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fandomhigh2010-09-08 10:44 pm
worsethanaunts.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2010-09-08 10:44 pm
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Boom-De-Yada Science - Danger Shop, Wednesday, Period 1 [Week 2]
There was a pile of cold weather gear outside the Danger Shop this week. There were sweaters, heavy jackets, boots, knitted hats, scarves, goggles (had to have goggles) and snowpants with the bibs that weren't particularly flattering. There was also a scribbled note affixed to the door. 'Put them on.'
The Doctor wasn't wearing any of those things when he finally let the geared-up students in (he wasn't letting anyone in without the gear, but he was open to arguments). He was instead wearing a poncho over his normal clothes and that seemed to be enough. It wasn't enough, but it seemed to be. They were on a rocky area at the very top of a magnificently high mountain with an incredible panoramic view.
"You're all standing on the tallest mountain on Earth," the Doctor said without introduction. "For those of us not from around here, this is Mount Everest. We're 8.85 kilometers above sea level. Don't worry, I've readjusted the oxygen levels so you don't die and lowered the wind and increased the temperature enough to keep the experience without any of you turning blue and fall down. Don't fall down. You'll have a long way to fall. The safety system is working, but that doesn't mean that falling down a mountain won't hurt everything you can possibly feel.
Mount Everest!" He went from stern to excited in an instant. "I'll spare you the history lesson. You can read about all of the specifics on Wikipedia," he said with a wave of his hand. "The important part is what this place means. The tallest of the tall, the highest of the high. This was the unreachable summit for so many centuries. Even now, it's considered an incredible feat. You need lots of gear, preparations, supplies, oxygen tanks and planning to even have a chance, and people still die along the way. If you were to make the actual climb, you'd probably see some of the 150 or so bodies that had to be left here because even now, here in the early 21st century, the amount of coordination and technology required to retrieve the bodies is considered to be too much and the risk too high to other human life to try.
In the face of danger and probable death, humans go out and climb mountains like this one simply because they're here, simply because they can. Some do it for the glory," he admitted, "or for money or for reasons that people do anything. But ask around, meet the people who've climbed the tallest thing you can climb on this planet and you'll find a trend. You'll find people who it because it was there. Because they can. Because why not? It's a big mountain. It's the biggest mountain. Let's climb it! Let's see what's at the top! Let's be on top of the world!" He had a small smile. "Go on. Have a look around. Let your jaws drop if that's your sort of thing. By the end of the class, I want you to tell the class what your Everest is. What's the adventure of your life? Why is it important to have one?"
The Doctor wasn't wearing any of those things when he finally let the geared-up students in (he wasn't letting anyone in without the gear, but he was open to arguments). He was instead wearing a poncho over his normal clothes and that seemed to be enough. It wasn't enough, but it seemed to be. They were on a rocky area at the very top of a magnificently high mountain with an incredible panoramic view.
"You're all standing on the tallest mountain on Earth," the Doctor said without introduction. "For those of us not from around here, this is Mount Everest. We're 8.85 kilometers above sea level. Don't worry, I've readjusted the oxygen levels so you don't die and lowered the wind and increased the temperature enough to keep the experience without any of you turning blue and fall down. Don't fall down. You'll have a long way to fall. The safety system is working, but that doesn't mean that falling down a mountain won't hurt everything you can possibly feel.
Mount Everest!" He went from stern to excited in an instant. "I'll spare you the history lesson. You can read about all of the specifics on Wikipedia," he said with a wave of his hand. "The important part is what this place means. The tallest of the tall, the highest of the high. This was the unreachable summit for so many centuries. Even now, it's considered an incredible feat. You need lots of gear, preparations, supplies, oxygen tanks and planning to even have a chance, and people still die along the way. If you were to make the actual climb, you'd probably see some of the 150 or so bodies that had to be left here because even now, here in the early 21st century, the amount of coordination and technology required to retrieve the bodies is considered to be too much and the risk too high to other human life to try.
In the face of danger and probable death, humans go out and climb mountains like this one simply because they're here, simply because they can. Some do it for the glory," he admitted, "or for money or for reasons that people do anything. But ask around, meet the people who've climbed the tallest thing you can climb on this planet and you'll find a trend. You'll find people who it because it was there. Because they can. Because why not? It's a big mountain. It's the biggest mountain. Let's climb it! Let's see what's at the top! Let's be on top of the world!" He had a small smile. "Go on. Have a look around. Let your jaws drop if that's your sort of thing. By the end of the class, I want you to tell the class what your Everest is. What's the adventure of your life? Why is it important to have one?"
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