Javier Maskarell

I took this concept to the title of the note, extracted from the interview with Javier Maskarell because I thought that summed up everything he feels and elaborates on the mountain.

I met some time ago about the work of Javier thanks to his personal website. At that point I said, 'Well, here is something more than a mountaineer, it is necessary that we show. In my particular opinion, Javier took the mountain, enjoy, collates and makes it a work of art. The escalation used to recreate a series of additional condiments come to the reader in a very clear and specific: it makes us feel like co-cordate, while we are here far, although it has passed.

As I mentioned to our conversations and even in pre-and post-production of this note is the "Maskarell component" of escalation. This is what makes his story so appealing, where with few words and many pictures as well paged, manages to convey a large extent, what he feels in that moment so personal.

Javier draws attention, climbing alone, gives them an obvious relevance is perhaps the seasoning needed for the final product comes out of the way he does, in a clear and reaches deeply to the reader. And that product, thus transcends, not as a personal activity is conducted at some point in their life and nothing else, share it and shows us the deepest details of his experience, which begins at the moment to undertake the travel, long before reaching the mountain, where we will give an overview of what you expect, what will be his adventure and how are your plans to take it forward.

The same feeling can be found both in the documents and graphics in the videos. I invite you, first to enjoy this interview and then to see Javier material from your own site. Can certainly feel the same feeling I felt after each enjoy their adventures in nature.

Athlete, mountaineer, adventurer. Three concepts that unite in one person. How come you and at what point is this wonderful combination of enjoying nature in full?

It was one thing to emerge from one day to another, many times in my life and decisions which have led me down this path, but I suppose it all began in "The Wonder Years", which after finishing classes rather than staying at home studying, we went to the mountain armed with small candles to get into caves and abandoned houses. What followed, running, mountains, hiking was a logical consequence of all this and my way of being.

The fact that you practice athletics, an activity that requires constant training, to what extent contributes to the development of mountaineering?

The athletics and especially distance running helped me get a great shape, thanks to which I can move quickly in the mountains, and like all mountaineers know, security is synonymous with speed up there. But not kid ourselves down with the physical strength, if not accompanied by the most important of all "the spirit of adventure."

Well, let's not forget the bike. She also keeps a place in your activities right?

Of course crossings and mountain bike trips are one of my favorite activities, in that every day is a new challenge, a discovery, an illusion. The sense of autonomy is total and when you wake up in the morning, you know where you sleep at night, I love that feeling.

As mentioned in the email you prior to this interview, one of the things that struck me is the way to expose your experiences, especially those of the mountain, with a specific text and images that make up a combination that manages to fully convey what you want to expose. Is this an add more to your activity?

Certainly for me, the realization of small photographic reports and documentaries are part of the activity could not turn a history (as I call them) without bringing me something more than personal experience. I would not feel entirely satisfied with the activity could then not share it over my entries.

I saw a very good production in the exposure of each experience, especially those that perform solo. Are you scheduling previously thinking about how every detail will be exposed? Would you demand that much extra time?

I have a script before, but I think in every moment were later exposed as photographs and films that I made, that to go it alone helps keep the mind occupied, and while that extra time consuming work of the activity, for me it is a nuisance, because that's what I like.

Before joining issues relating to the mountain. What has been far greater satisfaction in your athletic skills you've participated?

It is difficult to choose a particular time, because distance running have given me much satisfaction and friends, but I think I'd take the victory in the mountain marathon in the Sierra de swords and practice in solitude in the mountains.

Many of your experiences in the mountains probably have not been easy. I think at this point after seeing your material, for example in the Matterhorn alone. How would you rate in terms of technical difficulty? You should prioritize the promotion sometime before the documentation of it? Did you have any experience in this complicated situation?

I think the degree of technical difficulty of a mountain are relative, and depend on experience and qualifications of the mountain, in my case, to go it alone, the Matterhorn was a difficult mountain, but especially dangerous.

And yes, there were times when I could not film or take pictures because we had to stay focused on every move in these dangerous steps involved and I had to overcome.

What was your dream to climb far away in your early, I mean when you said "this is my mountain," which someday will climb?

My first dream was Aneto, the highest mountain in the Pyrenees.

What did it feel to realize that dream?

I felt I wanted to keep dreaming and dreamed of the Mont Blanc mountain birthplace of mountaineering, and from there we went to Aconcagua dreaming of my dream where I woke up without having met. I'ma dreamer But I still dream about him and I'm sure one day from the summit back to dream of another mountain.

Come for a time to your experience in the Mont Blanc. To what extent will affect the height? ... We are talking about almost 5,000 ... Were you able to overcome disadvantages?

I love a lot to be the first time surpassed the 3,500 meters, had never experienced in my body the effects of altitude, this was new for me and it was alone. It was then that I realized that to climb mountains not only have to have a fit, but also certain amount of "spirit of adventure." But he had not stepped on the summit.

What did it feel to be up there? ... On a mountain with so much history ...

