When War Conflicts With Nature

The world today is surrounded by stories of war. People everywhere are fighting, cultures are constantly clashing, and the earth seems to be close to shattering, but somewhere in the rock climbing community, cultures are attempting to learn about one another through the sport of rock climbing. Scaling large mountain peaks is not something that is social acceptable for women in Pakistan. Like many other things in countries that are distant in culture from North America, rock climbing is reserved for men only. But there are some women in Pakistan who would like to try their hand at climbing a rocky mountain – there’s just something empowering about reaching the top of a very high peak. After forming the Pakistani Women’s Climbing Camp, the group of women who decided to set out on climbing adventures contacted the Alpine Club of Pakistan and the American Alpine Club, together their mission was to climb to the sky.

In order to assist their newfound climbing friends, the American Alpine Club put together an eight member team in order to join the Pakistani Women’s Climbing Camp in Islamabad. On July, 16th, the group was ready to go to Islamabad when their trip was suddenly canceled. The president of the Alpine Club in Pakistan, Nazir Sabir, was filled with sorrow when he announced that "On July 10 reports of blocking of the Karakoram Highway were received in addition to many disturbances in other areas as a reaction to the military response to the siege. For the present, much to our dismay and regret, we have decided to cancel the event as we are not aware as to how long the ramifications will continue." With the threat of violence looming, for now the women of Pakistan will have to wait to meet their American climbing buddies, and they will have to simply gaze at the mountain tops wondering when they will be able to finally reach the top.

Extreme Engineering

Extreme Engineering has been a well known name in the rock climbing world for many, many, years. Recently, the company has launched its new website, which will allow users to view their extensive line of products. Not only has this company been a forerunner in the rock climbing work, they also service the US Military, Disney, and Universal Studios. This company is known by its customers for inventing new technology and material to use within the rock climbing world. Unlike other companies that manufacture similar equipment, Extreme Engineering is all about the rock climbing world.

Extreme Engineering was the originator of the Mobile Climbing Walls and the auto-belay system – two pieces of equipment that most climbers today can’t imagine living without. The company prides itself on using new polymer technology for all of their walls, which provides a truer rock climbing surface. These walls are built for durability and they are the top amongst their class as far as best training tools go. Their newest product, the Mobile 2 Climber, is lightweight and tough with a new fabric coating that actually feels like real rock. The Mobile 2 Climber was meant to be transported and can be set up at home, on a picnic, or at any other event. This wall was designed to fit into a variety of spaces and places, so you’ll never have to leave home without your rock wall. If you are the competitive sort, the wall also has a “climber timer,” which displays the speed of your climb along with the number of climbs, so your game will always be improving. If you are part of the rock climbing community, you don’t want to miss out on all Extreme Engineering has to offer, and now you can visit their site and view all of the latest equipment for the rock climbing world.

Michael Reardon Dead

Forty two year old Michael Reardon was something of a rebel in the climbing world, Reardon never used safety equipment or ropes when he climbed, but he was still a climbing champion. Last Friday, July 13th 2007, Reardon was climbing on Valentia Island near the southwest coast of Ireland while in the midst of a photo shoot. Suddenly, a large wave came at Reardon from behind and the skilled climber fell off the edge of the rock he was standing on. Reardon was instantly swept into the ocean The Irish Coast Guard has been searching for Reardon’s body, but they are less than hopeful that Reardon’s body will ever be found.

The new trend in “soloing” (climbing without rope) has its obvious dangers, but the sport is becoming more popular as climbers seek to find the ultimate thrill. Former editor in chief of Climbing Magazine, Jonathan Thesenga, stated that “Everyone who knew Michael knew in the back of their minds that something like this might happen because of the way he climbed.” However, Thesenga was quick to point out that Reardon did not fall while climbing, he fell during a photo shoot. Reardon happened to be in the middle of a photo shoot due to many sceptics who claimed that Reardon could not climb the difficult mountains he claimed without rope. So, he decided to invite photographers along on his climbs. In an odd twist of fate, Reardon was standing on the edge of a cliff when the wave hit him. He had not even begun to climb yet. Reardon is survived by his wife Marci and his thirteen year old daughter Nicki.

Tragic Lesson

A recent phenomenon has struck the climbing community, it is called solo climbing. This sort of climbing is really just a test of fate. Solo climbers test their strength, and the force of nature, when they decide to climb mountains without climbing equipment. Recently, Michael Reardon, perhaps the best known practitioner of solo climbing fell to his death in Ireland. Shortly after, on a rock ledge in Custer State Park, a sixteen year old boy who was solo climbing fell to his death. The boy was hiking with a group of male friends when he decided to try out the sport of solo climbing. Leaving his friends behind on the trail, this young teen decided to use his hands and feet in order to scale the mountain ledge.

