The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page 40

2D greenvilleonline.com The Greenville News Onward, upward go Sherpa and schlepper ANNIVERSARIES By Dave Barry Knight Riddkr You can imagine my reaction when I found out that Jamling (,. i v. Mr. and Mrs. Gunter Mr and Mrs.

William Joseph Gunter of 1605 State Park Road celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 13 with a celebration at their home given by Mr. and Mrs. David W. Fenerty. Mr.

and Mrs. Gunter were married June 23, 1951. Their children are Donna Carol Othman of Fairfax, Lisa Gunter King of Taylors; Kathy Gunter Fenerty of Kensington, and the late David Ernest Gunter. They have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The former Grace Caroline Sammons of Taylors, Mrs.

Gunter is a homemaker. Mr. Gunter is retired from the U.S. Air Force and is a former employee of Kroger Food Co. They are members of Mountain Creek Baptist Church.

use hand signals. For example, waving your hand would indicate "Hi!" 9:38 a.m. Nothing dramatic happens during this particular minute. 9:40 a.m. We start our ascent.

It is frankly easier than I expected. This is because we are riding up in a Jeep. I wonder why this technique has not been used to ascend Everest, but do not mention it to Jamling, lest he smack his forehead and say, "NOW you tell me!" 9:43 a.m. We're almost to the top, a place where' few humans have ever been, unless you count the several hundred people who drive dump trucks up there daily. We leave the Jeep and walk to the summit, ascending a slope that is pitched at about the same angle as a shuffleboard court.

That is the kind of mountaineering studs we are. 9:45 a.m. The summit! We stand 149 feet above sea level, just 28,879 feet lower than Mount Everest itself. It does not smell nearly as bad as we expected. I ask Jamling to compare this experience with being atop Everest.

"It's very different," he says. 10 a.m. We begin our descent. On the way down, Chief of Landfills Thorne informs us that Mount Trashmore contains I am not making this up human body parts AND dead whales. I can tell Jamling is impressed.

10:03 a.m. We reach sea level, tired but proud. On the way back to the hotel, we are killed in a car crash. No, really, we got back fine. It was a successful expedition, and Jamling was a great sport.

So buy his book, OK? Because it's there. Dave Barry is a humor columnist for the Miami Herald. Write to him co The Miami Herald, One Herald Plaza, Miami FL 33132. Tenzing Norgay was coming to Miami. My reaction was: "Who?" Then I found out that he is the son of Tenzing Norgay, the legendary Sherpa guide who was with Edmund Hillary in 1953 when they became the first people to reach the top of Mount Everest.

In 1996, Jamling followed in his father's footsteps as the climbing leader of the team that went to the summit and filmed the IMAX movie "Everest." He was coming to Miami to talk about his excellent book on that expedition, "Touching My Father's Soul." In other words, a world-class mountain climber a man who survived one of the deadliest climbs on Earth was coming to my city. Not to brag, but I am something of a climber myself. On several occasions, at risk of personal discomfort, I have bypassed a hotel elevator and ascended to the mezzanine level via the stairs. So I wanted to climb something with Jamling Tenzing Norgay. Specifically, I wanted to climb the highest mountain in Miami-Dade County.

I knew this would not be easy, because there ARE no mountains in Miami-Dade County. All of South Florida is basically at sea level, which is why every time there's a hurricane, we wind up with ocean-dwelling fish in our family rooms, flopping around and moving their mouths as if to say: "What are YOU doing here, Lung Breath? This is SEA LEVEL!" So I decided that, in lieu of a mountain, Jamling and I would attempt to climb the closest approximation we have: the South Dade Solid Waste Disposal Facility. This is a South Florida landmark, known locally as "Mount Trashmore." It's basically a large mound of garbage covered with 1 1 y. 1 I THSi.Aii'S GAS qDf IT Jj'JtCW I Picture Engraving included with price. mm I 74 Congaree Road Greenville 864 297-3719 nil i Dave Barry Columnist dirt.

I proposed this climb to Jamling through his publisher. He agreed to do it, partly because he is a brave man who relishes a challenge, but mainly because he was on a book tour. When you've been on a book tour a while, you give up and do whatever anybody asks you to do. When I'm on a book tour, I allow TV makeup people to apply so much mascara to me that I become a dead ringer for Elizabeth Taylor. And so on a Saturday morning, I met up with Jamling, a quiet and dignified man, and together we attempted to summit Mount Trashmore.

