Please use this link to join us: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83672809395

Remote and majestic Scotish peak adventures and rare North Wales in condition winter climbing. Join us for Kath James’ Alpine Stories Winter Series Talk on Winter Climbing in the UK when she will share stories of epic winter days out in her favourite locations.If you’ve ever wondered what is so enticing about Scottish Winter climbing or want to see proof of the elusive North Wales winter climbing experience then this talk is not to be missed!

Kath James is a Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader who works as a part time senior instructor for Plas y Brenin the National Outdoor Centre in Capel Curig, North Wales. Highlights of Kath’s climbing career include climbing The Nose on El Capitan and the 1938 route on the north face of the Eiger. Scottish winter and winter climbing is also high on the list of favourite things to do! Kath has two young boys who are 2 & 3,  who she enjoys taking out on adventures - at the moment mostly by canoe or on bikes.

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Please use this link to join us: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83672809395

Why is there a lack of diversity in mountain sports and what can we do about it?

 Join us for Tselane Mead’s WAAC Alpine Stories Talk, Diversity and Inclusion in Mountain Sports where she will be sharing stories gathered of a diverse group of women, trying to understand better the barriers to uptake in high mountain adventures and what we can do as a community to make our passion for the mountains more inclusive. Tselane, a climbing, skiing and mountaineering woman of colour, is passionate about helping other women of all backgrounds break barriers, gain confidence and take on a more adventurous lifestyle. Please join this talk to learn and become a part of the conversation and solution!

Tselane is an emergency nurse from Sheffield who is also a qualified ski instructor. She works winters as a nurse/ski instructor for a ski school in the Swiss alps and has spent periods in Chamonix developing ski touring and mountaineering skills. Her aspiration is to become an expedition medic one day.

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Please use this link to join us: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83672809395

In All That Glitters: A Climbers Journey through Addiction and Depression, world-renowned ice climber Margo Talbot shares her compelling story of healing and self-discovery amid the frozen landscapes of the planet. Rescued from the depths of drug addiction and crime by the lure of climbing frozen waterfalls, Margo rises from the brink of suicidal depression in a jail cell to being envied by a client in Antarctica for having a “dream life”.

In her talk for Women’s Alpine Adventure Club, Margo shares her story of healing and redemption; a story about losing oneself, and then finding one’s way back home. And then brings us right up to date with the work she’s doing now - both in sharing the tools of overcoming depression and anxiety and sharing the activity that literally saved her life, with others now in similar situations.

As always, we will have a question and answer session with Margo so you can reach out to her with anything personal you’d like to share or any advice you’d like to hear. We can’t wait to hear Margo’s story and meet her in person!

Bio: Margo Talbot is an author, speaker and coach based in Canmore, Alberta. She is a sponsored ice climber, and has taught clinics all over North America. Her work has taken her from the High Arctic to Antarctica, guiding clients on expeditions to the South Pole and Antarctica’s tallest peak, Mt. Vinson. 

She was also a finalist at the 2011 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival with her book All That Glitters: A Climber’s Journey Through Addiction and Depression and has a TEDx talk on recovery and mental health. She also works with organizations and associations looking to enhance workplace wellbeing and runs learning programs for youth-at-risk battling addiction.

Join the talk by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

Pale limestone rock faces soaring above verdant alpine meadows, fractal passages shape-shifting with the change of sunlight and one dog-eared, sellotaped copy of Köhler & Memmel’s “Classic Climbs of the Dolomites.” Join us for Tania Noakes’ Alpine Stories where she shares the tales of her project to tick all the routes described in the aforementioned guide. Her enthusiasm for rock climbing and mountaineering in the Dolomites has grown without interruption since her first visit there 15 years ago. This region of complex limestone architecture and isolated rock monoliths is completely unique. Shining like summer snow in the early morning light and slow to reveal its secrets, the sedimentary rock developed from ancient coral reefs which grew to immense size in a shallow ocean millions of years ago. Its characteristic horizontal faults allow unexpected and yet incredible traverses in unlikely positions on surprisingly good holds; sometimes…

Tania’s passion for this region has drawn her back to the area again and again, sometimes for months at a time. Accompanied by this book’s pages, on each trip she has explored and completed many of the ‘classic climbs’ described in the guide. When she realised in 2018 that she had only 32 routes left of the 102 to tick, the idea formed fast that completing the book was a possibility. Let her tell you a little bit about her Dolomite adventures from last summer.

