Chicks May newsletter
The Local Hospitality Tour: Women’s Trek to Nepal
October 19 – Nov 2, 2010 space available
Kim Reynolds (far right) in 1988 in the village of Deku.
I first traveled into the Solu Khumbu region in 1988 on my way to climb Mera Peak with my good friend Ung Dawa Sherpa. On the way, we stopped at Dawa’s house in the village of Deku, where he was born. They had never had a western visitor to their house and were very excited to share their generous Sherpa hospitality with me. This meant endless cups of tea, boiled potatoes and locally made chang, a rice beer. This ritual can go on for hours sitting around the open fire in the kitchen with a lot of story telling and laughing.
The language barrier didn’t matter since food, drink, laughter and eye contact always seem to bridge the cultural gap. This is when I first fell in love with the Sherpa people, descendants of the Tibetans, who traveled over the Himalaya Mts “from the east” around 400 yrs ago. They are Buddhist farmers who carved a life in the Everest Region in harsh conditions. They are hearty, fun loving and well known for their ability to move well at high altitudes.
This started a life long friendship with the people in this region who have become my family. I have been fortunate to visit them on and off for the last 22 years, keeping our bond alive. When I lead treks to this region, it brings me great joy to share my special friends with you on what I like to call “the local hospitality tour”.
Kim greeted by Lama Rinzing after several years
A highlight from our women’s trek two years ago was being unexpectedly greeted by Lama Rinzing in his home village of Mera, while walking along the trail. (see photo below) He resides over the Tragsindu Monastery, a day’s walk from Mera, near Deku where I first visited in 1988. Later in our trek, we happened upon a festival several days walk from this meeting place and there he was again! Our group was invited into a very small room to have tea with him and another high Lama. In order for the eight of us to fit, most of us crawled on to the bed and sat next to the two Lamas, smiling and laughing while sipping tea. For me, these spontaneous moments capture the essence of the experience: people simply enjoying each other’s presence half way across the world.
Our trek is a “go” with six women presently signed up! We have space for four more for a full trip. Please email me if you are interested: kim@chickswithpicks.net
Congratulations!
Angela Hawse and Caroline George
Chicks Climbing would like to like to congratulate Girly Guides Angela Hawse and Caroline George who recently became fully certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guides! This is a huge undertaking and we are tickled pink about your accomplishment!
AMGA Certifies New Mountain Guides
Four AAC members recently passed the AMGA’s tough Ski Mountaineering Guide Exam in Alaska. For Angela Hawse of Ridgway, Colorado, and Caroline George of Salt Lake City, the exam was the final step in their quest to become fully certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guides—only the sixth and seventh American women to reach this level, and two of about 50 women guides in the world. Mark Falender of Snowmass, Colorado, and Tyler Jones of Ketchum, Idaho, qualified as AMGA Certified Ski Mountaineering Guides.
The 10 guide candidates spent eight days in Alaska under the watchful eyes of examiners Howie Schwartz, Evan Stevens, and Colin Zacharias. They worked in two ranges—the Talkeetna and Chugach mountains—with vastly different snowpacks. Day 3 brought the crevasse rescue test, which George describes as “arresting a fall, building a snow anchor, transferring the weight to that anchor, cleaning and padding the lip of the crevasse, going down to the victim to administer first aid, grab his skis, pole, and backpack, jug out of the hole, and haul the victim out, all in less than 45 minutes.” Whew!
It wasn’t all tough, though. With good weather on the fourth day, the group flew onto the upper Eagle Glacier out of Girdwood and found beautiful untracked powder.
“There is a new rule now that candidates have to wait two weeks to get thre results,” George said. “This felt like the longest two weeks of my life. I must have hit [my page on the AMGA] website at least 300 times!”
IMFGA/UIAGM mountain guides must be certified in three disciplines: rock, alpine, and ski mountaineering. The mountain guide status means they can legally guide around the world.
New Social Media Chick!
Twelve women applied for this position at Chicks Climbing and I interviewed eight very talented, capable women. The decision was very difficult as each woman offered something unique to the job. So, after much ado, we are proud to welcome Maija Burkert to the Chicks Staff.
Maija has an impressive background with much to offer Chicks Climbing: she is a Chicks with Picks alumni, a West Point graduate with an English degree, an editor, climber, wife, cat lover, soon to be MBA graduate from the Kelley School of Business and currently employed in the world of Social Media. Lucky us!
I’d like to personally thank Lisa Nelson for starting this position from scratch and getting our Blog, Twitter and Facebook groups all up rand happening! I appreciate the time, energy and learning you put into this position to bring the women’s climbing community together. Thank you for laying the groundwork and best of luck in your next journey.
Chicks Rock!
Get ready Devil’s Lake, we’re coming back to Wisconsin with even more events!
We had so much fun last year, that we are returning this September for our second annual three-day women’s rock climbing clinic, plus, we’re adding more events. We wanted to give you a head’s up to these new additions before we put them out on the airwaves.
New this year: a public slideshow and fun-filled weekend of Skills Clinics offered to the public (yes, you boys too).
(All of this will be posted on our new Chicks Climbing web site coming soon)
DEVILS LAKE EVENTS 2010:
PUBLIC SLIDESHOW:
Thursday, September 9: Boulders Rock Gym, Madison WI, 7:00 PM
Public Slideshow given by one of our Girly Guides
$10 price includes raffle tickets for cool prizes
WEEKEND SKILLS CLINIC:
Open to the public, co-ed courses, 8-to-1 ratio
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Sign up for one of the following:
Saturday, September 11:
1- Self-Rescue Clinic: rope safety (includes demos of rappelling with backups, lowering skills and prussiking up a rope), belay escapes.
2- Intro to Trad Leading Clinic: anchors, protection placement, safety, rack selection, problem solving and the head game.
3- Working a Project / Red Point Tactics Clinic: choosing a route, sequencing, eliminating errors, linking moves, mental training and breaking out of plateaus.
Sunday, September 12:
1- Anchors Clinic: demo and practice the following: top rope anchors, lead belay anchors, rappel anchors and material selection
2- Intro to Big Wall Climbing Clinic: aid climbing, haul systems, leading, jumaring, following a traverse, gear selection
3- Intro to Multi-Pitch Climbing Clinic: equipment, systems, belays and stance management, hanging belays, problem-solving, rappels
CHICKS ROCK! INTENSIVE CLINIC:
Monday – Thursday, September 13 – 16:
This piece is for women only. Join us for three days of climbing at a 4-to1 ratio with our expert Girly Guides. We offer a Full Package including camping, meals, gear and guiding. Clinic starts Monday afternoon with orientation and dinner, followed by three days on the rock ending on Thursday afternoon.
For more details www.chickswithpicks.net or emailinfo@chickswithpicks.net
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