I will not ruin the suspense by telling you up front whether we died. Instead, I will give you a dramatic, minute-by-minute account: 9 a.m. We set out. Almost immediately I consider turning back, because it is terrifying. I'm referring here to the South Florida traffic, where the motto is: "GET OUT OF MY WAY! CANT YOU SEE I'M ON MY 9:30 a.m.

We arrive at Mount Trashmore, where we meet our guides for the ascent: communications director Gayle Love, and Bill Thorne, whose title is "chief of landfills." We discuss the ascent, and agree that if spoken communication becomes difficult on the summit, we will hard can wear Your joints carefully record every assault, then, in middle age, demand payment for damages. The payment may be stiffness and reduced range of motion, or a more severe condition, such as arthritis. In osteoarthritis, which arises from physical abuse of the body, the joint degenerates. A critical I Exercising too Gannett Service If you exercise vigorously, chances are good that subtle injuries will accumulate over the years. A little tear here, a strain there, the proliferation of scar tissue.

The effects of such exercise are most damaging to the joints of the body, and they don't like it. the joints out part of that process is loss of the Teflon-like (articular) cartilage that covers the surface of bones. Traumatic injury, especially repeated injuries to the same joint, may set the stage for osteoarthritis. In particular, the risk is great when a joint injury is not allowed to heal completely before the joint is challenged again. finest 'Bridal Mr.

and Mrs. Finch Mr. and Mrs. Burl E. Finch of 27 Oakwood Drive celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 12 with a reception given by their children and granchildren at Francis Asbury United Methodist Church.

The couple were married May 11, 1951. Their children are Gene Finch of Nashville, Diann Han-non of Taylors; and Dennis Finch and Tim Finch of Greenville. They have eight grandchildren. The former Mildred E. Lay of Walhalla, Mrs.

Finch is a home-maker. Mr. Finch is retired from John D. Hollingsworth Co. and the U.S.

Air Force. They are members of Francis Asbury United Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Dyer Mr.

and Mrs. Leroy V. Dyer of 401 Westcliffe Way celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 9 with a family celebration given by their children at Silver Bay Restaurant and their home. Mr. and Mrs.

Dyer were married June 9, 1951. Their children are Celeste Jones, Steve Dyer and Dawn Morgan, all of Easley, and Lee Dyer Jr. of Greenville. They have eight grandchildren. The former Marion Lorraine Beeks of Greenville, Mrs.

Dyer is retired from Leroy Dyer Sons Signs. Mr. Dyer is also retired from the same company. They are members of Monaghan Baptist Church. Services 2 QUishcs, "Gall 298-4398 ilM Mr.

and Mrs. Scott Mr. and Mrs. Carlos T. Scott of 23 Ridgecrest Drive celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 10 with a dinner at Khaki's restaurant given by their children.

The couple were married June 10, 1951. Their children are Danny Scott, Kim Standridge and Missi Ross, all of Greenville. They have six grandchildren. The former Patricia Stiller of Greenville, Mrs. Scott is a home-maker.

Mr. Scott is retired from Southern Bell. They are members of Laurens Road United Methodist Church. A Special Place For Your Special Day Bridesmaids' Luncheons Rehearsal Dinners WeddingReceptions Weddings Call Ruth Hathaway 233-4651 The Phoenix Criinvllll'slnn www.phoenixgreenvillesinn.com A Directory of Qreenvitfe Over 1000 unique gowns Sizes 4 to 44 Exclusive Couture Showroom Huge Bridesmaid Prom Selection Invitations, Shoes, Gloves, Jewelry Mothers Special Occasion Gowns Discount Packavcs Availahlp rffiffiPffi Evening Hours All Week fx Elegant French Salon in Historic Home NEW LOCATION Dresses Fr. 20 off any bridal or bridesmaid purchases until 63001.

Must mention ad. 370-0770 Hours: Mon 10-5 5 Cateechce Avenue Tues-Fri 1 1-7 Greenville, South Carolina Sat 10-6 Just oft of Augusta Road www.dreamcollcrtionsbridal.com Appointments Encouraged "llmlion" by CHAPS Ralph lfltimn AwwsTA 9 Faris Grkenviu.e Maix 235-H524 2H1-7707 4 0J99 1 HhrdtmitHlIf Nruif "Vf0 IHtftfTrnuHllf Nn 'OS gregorys formal wear Save up to $500.00 on your upcoming wedding! Cull or visit one of our locations fordcUiils. claiborne.V RALPH LAUREN Srp, Stork For Drtaii Ml Sidewalk Sale June 30th 730 Pleasantburg riia hi hvx 'vit' IS fi win.