by Louise Schutte

Created on: September 12, 2009

Whether it is the highest mountain in North America, the highest peak in Africa, or the highest mountain on Earth, women are there to climb it. So why do we do it? Janet Greidanus, who climbed to Mount Everest Base Camp five years ago, summed it up in a nutshell. She believes, "Climbing a mountain is a metaphor for life. Each of us has our own personal mountain to climb, whether it is cancer or a divorce, or another of life's challenges." In her essay, The Hero(ine)'s Journey, she writes, "What I felt was a call that originated in a place deep within me, a call to begin a search for something that is very difficult to name or explain."

Mountaineering seemingly has changed in modern times. Our generation has the benefit of retailers who can assist with proper attire whereas pioneering women climbers found creative ways to deal with the cumbersome traditional garb of the time. Some women would rig up a pulley system of rings sewn into their skirt - with strings threaded through the rings. They would pull on the strings to hike up the skirt. Others would wear trousers under the skirt and ditch their outer layer under a log at the first available opportunity, retrieving it upon descent.

Phyllis James Munday, a pioneering mountaineer, referred to modern climbers as "rock monkeys...hang[ing] on a string for hours and hours feeling around for something." (Off the Beaten Track, by Cyndi Smith.) Phyl, as she was known, was one of the trailblazers of her time. Recorded climbs by women mountaineers date back to 1799. It is hard to imagine therefore that in 1965, one female climber, Arlene Blum, was told upon applying to join an Alaskan expedition that, "women did not have the physical strength or the emotional stability to climb high mountains." (Leading Out - Seal Press - 1992.)

With the concept that mind set may be as equally important as physicality, it is no wonder we are heading to the mountains in larger numbers than our female predecessors. Yamnuska Mountain Adventures reports a slight increase in women participating in ice climbing and some mountaineering programs. Larger numbers of professional women athletes and other strong role models are encouraging for women starting to climb.

Abby Watkins of Alala Women's Mountain Adventures indicates that, "Getting started in either rock climbing or mountaineering can seem daunting for anyone. If you have experienced friends who can take you out, that can be a way to start." But she cautions against, "Just going out with

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