Great joy, I was a rookie who until then had only climbed three mountains in the Pyrenees Aneto (3404m), the Posets (3375m) and Monte Perdido (3355m). And I was up there on the summit of Mont Blanc (4810m), that day I decided I wanted to be more mountaineer.

What can you tell us about your project of the 17 summits? What experiences has been the most complex?

Well, he could go through the whole of Spain from mountain to mountain, with everything that entails: landscapes, people, culture, cuisine and many miles of road.
The most difficult climb of the 17 peaks was that of Aneto, the highest mountain of Aragon, for this project because we chose to climb the ridge route Salenques-Storms.

Another adventure that has shocked me was that of the 50 three thousand in 17 days. Go to adventure! What can you tell us that wonder?

"Crazy" over mine, which sometimes had to risk more of the account to be chained in solitary peaks for all three thousand. "Madness" in which we do not stop to rest a single day and that we were on vacation. But surely "crazy" wonderful I'll never forget.

I noticed something angry in a moment of that experience on the subject of the use of shelters, the business of climbing, etc.. What is your opinion what is not being done right, how should it be?

What is happening is that in many places and you do not leave camp, thus forcing you to use the shelters, and that goes against the very essence of climbing in the mountains there is room for everyone, for those who want to use the shelters and for those who want to go tent or bivouac. I think the road is not prohibited, but to educate respect nature.

I keep a small place here, from Argentina to our mountain, Aconcagua, which he visited in the summer 2005 issue. What memories do you keep from this experience?

Very good in all aspects, from the kindness and the treatment of Argentines which always made us feel at home, to the naked beauty of the mountains of the Andes, of course, by living together with my fellow expedition .

Whether you have made summit, I imagine you accomplished a big goal or dream. But let's see, do you not worked well at that time?

Acclimatization, the invisible enemy called "Altitude Sickness" was the one who would not let me climb to the summit, of course joined the lack of experience and my impatient personality. Aconcagua gave me a hard lesson I'll never forget and thanks to it I could then climb many more mountains.

We know that today is one of the Aconcagua mountain more "commercial" What you saw in that moment the appearance of habitat conservation? I refer to the "cleansing" by the climber. How have your opinion on services of the Park?

I felt excellent both habitat conservation by climbers, as the services of guards, rescue and medical units offered by the Park, not forgetting the good work of the guides and logistics companies.

I was impressed by the reception he had when he returned in Barajas. Have you thought about returning at some future?

We too impressed at the time because we expected it was something special that will never forget.
And of course I think back, Aconcagua not let me go because I wanted to come back, and I can not say no to a mountain.

How do you explain that inner strength that takes you to climb a mountain? How does it feel to be up there with the top in your pocket?

Certainly for me the strength to climb mountains comes from the desire to know, namely, to discover both what is around me, like what's inside me, so you need to climb a mountain that "spirit of adventure "I spoke of before.
And up there, I feel that I am still in the middle of the road, try to keep those moments in my heart to enjoy them at home, which is where the real summit.

And in moments of greatest danger, of greatest tension, when the five senses are not enough to achieve the necessary tranquility? Have you tended to that time?

Yes, there have been those moments, especially climbing alone, and you feel like you're playing a lot at each step, there are good times to doubt, you must be convinced of your strengths and skills, you have to trust you.

What are your plans for the near future?

I look forward to progressing as mountaineer and climber and complete the project 213 All "three thousand" of the Pyrenees, I also want to make a long trek or bike ride, and of course, return to Aconcagua, but mostly I'd like to share this experience with all my partner Susan.

How do you see the current development of mountaineering in Spain?

There are many levels in all fields of mountaineering, from rock climbing to mountaineering in eight thousand, and is an honor for me that having so many good climbers in Spain, I chose to make me ye find this interview, I'm only an amateur in this climbing mountains.

Who has been to you the most (or older if applicable) exponent in the history of this activity in Spain? And globally?

In Spain there have been so great climbers and will be very difficult to list them all, I always liked: Manolo Martinez "the shrew" Iñaki Ochoa de Olza, Anglada, Corominas, the Iñurrategui, Nil Bohigas, José Carlos Tamayo, and I left many more.
And globally I'll take two, Walter Bonatti and Reinhold Messner.

And one final question, leaving a little to one side of the mountain. So that people may know a little how the Javier Maskarell in day to day?

I would not know, we should ask the people around me, I never have good descriptions, perhaps because of that, what I enjoy doing on my web is telling stories.

Maybe I expressed to Javier after the note and carried on one of the last questions where he says it appreciates having elected for the same, considering that an "amateur" in this mountain climbing.

It is therefore important to make clear the following: any amateur might do what Javier has done and their experiences on the mountain. What's more, I go further still, I have not yet found a climber who perform such a task post-climbing adventure in order to show so clearly his experience.

It is an extra weight he carries in his backpack, it should put paid to this unique, must be thinking as photographic report and also be thinking about putting your feet in the right place and not making mistakes, which we know, up there usually paid quite expensive.

Thank you very much Javier.

Alpinismonline, February 2009.