news feature women with altitude

Women with Altitude blossom in the rain! Helen Lawless pulls together some blog extracts from participants in the Women With Altitude weekend in , Co Wicklow, in April. N O H A M

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E Ciara Galvin L wearing gloves. O C Tree roots are slippy when wet. •

‘Great fun scrambling, rock- hopping, clambering, wading and walking up the river. It had rained, so the easy, long scramble at the top was now greasy and dangerous in the event of a slip. No worries; cBhraonngae Douf pdldayn .( Lfreot’ms h aan ve a dip ainnsdt rau Tcitmoro’tse pi merosmpecntti vine )a pool fed by an ice-cold chute of water. Brave women these.’

Ella Lindsay, Maev McKeever and Josie McGee enjoying the sun in Glendalough ‘Saturday dawned with rain forecast, and rain it certainly did. Nonplussed, the women hit the ground running and disported themselves all over Wicklow and even back to Quarry in Dublin, trying or three days in April, the With Altitude is about, we have Glendalough, maybe a bit off out new activities or honing Glendalough valley was put together extracts from the track, but near enough to already existent skills. There swamped with women of blogs that participants posted civilisation. Instead, in was something about the all all ages and all abilities, from on the Women With Altitude relentless rain, we trekked ‘femaleness’ of the event that all parts of , but all Facebook page. These are through Coillte forestry, up to gave many women the chance Women With Altitude. presented below. spot heights, down into cols, to learn without fear, feeling The positive atmosphere on back up to spot heights, across totally supported. It had ’s third * * * * * * * * gorse, along a narrow ridge Women With Altitude ‘Saintly Orienteering was the and ultimately abandoned nothing to do with feminism or weekend surpassed the first event of the weekend and plans to meet the bus and men-hating or anything like previous events. Despite such fun was had by all, even clambered down what was that. The atmosphere created generous wind and rain on the the tourists learned where all meant to be a rather steep trail by the instructors and Saturday, participants returned the clues were. It ended with back to the hotel, but because organisers was one of from a range of activities, all high spirits, which led on to of all the rain was essentially a relaxation and ‘can do,’ and absolutely buoyant. Jane Gallwey’s talk on her epic waterfall. And I haven’t had as people responded to it. Women With Altitude is an climbing adventures on El much fun in ages. I learned On Saturday night, as an initiative to encourage women Capitan, Yosemite. Wow, what some pretty interesting stuff as entrée before the delicious hFillwalkers and climbers to dinner provided by the an amazing chilled-out speaker well: improve their skills and build she was and a great way to How to read a map and Glendalough Hotel, Orla their confidence. Participants Prendergast inspired us even start tJhoes cieli mMbciGnege experience follow a trail. in this year’s event completed for everyone heading out the • The meaning of various further with her photos and an online survey afterwards; next day, El Capitan on the words like ‘handrail’, ‘col’ stories of climbing trips at 100% of those who responded brain: Glendalough on the and ‘cairn.’ home and abroad. Not content ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ • rock.’ How to use a compass to get with the blue skies of Bolivia, that they enjoyed Women With Deirdre Davys a bearing in mist. she had to make it harder and Altitude, and 88% said they 20 Irish Mountain Log ‘When I signed up for I take 71 paces to 100m. take on Greenland with its had ‘learned new skills.’ To give • Summer 2013 navigation I kind of envisaged Only bring food that can be snow and ice and pristine a better sense of what Women a nice stroll around the lakes in • easily consumed while nothingness.’ • N O I N N A M

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‘Squeals of terror and delight A resounded around the base of the rock as women of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities got to grips, literally, with the basics of climbing and belaying. It poured rain, we floundered and we lost feeling in our extremities, but I think it's fair to say that everyone participated wholeheartedly; Orla Prendergast with participants in the workshop on Scrambling and Ropework for the Hills there was no complaining or grumbling about the weather. The instruHcteoarsth weerr We ai ljsooyn to More events spend time with; they were skilled, patient and most of all made the entire experience great fun.’ constructive and corrected it have a great time and will effectively. I returned to my make new friends as you are Following a review of the 2013 ‘My boots were still slightly starting point, jubilant, and doing it.A Int wneil lK bieurilnda yn our event, it was decided that wet on the Tuesday after gave a quiet “Whoop, Whoop.” confidence and give you a Women With Altitude 2014 This wouldn’t have happened better appreciation of what an Women With Altitude, but still Anne Kenny should take place in filled with enthusiasm, and had I not gone on the Women Tamhaazinnkg psl atcoe athlel outdoors Connemara and, to avoid can be.’ confident with my refreshed With Altitude weekend and clashing with Easter or other skills, I excitedly took to the had such great instruction!’ * * * * * * * * events, it will be in May, from hills. Fresh, confident and Friday evening 16th May raring to go! Nothing too The Women With Altitude through to Monday evening hectic, just around the lower ‘I would highly recommend organising team extends thanks 19th May. Mournes. this weekend to women of any to everyone who played a part You can catch a little of the I took multiple bearings, age who have a sense of in Women With Altitude 2013. Women With Altitude spirit on R used features, contours, rivers, adventure; you will learn new E some day events over the

V Particular thanks to the

E junctions, etc. I did make one skills, update the ones you E instructors for sharing their coming months. The Women K mistake, but saw this as c already may have, you will With Altitude organising team

M knowledge and passion, the

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V guest speakers, all those who is setting some dates for E

A led workshops and a really women and girls to come M warm thank you to all the together to walk and climb at participants! Very big thanks to different locations around the our sponsors, Berghaus, Gartan country. There are some Outdoor Education Centre, navigation refreshers planned Mountaineering Ireland and the too and Gartan OEC is Women In Sport programme, arranging a Women’s and all those who contributed Mountain Skills Assessment items for the goody bag. The for September. Check staff of the Glendalough Hotel www.WomenWithAltitude.ie deserve special thanks for or our Facebook page for looking after us so well, and ® For dates, locations and dates, locations and other likewise the Great Outdoors for other details, please check details. their support. Thanks also to www.WomenWithAltitude.ie Josie McGee in Glendalough Wicklow Mountains National or our Facebook page ■ Park, the Glendalough Hostel, the Irish Mountaineering Club, the Brockagh Centre and the bus drivers!

Summer 2013 Irish Mountain Log 21