Tania Noakes is an adventurer with a curiosity about how life fits together. Working as an IFMGA mountain guide is an important part of her ongoing ‘patch-work’ journey. Her two favorite places in Europe are the Dolomites and Sardina; where she is currently based due to its proximity to the sea. Her ideal day begins with an early start, focused around a long and engaging route; something beautiful and memorable- perhaps with some interesting history thrown in. Culminating in the gaining of a quiet summit, hard fought for and followed by a descent that asks from you a little more; classic Dolomites! All of this shared with friends, in good spirits with efficiency so that there is time for a beer afterwards to celebrate.

Join the talk by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

Rebellious women, Project Alpine Spirit and a year of 4,000m Alpine adventures! Join us for Becky Coles Alpine Stories Project Alpine Spirit. In this talk, she will share the stories of her all-women's team on their quest to summit all the 4,000m peaks in the Alps. In addition, Becky will entertain us with tales of the pioneering women who shunned social norms of their day to fulfil their passion for the big mountain adventures of Alpinism.

Becky Coles is a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. She is an experienced Expedition Leader, with trips to all 7 continents and over 70 countries. As a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, she has made first ascents of mountains in Nepal and South Georgia, Antarctica. In 2019, she took a summer off from being a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and headed to the Alps with an all-women's team to climb the alpine 4000m peaks as part of Project Alpine Spirit.

Join the talk by clicking this link at 7pm BST on Thursday 30th April 2020: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

Friendship, 50th Birthday and One Famous Aline Peak. Adel Pennington’s WAAC Alpines Stories talk ‘Two Girls in a Van’, regales us about the enduring friendship of two women and their shared passion for Alpine Mountaineering. As is in the rest of life, adventure plans are made but life and the temperamental nature of the mountain environment has its way of unveiling the unexpected. Join us for Adel’s talk about what happens when wine fuelled plans to summit the Matterhorn meet reality.

Adele Pennington, once Science Researcher and Chemistry Teacher, now full time Mountaineering Instructor and Expedition Leader, never imagined she would have a career in the mountains. Growing up in the flatlands of Northamptonshire, she started a long way from her 1998 achievement as the first British woman to complete a winter ascent of Ama Dablam (6,386m) in the Himalaya. After a couple of career changes Adele found a real passion for High Altitude mountaineering and has successfully submitted six of the fourteen 8,000m peaks and guided Everest twice. Currently, she has settled in the North West of Scotland to run her own company, ‘Adele Pennington Mountaineering’. She is also enjoying her latest pursuits in ski -mountaineering and sea-kayaking.

Join the talk by clicking this link at 7pm BST on Thursday 30th April 2020: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

Incredible sandstone crack climbing,  a couple of benightments and a surprise wedding!  Wadi Rum is adventure climbing at it's best. Set in a surreal lunar landscape and surrounded by an endless number of rock faces, many of which remain unclimbed, Wadi Rum has enough canyons, domes and peaks to keep a climber intrigued for years. Add to that the humour and hospitality of the Bedouin community and it makes for a very memorable trip. Join Katie as she tells you about some of the world-class climbing routes in Jordan, lessons learnt along the way, and an insight into a very special culture; as well as practical tips about trip planning and tackling longer trad climbing objectives.  

Katie is originally from the peak district and spent several years living in the Dolomites and Austria where she was first introduced to the world of mountaineering, ski touring and alpine climbing.  Since then these passions have taken her on adventurous journeys all over the world, fostered some incredible friendships and lead to her now becoming an Aspirant International Mountain Leader and Mountaineering Instructor. She currently works as an expedition leader, outdoor instructor and languages teacher. 

Join the talk by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

If you think that Alpinism is just for single dirtbags, then think again! Join us for Helen Teasdale’s Alpine Story, Alpining with Kids, where she shares her stories of family adventures in the Alps. Starting when their son Ollie was just three, Helen and her husband Andy, a photographer and mountain guide, began introducing their son to the joys of walking to and sleeping in mountain huts. In this talk, she will share their first family alpine mountaineering experiences in an area of Switzerland called the Wiwannihorn; accessed from the Rhone valley. She will also speak about climbing in Pointe Percee in the Aravis joined by her son Ollie, now twelve who enjoys ski touring and ice climbing too!

Helen Teasdale, a Senior Instructor at Plas y Brenin the National Outdoor Centre in North Wales, is a keen climber and mountaineer. Her climbing career has led to many adventures and expeditions worldwide. Highlights include The Nose on El Capitan and climbing in the Himalayas. She has also been lucky to explore many beautiful parts of the Alps climbings including the Zumutt ridge on the Matterhorn, Vinatzer/ Messner route on the Marmolada and many more. Helen’s other passions are skiing, mountaineering and mountain biking.

