Congratulations to the students of Math Lab Period 4, St. Piux X High School in Houston, TX.  They were the first to correctly identify that “Reckless” Rick would ascend Disappointment Peak in the Grand Teton Range of Wyoming. Brilliant work!  They will each receive a Reckless Pursuit t-shirt.

Thanks to the many classrooms and students for playing.  Special thanks to all you teachers who made Reckless Pursuit a part of your students’ studies these past few weeks.  ”Reckless” Rick may be back later in the school year with a new Math-Venture, more prizes, and more fun.

How I arrived here I don’t know. But as I gaze across at the Grand Teton from my perch 450 feet above the vast crevice, I am suddenly aware of exactly where I am. The wind is howling. The temperature quickly dropping below zero. I’m beaten and scratched from head to foot. “Perfect conditions for the final ascent” I think as I dangle here held aloft only by the straps of my backpack. As Faithful Tenzing stands guard above me, I realize just how well named this peak is. It perfectly sums up my feelings of disappointment.  Editor’s Note: Disappointment?  Could that be the name of the peak?

What’s that I hear?  A rescue copter.  Coming for me.  Ready to wing me back to warmth and medical assistance. The world’s not fair. They’re just cresting the peak of the Grand Teton now.  Directly over it?  Hmmm.  If their path takes them over the peak to get me it may be travelling back the same way.  Tenzing, how do you feel about skydiving?

ENTRY FORM: Click here

[The Editors regret that there is no journal entry for this week. We did however receive an audio recording. After considerable debate we have decided to release a transcript of that recording. Readers are warned that the recording is most disturbing. Reckless must have incurred a severe head injury. He appears delirious and unaware of his surroundings.]

Rick:  Thank you. Thank you.  It’s a pleasure to be on the show  . . . Thank you Mr. Letterman . . . okay, then, David.

[It appears he believes he is on the Letterman show. There are long moments of silence during which we assume Rick imagines Mr. Letterman asking him questions.]

Rick:  Well, yes of course it was dangerous at times, but I’ve been preparing for this ascent my entire life. Of course, making the ascent during the worst blizzard ever seen in those parts did make it bit challenging.  Of course the earthquake didn’t help. The last leg I took snow blind, and the volcanic explosion left me temporarily deaf.  I had to feel my way up the last half mile of the climb.  (laughs)  Well, yes Mr. Letter, I mean David I guess you could call me the Helen Keller of mountain climbing. Except her fingers weren’t frostbitten.   . . . Well, I can tell you it took precise calculations. But you see I’ve always been good at math.  Back in school, that was in Carbon County, Wyoming we all took math seriously. I was in a math intervention program famous for getting great results. Editor’s Note:  Rick is correct about Carbon County, WY having an exceptional math intervention program. For this week’s math question find out what percent of Carbon County students achieved 2 years or more math growth during a 7 month period.  Click here to find the answer.

 [There is a long silence during which we assume David Letterman introduces the next guest.  At this point Reckless appears to turn his attention to her.]

Rick:  Wow! I’m flattered. Who’d guess that the most beautiful and desirable movie star in Hollywood would be such a fan?  Please, please you’re embarrassing me.  All right, I guess there probably isn’t a man in Hollywood like me . . .

[At this point the recording picks up a variety of additional noises. First, we hear Tenzing bark. Soon after, he growls. This is then followed by the sound of something else growling. Perhaps a bear?]

Rick:  What?  Oh, don’t worry David I’m strictly a lone wolf. No room for a partner in this adventurer’s life, even the most beautiful and desirable movie star in Hollywood.  A kiss?  Well, I don’t know. My mother may be watching …  You think so? … well, yeah we wouldn’t want to disappoint the audience.

[The growls become louder and now clearly turn into a snarl. This is no bear. This is a cat. A very big cat. Most likely a large female mountain lion otherwise known as puma, cougar, catamount, or panther.]

Rick: Well, okay then. Here goes … Wow, David, I think she’s purring.

[We will refrain from describing the cries, and screams that take place next.  Unfortunately, this is all there is to the recording. We’ll have to wait until we hear next from Rick, hopefully soon.]

ENTRY FORM: Click here

Get extra clues by clicking the “Clues” link at the top of the page.