The terrain that the boy was attempting to climb is even difficult for professional climbers to steep pitches and massive boulders that line the valley. This park has bolts and handles permanently attached into the side of trails because the routes are so difficult. The boy fell forty feet to his death when he made the fatal decision to try and climb the mountain side without equipment. This park is known to climbers from all over the world, and boasts some of the best terrain for climbers, but most climbers rely on bolts and safety equipment in order to complete the treacherous climbs. It took expert climbers and park rangers quite awhile to life the boy’s broken body from the rocks below the trail as the ridges are so steep and dangerous. Solo climbing is a risk that is not necessarily worth the benefits, and so far (no matter what age) solo climbing has proven to be the one sport that cannot be won.

U.S. Nationals Climbing Series

Have you ever thought of climbing a mountain wall, but you just can’t seem to work up the nerve? Take a little bit of inspiration from a twelve year old. Jerdin Carle, 12, just won the U.S. Nationals Climbing Series – and he did it with a torn ligament in his finger. The U.S. Nationals Climbing Series is three day annual event that takes place in Minnesota and is attended by climbing youth from across the nation. These kids are part of climbing teams that practice across the United States in hops of achieving the title that Carle nabbed this year. Jerdin Carle is part of the Upstate area rock climbing team, G-Vegas Rock Stars, and his coach Brian Kettler couldn’t be more proud of his young prodigy.

Half way up the course, Carle found that his hand was severely hurting after injuring it earlier in the week. Understanding the difference between a competition and a long term hand injury, Carle made the decision to let go of the rock and rappel even though it meant losing the competition. Carle was shocked as he was announced the champion (he also won last years competition). Carle showed all modesty, even though he beat out thirty-five other boys, when he stated: "I was really surprised. I was definitely not expecting to win with my hand hurt." Carle showed maturity that most adults might not have shown, when he decided that he would rather be around to climb another day then to risk injuring his hand for good. Carle plans to keep practicing in hopes that next years competition will be even better than this one.

Dana Hall Summer Camp

It’s summertime, and for many parents the bright sun and the long days that children have off from school result in sending your kids to summer camp. Some kids enjoy playing tennis and learning how to sing songs, but if you find you children dragging their feet and protesting about returning to the same old camp, give Dana Hall Summer Camp a shot. Many children don’t like the idea of team sports. Team sports can be difficult on your child’s ego, and they often result in overall boredom and lack of interest in physical activity. The staff at Dana Hall has a different idea of what summertime fun should look like, and they pride themselves on the concept of no team sports.

Dana Hall offers your campers the opportunity to try rock climbing, scuba diving, or fencing – to name a few sports. The focus on the activities at this camp is the individual, not the group. Your child will be faced with scaling large, mountainous walls and they will learn how to depend upon themselves for support. Dana Hall tries to focus on a non-competitive environment where your child doesn’t need to feel pressured or threatened. An annual field trip for this camp includes an afternoon of snorkeling in Cape Cod, followed by a few rounds of golf. This camp wants your little ones to come back year after year – maybe even as a counselor. The camp has set up a CIT program where kids can become “counselors in training,” just in case they decide to teach rock climbing one day. If you decide to send your kids to this summer camp, who knows what other types of seemingly unreachable peaks they may try to climb in the future.

Reaching the Highest Peaks

Who says that growing up in the city means avoiding nature altogether? Many urban dwellers escape for a weekend away in the country nearly every sunny day. Those that are fortunate enough to have a country get away often find themselves relaxed and refreshed when they return to the city. But for many kids living in the midst of the urban jungle, nature is little more than the slight flash of blue sky, or the city park that they see on a daily basis. To these kids, the thought of climbing a mountain wall, or drinking from a cool stream is merely a dream. In a world full of crime and busy streets, the world is nothing more than a concrete prison. The organization, Big City Mountaineers seeks to take at-risk teens off of the city streets and into the wild to seek an adventure unlike any that they have ever known before.

Big City Mountaineers is a place that teens can go to in order to escape the city streets. Guides take these teens out onto mountain tops and through animal infested forests in order to see the world as a living entity, not as a people packed nightmare. The organization Summit for Someone has decided that it would like to support the Big City Mountaineers through a series of funding climbs. This annual fundraising event will include over 400 participants this year, 2007, and is expected to attract a large number in 2008 (you can register for 2008 in October). The group of volunteers will climb a total of fourteen mountains ranging from Mount Shasta to Mount Moran. This large group will be assisted by the Jackson Hold Mountain Guides and the Rainier Mountaineering International and Sierra Mountaineering International. This fundraising even is expected to raise well over $10,000 dollars (total) in order to help the Big City Mountaineers project. This even will help to ensure that inner city kids finally have a way to escape the stressful urban streets. If you are up for the long hike, visit www.summitforsomeone.org to sign up for 2008’s trek – sorry, 2007 is already full!