Local Man Points Tour Guide in the Right Direction

July 2, 2007 | by Fritz | No Comments

“I asked him, “Isn’t the mountain that way?”" -Fritz

by Fritz

Mount Shasta- Self proclaimed tour guide, Dan Wheeler, from San Francisco seemed aloof Friday when local man and hero Fritz had to remind Wheeler of the actual direction to get to Mount Shasta where the four climbers were vacationing.“My first clue that he was taking us the wrong way was that we were hiking down hill.” Fritz, mountain climber and victim said. “The second clue was that the mountain was behind us. I yelled out to our “tour guide” that I thought we were going the wrong way, and all I got was a nose in the air response from Dan saying that “This route is better.” I mean you can see the mountain…it was right there! Behind us.”

“There is no doubt that Fritz saved our lives out there.” Kurt Schumacher mountain climber and victim said. “Dan had us running all over the place out there. Everywhere but UP the mountain.”

“I knew we were in trouble when I saw Dan point to the distant horizon with his walking pole and yell out, “Everyone follow me!” We all looked at each other, rolled our eyes as if to say, “Here we go again.”" Tim Vanier another mountain climber and victim said.

“I stand by my decision to go that way.” Wheeler said. “An extra three hours in those boots never hurt anyone.”