Iron Pyrite, “Fool’s Gold”

Imagine my disappointment when a gust of wind rolled the rock off my leg.  Worse yet, it wasn’t even broken. My leg, not the rock. Anyway, I was gazing at the rock and thinking about how rotten my luck is when I noticed a sparkly glint of … GOLD!  I had heard tales of gold mining not too far from here back in the 1800’s, some place along the river called Deadman’s Bar. Just think of the headlines this could make. “Rick Carter uncovers mother lode during freak fall from mountain which badly bruised his leg.” Well, maybe leave the last part out. Anyway, this rock is pretty big. I’d say about 40 pounds, and it’s at least 20% gold. How many pounds of gold would that be?  Click here for help from Ascend Math video tutorial.  Editor’s note:  Include the answer with your weekly contest entry.  So, this past week has been spent digging in the rock.  Tenzing helps where he can. He actually seems to enjoy it.  At last, our efforts have uncovered what could be an abandoned mine. Digging this way will take forever.  Fortunately, I remembered the special “safety flares” from the boat.  [Editor’s note: the following is transcribed from recorded audio sent by Tenzing]

RICK’S VOICE:  We’re recording this for posterity.  The last three sticks of dynamite have been stuck in the hole and lit.  [Tenzing is heard whimpering]  We’re hunkered down behind a boulder waiting for the big moment. [Sound of a huge explosion] Wow! That should clear it. I’m rising to get a look. It’s hard to see. Wait the dust is starting to clear. There’s a lot of rubble and one rock headed straight for my [Here is where the recording ends]

ENTRY FORM: Click here

Get extra clues by clicking the “Clues” link at the top of the page.

Rick may have found the “Colter Stone”

What was the name of that movie?  The one with that guy? You know the one who hosted the Academy Awards and they all said he wasn’t as funny as Billy Crystal? Anyway, in this movie he’s trapped with his arm under this big boulder. He had to cut himself loose in order to be saved.  I think it was based on a real story. The guy who wrote it sold a million books, got on Letterman, and had that guy play him in the movie. «Editor’s Note: we think he means  the movie“127 Hours”.» Well, this must be my lucky day. Normally, a 250 foot tumble down a sheer cliff followed by a rockslide would dampen my spirits. I now find my left leg pinned under a huge boulder. I mean, how lucky can you get?  Imagine, Rick Carter the first one legged man to ascend this mountain. Let’s see, I’m at about 9,000 vertical feet now. That leaves me with 4000 feet to climb. With this slope and two good legs I can climb at about a 1000 feet an hour. With just one good leg I may only be able to go half that speed.  How long will it take me? Click here for help from Ascend Math video tutorial. «Editor’s Note: Submit your answer to this math question on this week’s entry.»   Now if I can only get Tenzing to help me get the boulder off so I can hop to it. It’s been days and he just sits there on top of the rock shifting back and forth and barking. Rocking the rock. Back and forth. Back and forth.  I just noticed, that rock really looks like some guys face. It has writing on it. A name. John Colt… something. I can’t seem to make out the last two letters. So, anyway I’ve been thinking.  Justin Timberlake would make an excellent choice to play me in the movie.

ENTRY FORM: Click here

Get extra clues by clicking the “Clues” link at the top of the page.

Did you find these clues?  What mountain peak will Rick climb? Be sure to enter your “guess” on the contest form. Enter weekly. Good luck!

1. The photo in the Week One entry shows a placemat under the journal. Look in the corner, you’ll find a partial name for Rick’s starting point.
2. Look on the clues page (top of this page) to see a photo taken by Tenzing. It’s not a very good shot, looks like his paw got in the way, but you may be able to match the photo online.

The lake with the same name as the waitress

If not for the quick reactions of the faithful Tenzing we would now be exploring the bottom of the lake, in bits and pieces. Grabbing the stick of dynamite I thought to be a safety flare, Tenzing dropped it over the side of the boat. The resulting explosion created a massive wave, pushing the boat on to the rocks.  The boat sunk and left us stranded here on a small island.

Sitting on a rock in the middle of this lake, I’ve been trying to remember.  What was the name of that waitress back at the lodge?  “The lake and I have a lot in common,” she said. “We share the same name and if you’re not careful around us you’ll end up on the rocks.” After 62 hours we were finally able to fashion a raft out of pieces of the boat. At last, our journey can continue. It may now be a challenge to make our water last. We started out with a gallon and now there is only 1/3 left. I poured off 1/3 of that in a separate container for Tenzing. One third of one third of a gallon?  How much is that anyway?  «Editor’s Note: Be sure to include the answer to this math question in your weekly contest entry.» Click here for help.

