> Just what IS an "exotic" ultra?
>
> I heard this descriptor on my recent Mexico trip and wonder how one would
> define the genre.
> It's a topic of paramount importance to some peakbaggers - or at least it
> should be because
> the majority of Earth's ultras are likely "exotic". They are generally
> overlooked in favor of more
> commonly sought, logistically easier peaks more widely known to the climbing
> community -
> and yet are ultra mountains all-the-same.
>
> Perhaps some actual EXAMPLES serve best to provide a definition....
>
> * Any ultra in Alaska's backcountry apart from Denali -
> such as Mount Chamberlin in the Brooks Range.
>
I would specifically mention the Aleutian Islands here.

> I would not classify ANY of the contiguous USA 57 ultras
> as exotic - not even Gannett Peak, Wyoming or Mount Olympus
> despite their remoteness from pavement.
>
Agreed.

> However if it WERE an ultra, I would call Mount Stimson "exotic"
> in Glacier National Park, Montana.
>
I disagree here. I would not call Mt Stimson "exotic", ultra or not. It's in a
national park. In fact, I cannot think of *any* peak in the lower 48, of any
prominence, that I would call exotic. I might change my mind on that, if someone
mentions a peak I haven't yet thought of.

I would, however, call Kawaikini exotic.

I'd like to hear other people's answers to this question: what is the most
prominent exotic peak in the world? I have my answer, and I predict that almost
everyone will give an answer that's one of two peaks.


Edward "7.389056099" Earl
esquared@...
http://home.earthlink.net/~esquared