Girls With Altitude - the next generation

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mavs00

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While downloading pictures from a recent hike, I came across this picture and immediately thought of -THIS THREAD- about the new book that recently came out entitled "WOMEN WITH ALTITUDE" (read a review) about many phenomenal pioneer ladies and their adventures climbing in the Adirondacks (winter). There are some pretty amazing women and stories in there.

While they may not know it, these ladies have blazed the way for the next generation. Their feats HAVE and continue to inspire others, not just other women but young ladies too. I know that several of the ladies that are featured in this book read and post on here (including Skyclimber). I just wanted to let them know that in addition to their own accomplishments, their pioneering ways have opened the door for others to follow. The proof is in the picture :)

IMG_3773.sized.jpg


I had the pleasure of escorting these 2 young ladies up Phelps Mt. for another winter 4K for each of them. Chit chatting all the way up with them I realized some remarkable things. Together they have over 300 mountain summits reached (including some bushwhacks and winter peaks). Both are ADK46ers and one has also finished the NHHH and NE115. One was the youngest 46er (class of 2004), and the other will surely be the youngest of 2005. Both have hiked and gone through some pretty wacky adventures in the mountains (some scary, some fun). They have covered hundreds (if not thousands) of trail miles and hundreds of thousands more in feet of elevation gained.

I can't speak for both, but I can say with certainty that one of them is always a willing hiker and determined soul that has NEVER turned back on a mountain summit, except when her father MADE her (and that was only once). In fact, most hikes you cannot keep her quiet long enough to get a breath of air into her, even on the steepest sections of trail. She can hike most adults into the ground, including her parents.

Oh yeah, I forgot to add, one is 11, the other is 12. :eek:

Needless to say, I was impressed. The door is now open, the generations may change and the opportunities will surely advance, but the courage and dedication to the mountains shown by those early pioneers will be reborn in others.
 
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I second everything Mavs has said here, these young women are just amazing to be around and their sunny smiles light up even the worst winter 50 degree downpour. I am ever richer for getting to know them. I hope that when I have kids someday they will be half as much joy to be around.

sli74
 
sli74 said:
I second everything Mavs has said here, these young women are just amazing to be around and their sunny smiles light up even the worst winter 50 degree downpour. I am ever richer for getting to know them. I hope that when I have kids someday they will be half as much joy to be around.

sli74

Yeah, what she said! :D I'm not sure if I've met both on the trail, but I've met both in various places.

U GO GIRLZ!!! :D
 
I had the pleasure of meeting Carol White and her husband while hiking up Phelps in November. Her and her husband also co-wrote the Catskills guide and she told me then about her new book that was coming out. That woman has some spirit.

...as for these girls... WOW :eek: :)
 
I don't know if I should be inspired or intimidated.

Seriously, In light of a thread that addressed Nature Deficit Disorder this is a beacon of hope. I just hope that they can find enough friends of the same mind set when they are adults.
 
Those two are definitely a pair of characters and will be plenty of trouble in the future to keep up with. :)

I'll also throw in a recommendation for a similar text on pioneering women hikers, Rebecca Brown's Women on High. I had the pleasure of meeting and hiking with Rebecca on an AMC workshop prior to this book's publication.
 
I am in the process of reading Women with Altitude. Quite inspiring.

I have to say, I am very inspired by the photo of those two smiling faces on an obviously less than ideal hiking day! Amazing, and very impressive! I have attempted MANY times to get youngsters I know to get out there and enjoy the trails, but without much success...

I remember back a couple of years, hiking and stopping at Galehead Hut to take a break and chatting with a young man and his 9 year old daughter. She was well on her way to completing all 48 4000'. She was raring to hit Galehead, but dad wasn't so sure, they were out for the Twins that day. (This little dynamo carries all her own gear too.) Well, as so oftern happens with fathers and daughters, she won out, so 3 more off her list!

I have learned in my few years of hiking (~28) that inspiration comes in many forms. But for me, seeing the next generation out there enjoying it and sharing the love of the outdoors is the most inspirational of all.

Best of luck to these two young ladies, and a heartfelt 'Thank You' to their parents for showing them the way!

;)
 
I also had the pleasure of hiking with one of these amazing little women. We were bushwhacking in the Maine 6 pack. My whacking style is to get close by the path of least resistance, then beeline it the last 2/10 mile or so. Every time she slipped, she jumped up, brushed herself off and said "I'm ok". She is the youngest female finisher of the NEHH. Her older brother (who also finished the same time) was feeling a bit slighted until I mentioned to him that "no way could she have done this without you there with her". That brought a smile to his face. With the new addition to their family, it is only a matter of time before they get the new little one up a few peaks!

Let's just say that I am in awe of these hikers!

MAVS: BTW, I think you meant NEHH, not NHHH.
 
Lovin' this book. It's a wonderful read and very inspiring. :D
 
Maddy said:
Lovin' this book. It's a wonderful read and very inspiring. :D
I hope Carol does a Version 2! There are a lot of women that have finished since the book was published. And at least 1 that only has 2 peaks to go! :D

This winter, I met 2 of the women in the book, one on the trail and one at LPPB. Talking with them makes you want to go back and re-read their stories.
 
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