We have reached the base of the great mountain.  Just as hope returned, the clouds parted and the weather became nice again. I just can’t seem to get a break!  Well, if I can’t conquer the mountain in the worst weather I can certainly do it in the worst way. I eyed a particularly slippery slope mapping in my mind an ascent so ridiculous no one in their right mind would ever attempt it… except Rick Carter.

ENTRY FORM: Click here

This week’s extra clue, the name of the waitress named for the lake.   Click the “Clues” link at the top of the page.

Safety flares?

Temperature was 18° F. Blowing snow. Weather advisories and climbing alerts had been released. Perfect conditions to begin my ascent!  Unfortunately, the road to the base was closed down. Well, there’s more than one way to get to the foot of the mountain.

I borrowed a boat. It’s a very nice boat. The “Grand Plan” it’s called. I’ll have to thank the owner, if I ever see him. My plan was simple: straight across the lake, down the trail, and up the mountain to fame and glory. With a little luck I’d have the boat back in dock by tomorrow.

Okay, I should have filled the tank before leaving. I know. But you have to grab these foul weather windows when you can get them. Besides I think it takes diesel. Wind at 30 knots and not in the right direction. So we’re moving further away from our landing every minute.  If I abandon the boat how far is it to shore? I can skip a stone 150 yards. I give it my best toss. It goes 1/4 of the way to shore. That means I would only have to swim about . . .  I just remembered. I don’t know how to swim.  «Editor’s Note: About how far is Rick from the shoreline. Include your answer on this week’s entry»  Click here for help from Ascend Math video tutorial.

I search the boat for something I can use to signal our location while Tenzing keeps an eye out for passing fisherman.  He’s whining. I guess I shouldn’t have used his last dog biscuit as a skipping stone. My inspection reveals a packet of safety flares carefully wrapped tightly in plastic to keep out any dampness. I remove one. Tenzing begins barking frantically and snapping at the flare. He must think it’s a stick for him to play with.  We’re surrounded by water. Where does he think I’m going to toss it?  It takes a while but I finally get the thing lit, not easy in all this wind and icy sleet. The fuse just sputters. It’s kind of a funny looking flare.  Looks more like a stick of

ENTRY FORM: Click here

This week’s extra clue includes a photo of the mountain range.  Click the “Clues” link at the top of the page.

Rick’s journal. Photo by Tenzing

Lost!  That’s how I feel right now. If this rotten nice weather keeps up I’ll lose any chance to ascend the great mountain peak. This El Nino, La Nono, or whatever the weather people call it is ruining everything.  I’ve never been more miserable. How I long for blue skies, mild temperatures, and calm winds to go away.  Rick Carter never conquers a mountain in fair conditions. Anyone can do that. I’ll have to hole up here until this unbearable streak of pleasant weather breaks.  The waitress just arrived. “Yes, I would like another guava pomegranate iced tea,” I tell her, “and bring a bottled water for my guide.”  “Adorable,” she says, “just adorable.”  Tenzing. My faithful guide always did have an eye for the ladies, and they for him. Through the ceiling high pane of glass the mountain stands tall, taunting me. So close I could almost reach out and touch it. What I wouldn’t give for 10 inches of snow and gale force winds.  Let’s see how you look in zero visibility, my friend.  The waitress returns. “They say the weather should stay nice through the weekend. Will you be with us that long?” she asks.  Good question. I had hoped to leave today. Now it looks like I may have to stay seven more nights. My special adventurer’s rate here at the lodge is $90 a night. I have $700, but I’ll need $100 of that for expenses like rope, pitons, and oreos. How many nights can I afford?   ‹‹Editor’s Note: Be sure to include the answer to this math question on your contest entry. Click here for help.›› More importantly, how many nights can I take the luxury of a King size bed and Jacuzzi. No matter. I will do whatever it takes.  I am Rick Carter and I swear I will not experience disappointment!

ENTRY FORM: Click here

Want an extra clue?  Click the “Clues” link at the top of the page.