Climbing Short Story - looking for title, author

I’m hoping you can help me find a story that I was exposed to in High school that apparently had a big impact on me, as I now guide in the Tetons.

I don’t know the author or title of this short story that was in an English Literature (?) anthology in 10th or 11th grade.

Setting: Europe/Alps (?), in the 50’s?... Story goes like:

Old guy, mountaineer decides he’s too old, and it’s time to die. So he’ll go climb something hard and fall off to his death.

He gets to an overhanging crux on an ice climb and is about to lose his grip.

Just then, he hears a scream and some ice falls past him.

He is needed.

He climbs through the crux and comes to the rescue of a younger couple.

Life has new meaning.

I would be very grateful if you can help me re-connect with this story.

Thanks!

All my best,

Scotty

Banner in the Sky' by James Ramsey Ullman is the best climbing book that many have read when they were young. Not sure if that scene is from the story (it sounds familiar somehow), but 'Banner has had chapters included in middle school literature texts for quite awhile now. In paperback everywhere still today.

"Banner in the Sky" was renamed "Third Man on the Mountain" after Disney made the movie (which is really pretty good). I looked at my copy and couldn't find this scenario anywhere. But it sure does sound Ullman-esque.

This is a bit off topic, but I wanted to share it with climbers and this forum seems a good venue.

As a climber and high school English teacher I often jones for literature that expresses the feeling of climbing. I have read many climbing books and climbing stories but the one that best gets to the heart of what it feels like to climb, the scenarios that go through a climber's head while climbing, the connection to the rock and nature, and the reasons why some of us climb, are detailed in James Salter's Solo Faces. Those of you looking for some climbing fiction by a real writer who has also spent a bit of time on the rock, check it out.

Disney may have changed the name for their film version, but the book is still under the original title. New copies available to kids through the Scholastic book club sales they hold in schools. Just saw them last year in a Jr high library.
My climbing buddy was given this book to read by his Dad when he was a kid. It sold him on trying the whole climbing thing when he got older.

I didn't realize this was still available as "Banner in the Sky". My copy is "Third Man on the Mountain" and it has a picture of the guy who played Dano on Hawaii Five-O on the cover. He was a Disney contract actor apparently.

This book was a big inspiration to my climbing career.

Scott
I've been looking for that title myself for a number of years, and its NOT banner in the sky...any luck with your search yet. You may want to read "East of the Mountains" a novel by the same guy who wrote snow falling in cedars ( cant remember the name)...similar story.

Jsb

Woodchuck ATC wrote:Banner in the Sky' by James Ramsey Ullman is the best climbing book that many have read when they were young. Not sure if that scene is from the story (it sounds familiar somehow), but 'Banner has had chapters included in middle school literature texts for quite awhile now. In paperback everywhere still today.

I've got an old copy of Third Man on the Mountain that I'm happy to donate to someone if they want it. Especially if that someone has a child they want to give it to. Just drop me a PM if you're interested.

Is this it? amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss…

I’m looking for the same short story. I also read it back in the 1980s. So it’s not any of the titles that have been mentioned.

It starts off with a bus driver saying: “We don’t take buttons” to an old man who was attempting to pay his fare with a small disc from his pocket that the old man had thought was the proper coin.

Later that day, the old man starts to worry that he is losing his sanity and dexterity. He sets off for a final climb in the Alps, traveling without redundant equipment. I don’t believe he purchased two-way passage..

During his climb, he pushed the envelope to the max, taking chances he would have avoided in earlier years.   He fears that he has no further purpose in life….until he encounters someone who needs him.

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who can tell us the name of this short story?