Couch climbers & aspiring adventurers
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Update 1 : 23-09-02
The course:
Is run by a guiding group called Yamnuska Inc. The director used to work in New Zealand for Mt Aspiring Guides. The two companies together put together the course so that it can take advantage of mountaineering conditions in the Canadian winter and the New Zealand summer.
"The aims of the course are to develop all round competence to an intermediate level across the spectrum of mountain skills with particular emphasis on snow and ice mountaineering. This will be in tandem with development of individual and group leadership skills. The course includes tuition in remote area skiing, ice climbing, avalanche awareness, wilderness first aid, glacier travel and rock climbing. It requires the group of 6 - 12 participants to spend numerous weeks climbing peaks and travelling through the alpine areas of Canada and New Zealand." (from the course description)
My progress:
Two organizations have so far offered to help me.
Evolution Sports and Fitness have provided me with a free 12 month membership. Not only has this allowed me to direct $400 to my savings fund but we are having fun trying to figure out what exercise program provides the best preparation for mountaineering. In New Zealand last summer I learnt that 'calf raises' (rising up on your toes from a flat foot standing position and lowering down again) are one of the best things you can do - to prepare the legs for all of that crampon front pointing and walking up very steep slopes. And from my jelly leg memories of that trip I can also advocate the importance of squats or other similar exercises that build up quadriceps.
Snowgum - The Bendigo shop has offered to provide a substantial discount on gear that I buy through them. While over my bushwalking days I have accumulated a good amount of high quality gear there are certainly some things that I don't have - a sleeping bag suitable for -30° for example. I wonder how often it will be that cold. I've experienced -20°, at night, at high altitude in Nepal. It was pretty cold but there was no wind and we were able to keep comfortably warm. What difference will 10° make?
Snowgum is bringing Eric Phillips to Bendigo on October 8th to give a presentation about his recent amazing trip to the North Pole with Jon Muir.
A number of family members are also chipping in - thanks to all of you. Thanks too for being encouraging and only muttering 'but is it safe?' under your collective breaths.
The journey to here
Its only recently dawned on me that I could turn my long interest in bushwalking into something a bit more challenging. A couple of years ago I read a story about a group of British women who walked first, with lot of other women, to the North Pole and later walked (or skied and trudged) as a small group to the South Pole. They had not had a great deal of experience and their book made the idea of a visit to a remote and wild place sound feasible. Sometime after that Brigitte Muir asked for expressions of interest from women who wanted to join her on a trip to the South Pole - I emailed her straight away. She worked out pretty soon that my experience level was not in the category that she wanted in travel companions. I think she wanted someone who had seen a crevasse before and had some idea of how to pull her out if she happened to drop into one - fair enough really. However, for a few months I had a dream of going to the South Pole and it was such an exciting dream. I realised that though I really did need some experience that it was possible for me to aim to do some really exciting things. This course is about getting some of the necessary experience under my belt. I'm not going to predict what will happen next - there are so many variables - maybe I won't like being so cold, maybe I will prefer to spend time at home or feel that I'm needed there for some reason but maybe I'll continue on this path and do something else. One step at a time.
Brigitte Muir is always such a positive, encouraging person that she's a delight to contact. This is a small extract from her book 'The Wind in My Hair' that she wrote about her quest to climb the 7 summits. (The highest peak in each of the 7 continents - includes Everest. Published by Viking, Penguin Books, 1998). This extract is about the journey to the top of our very own tallest mountain - Mt Kosciuszko and says something of the delight in the spirit of the forests and the mountains.
"The smell of eucalyptus oil dilated by the late summer heat pervaded the green twilight of the undergrowth. Red and white fairytale mushrooms poked their shiny hats through the deep mulch covering the steep ground. Huge tree trunks shot through high boughs to hold, it seemed the ceiling of the white sky above. In Europe I would go to cathedrals when I felt like being in a forest, as their naves, with high pillars so similar to the trees, reminded me of the original worship groves of my pagan ancestors. In Australia, I simply went to the High Country, The huge forests covering the slopes were temples to everyone's God or gods, and in this country lacking in centuries - old buildings soaked in faith, they gave me the peace, love and understanding my old-world sanctuaries had provided."
I hope you enjoy sharing this adventure with me.
Linda