Join the talk by clicking this link at 7pm BST on Thursday 30th April 2020: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

North Face of the Eiger, Training and Alpinism Career Development. Join us for Kath James’ Alpine Stories talk where she will share tales that span from her very first trip to the Alps through to more famous ascents. She will focus on her motivations and lessons learned from both success and epic misadventure on her journey from rock climbing and Winter climbing in the UK towards bigger routes. Kath will also speak about routes in the Chamonix area, and some lesser known peaks in the Alps, where she trained to get fitter and stronger as an Alpine climber. If you are keen to develop your Alpine climbing journey, then this talk is not to be missed!

Kath James is a Winter Mountaineering, Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader who works as a senior instructor for Plas y Brenin, the National Outdoor Centre in Capel Curig, North Wales.  Highlights of Kath’s career include climbing The Nose on El Capitan and the 1938 route on the north face of the Eiger. She has also been lucky enough to explore many other beautiful parts of the world including, wild and sandy climbing in Wadi Rum, Jordan and a breathtaking ascent of Mount Kenya. Kath also enjoys skiing, exploring the mountains in winter, ski touring in the European Alps, Scottish winter climbing , as well as crazy ski mountaineering in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Kath has two young boys, 2 & 3,  who she enjoys taking out on adventures - mostly by canoe or bike at the moment.

Join the talk by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

Wild Ski Mountaineering, Canada’s highest peak and type two fun pulk adventures. Join Iona Pawson’s Alpine Story, Passion for Pulk, to be virtually whisked away into a winter world of exploration, pulk pulling style. In this talk, Iona will share how she developed her ski touring skills and gained the confidence to go on self sufficient ski expeditions all over the world. In particular, she will focus on her most recent trips, including Mount Logan, the highest mountain in Canada, and trips to Scandinavia. Whilst most associate Sweden with cross country skiing, Norway is now on most skier’s bucket list of places to visit. Having traversed the Lyngen peninsular in a way that few would even consider during the winter months, she is here to share her stories and top tips. Iona’s trips might not be most people’s idea of a holiday, but they are definitely an adventure!

Iona is a self confessed ski mountaineering obsessive. Having learnt to ski aged 10, she began her ski touring adventures at the age of 16. Never far away from the great outdoors, most of her summer holidays were spent going trekking and spending time in nature. These early adventures sowed the seed for a lifetime and career in the mountains. Iona is now a certified Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor and an International Mountain Leader. Based in North Wales during the summer she works at Plas Y Brenin, the National Mountain Centre, and then tends to disappear off somewhere snowy in the winter.

Join the talk by clicking this link at 7pm BST: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

Six big routes, hard earned lessons and Alpine inspiration. Join us for Lou Reynold’s Alpine Stories talk, Grand Courses, to hear her entertaining story of her apprenticeship in the mountains. Without a mentor or a climbing partner who knew the Alps well, Lou had to build up her experience and knowledge step by step. Her talk will take us on a tour across the French, Italian and Swiss Alps. Transporting us all onto the inspiring big faces and routes which were her greatest teachers. She will share some of the more obscure lessons she learned along the way and aims to inspire us to more Alpine adventures when we are able to get back into the mountains.

Lou Reynolds is a Devon born, Scotland based aspirant British Mountain Guide who works as an AMI Mountaineering and Ski instructor and guide (Summer & Winter) across the UK; https://loureynolds.blogspot.com. She specialises in the development of her client’s skills, sufficiency and confidence. Her passion for her work is fed by her love of helping people experience mountain environments and adventures that they would not be able to otherwise.

Join the talk by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/j/94372550400

Unclimbed peaks, TV personalities and crossing glacial rivers in their knickers. Join us for Tamsin Gay’s talk, ‘Undiscovered Arctic’, where she shares stories of guiding Steve Backshall and Aldo Kane in Jameson land in remote Eastern Greenland over two weeks for the filming of an episode of the BBC Series ‘Undiscovered Worlds.’ What happens when a tv production crew and a newly formed team of mountain guides take on a serious and engaging mountaineering objective? Log-in for this behind-the-scenes peek of the melding of two totally different professions on a proper adventure.

Tamsin Gay is an IFMGA Mountain Guide but prefers to be known as an aunt (to two nieces she adores), a sister, a daughter, a loving friend, a socialist and lover of bright colours and funny stuff. Whether she is at work or not she can be found propelling herself through the mountains; enthusiastic whatever the conditions are. Her obsession with all aspects of mountaineering means that her combination of skills allow her to have adventures in mountain ranges all around the globe. Having fled France where she had planned to be based before the Covid-19 lockdown, she is currently based in Scotland near Edinburgh - on the farm where she spent her childhood. She is a great supporter of WAAC and has guided at both of our recent meets. We can’t wait to share adventures with her again soon!