to get to where you have to be.

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Nature is known to be quite dangerous. The idea of climbing your way to the peak of a mountain at the age of sixty seven, supports this statement. Bill Lokey was absolutely courageous for climbing these mountains and encountering ice caves. Doing what he does is not a job for the faint hearted, especially if you are afraid of heights, and he deserves some credit for such an outrageous task. Not only did he complete the task but he did so with seventy five pounds of equipment on his back. Because of people like Lokey, we are able to study the topography of the Earth's surface. The advance in knowledge of our planet is improving each day, and with the help of brave people like Lokey we can continue to understand the majestic wonders of the world we live on.

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Hope you enjoyed this article - remember think critically when you respond to my discussion question - I am NOT looking for obvious answers. Support your opinion with details from the article