By ROBERT FATURECHI Special to the Daily Press
Clark Vautier loves to climb mountains, the bigger the better.
The Santa Monica resident recently reached the snowy peak of Mount McKinley, the continent’s highest mountain, an experience that’s left its mark on Vautier in more ways than one.
“Ultimately when you get out into nature you get in touch with nature, but really you’re getting in touch with yourself,” the marketing consultant said. “It’s that connection with nature that recharges me, and I have to do it.”
Though more than two weeks have passed since the native New Zealander returned home, signs of his snowy adventure still mark his face.
Along his tanned skin — peppered with snowy stubble — are the brownish burns of frost nip, a result of the cold trek along the Alaskan peak.
Though his burns will likely heal and disappear, Vautier said the experience is one that will stick with him.
“When we saw that marker marking the top of the mountain, there was such a great feeling of accomplishment,” Vautier said. “There’s very few things you can have such a tangible result in front
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 8, 2005. Read the original PDF.