David Roberts and The Mountain of My Fear

Paul J. Rich, George Mason University

Abstract

The travel writer and famous mountain climber David Roberts and I were both in the Harvard Mountaineering Club, and Dave's comments about that august if somewhat eccentric group are well worth a read. One of his titles, Mountain of My Fear, usefully describes in a phrase my own minute adventures: nobody ever held on for dear life with such passion.

The secret of the famous egg nogg is reveale here for the time:

8 eggs

3 cups heavy whipping cream

2 cups whole milk

1 cup sugar

1cup brandy

1 cup dark rum

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon nutmeg, ground or grated (fresh is best)

Begin with pre-chilled ingredients and in a medium bowl, beat the eggs together hard until they're frothy. Add sugar and continue beating. Sprinkle nutmeg and vanilla.

Continue beating. Gradually add in the whipping cream, continuing to beat. A little at a time, beat in the milk.

Finally, beat in the rum and brandy. Serve cold. Has subdued many aspiring alpinists.