Chulengo x Alaska Mountain Women
New Life for our Old Newsletter
For the last few years, I’ve worked with and learned from many kinds of schools, camps, and outdoor programs. Though the exact wording of their philosophies and outcomes differed, they consistently drew upon community, experiential learning, and a sense of place to inspire a different set of outcomes for their students or participants than regular educational institutions.
Because of their size, industry-history, and experimental character, these types of projects sit at the margin of mainstream education and can be hard to learn about. In this newsletter, we’ll celebrate wonderful programs who are seeking more humane models of learning.
Twice per month, I’ll share one short profile of such an organization or project, two related links for reading, and three open roles at similar organizations.
Click here to suggest a project, link, or role!
This week:
a profile of a pilot women’s mountaineering course,
links about climate change in the high mountains, and
a few upcoming seasonal and full-time opportunities.
Chulengo x Alaska Mountain Women
I was so excited to get an email from my friends Nadine and Mary a few weeks ago.
Nadine Lehner is the founder of Chulengo Expeditions, which runs small-group backpacking trips in Patagonia and Alaska.
Mary Gianotti is the founder and Director of Alaska Mountain Women, a climbing team in Alaska that supports Women seeking inclusive mentorship in technical mountain terrain.
I separately met Nadine and Mary through NOLS and think they're just the best. Imagine my surprise and joy that, together, they’re piloting a new affinity-based course, Women’s Introduction to Mountaineering.
They want to measure interest in future trips after their pilot trip in Alaska in April.
In their words:
Spending time exploring the mountains has changed both of our lives, bringing us joy, confidence, a greater ability to manage risk and uncertainty, AND some of our closest friendships. We're excited to offer a pilot Introduction to Mountaineering course that aims to support women in developing their own skills and competence in the mountains (specifically, in glaciated terrain / in big Alaskan mountains).
We'll use skis to traverse these big landscapes; while participants should have some familiarity with backcountry skiing, you need not be an expert. We hope this week will give participants foundational skills for personal mountaineering and ski touring adventures in the future, within the context of a supportive and inclusive group expedition.
If you’re already interested, use this link to register your interest.
Otherwise, click here to read more about their pilot trip.
Related Links
The Muldrow Glacier Surge
Dreaming about Nadine and Mary’s trip, I was reminded of this article about the historic surge of the Muldrow Glacier last spring.
The Muldrow is a major glacier in Denali National Park which originates on the northeastern slope of Denali. A glacial surge is a semi-understood glacial motion characterized by a periodic increase in the glacier’s flow of 10 to 100 times normal.
It stopped surging in September, but, as the spring approaches, I’ll be interested to learn if there will be a secondary surge or if the Muldrow will be back to sleeping easy.
Climate Change in the High Mountains
Though scientists don’t totally understand the mechanics of a glacial surge, they did theorize that the Muldrow was on a 50-year surge cycle and had been expecting some kind of surge.
Was the incredible speed of this surge due in some part to climate change? Scientists say: “ 🤷♂️ ” No clear indication.
But like many folks, it’s hard for me to read about an extreme natural phenomenon, and not think about climate change.
Interestingly, I first read the article and discussed it with colleagues (Mary was there!) and students while leading a NOLS Mountaineering course in the Chugach last summer. Route-finding on that trip (primarily in the ablation zone of the Matanuska glacier) was much more difficult that in prior years as the rapidly retreating glacier torpedoed much of our route plan. As the saying goes, these tough conditions were our fourth instructor.
As a climber, I worry about my children’s future access to different modes of exploration, recreation, and work in the mountains.
But more importantly, our mountains drying up will mean real hardship for people who rely on the consistent flow of water from these high places (i.e. many of us) and especially for people who live in marginal, high desert environments.
So What Can You Do?
As always: it depends.
I’d guess most folks reading this have changed at least a habit or two — out of latent religious guilt or the desire to put a shoulder to the wheel.
Here are some other ideas:
Learn about environmental leadership with the good folks at Flagstaff College.
Dive into field research through the Applied Geospatial and Environmental Science at the Alpine Science Institute of Central Wyoming College.
Advocate for Transformative Change within institutions you associate with, e.g. fossil fuel transition and divestment or modifying consumptive practices to increase local/global biodiversity.
This is an incomplete list made quickly. Please reply with examples of how you have integrated meaningful climate action into your life.
Open Roles
One-off: Backpacking Instructor for a 4-day trip
Eastside College Preparatory
Tahoe National Forest (California)
Eastside College Preparatory provides college-prep education for students who are historically underrepresented in higher education. They serve and support first-generation college students to and through college and into professional life.
This role is for one of the 4-day backpacking trips Eastside runs for groups of 10 seniors in the Tahoe National Forest in May.
Click here to read more about this role.
Seasonal: Spring Instructors
Naturalists at Large
California
Naturalists at Large provides outdoor education experiences for public and private schools throughout the school year. NAL is the NOLS or OB of Outdoor School.
This role is for full-time, seasonal work until early June. NAL instructors lead 4-day outdoor trips in dozens of incredible locations throughout California. Because they also run a fall season, NAL is a great way to patch together a full year of field work.
Click here to read more about this role.
Full-time: Education Coordinator
The La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
NY, NY
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (La MaMa E.T.C.) is an Off-Off-Broadway theatre. Located in Manhattan's East Village, the theatre began in the basement boutique where Ellen Stewart, the founder, sold her designs. La MaMa has evolved during its fifty-year history into a world-renowned cultural institution. (Via Wikipedia)
The Education Coordinator is a new full-time position at La MaMa. This coordinator will expand La MaMa’s existing onsite program for college students by developing new partnerships with higher education organizations and bringing the program online to open it up to students outside the tri-state area. This position will conduct outreach to bring in high school students for shows and talk backs using La MaMa’s current list and developing new partners.
To apply, email web@lamama.org with a cover letter and resume, with subject line: Education Coordinator.
There’s no public post for this role, so contact me for more info.
✌️
Ciaran