Oakdale Climbers Festival October 17-19, 2014

If you are heading to Yosemite or know anyone that is, check out the Oakdale Climbers Festival!

This coming October 17-19 at the Gene Bianchi Community Center in Oakdale, California, climbers, outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs will be gather for the third annual Oakdale Climbers Festival.

The theme for 2014 is: A Woman’s Reach- Adventures in a Parallel Realm. We will be taking a diverse look at women’s climbing history drawing upon the experiences, wisdom and perspective of several generations of women climbers. A Woman’s Reach is the title of Nea Morin’s 1968 autobiography. She actively pioneered difficult climbs in the Alps, often with other women, after World War I. Nea understood the importance and context of her accomplishments and took the time to compile a list of notable feminine first ascents worldwide included as an appendix.

Following the end of World War II, despite a surge in interest in climbing, the proportion of women and standard of their achievement failed to match prewar levels. Nea noted “There are now many more women’s parties climbing on British hills, in the Alps and in the Himalayas than in the past. Nevertheless during the twenty years since the war there has not been a great number of notable first ascents by women’s parties in the Alps and the tremendous increase in the standard of climbing achieved by men has now widened the gap between men and women”. We will be examining this historical trend and the subsequent rise to parity with climbs such as Lynn Hill’s free ascent of the Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

The advent of climbing gyms (with ready access to the experience of climbing) and other cultural changes have contributed to a marked shift in the demographics of our sport. We will be hearing directly from the women who have shared and shaped the passion and dreams of their own time in order to inspire those present to claim their own new realms of adventure. Inspiration, mutual appreciation and respect are at the heart of our Festival.

On Friday evening at 6:00 pm after opening remarks, keynote speaker and world renowned mountaineering historian, Audrey Salkeld will discuss her selection of historical women climbers of note. Following this presentation we will celebrate the 36th anniversary of the successful 1978 American Women’s Himalayan Expedition. After screening Dyanna Taylor’s documentary film Annapurna: A Woman’s Place and hearing her commentary, we will hear from all of the available surviving members of the team about this grand adventure and how it has fit into their lives. Expedition leader Arlene Blum, summit climber Irene Beardsley, Annie Whitehouse, Christy Tews and Piro Kramar will share their reflections with us. Jan Sacherer has studied Sherpa culture intensively and will close the evening with a brief commentary on the immediate local perception of this ground breaking expedition. The program will conclude by 10 pm.

On Saturday beginning at 10 am panels of three speakers per hour will reflect qualitatively on their roots as climbers, the influence of other women either mentoring or inspiring them to set their goals and direction and on important partnerships and pivotal adventures. Speakers will illuminate the challenges and gifts of friendship and community that climbing has to offer. Substantial breaks between panels are intended to encourage personal interaction and discussion.

The prospective speakers on Saturday include: Arlene Blum, Irene Beardsley, Janie Taylor, Jan Sacherer, Elaine Mathews, Cherry Schacher (Merritt), Rosie Andrews, Jill Lawrence, Annie Whitehouse, Kitty Calhoun, Maria Cranor, Mari Gingery, Carla Firey, Ellie Hawkins, Sibylle Hechtel, Barbara Eastman-Kimbrough and Beverly Woolsey with more to be added. The program will conclude by 10 pm.
The Sunday program will begin at 10 am and will involve smaller panels of two discussing their recent activities, goals and influences. Speakers will include Beth Rodden, Madaleine Sorkin, Heidi Wirtz, Pamela Shanti Pack and Mayan Smith-Gobat with more to be added. The Festival will conclude by 4 pm.
Come and meet these amazing women and hear about their adventures worldwide at the Oakdale Climbers Festival.

North American Climbing History (NACHA) director Steve Grossman is responsible for the Festival programming and content. More about NACHA is available at: climbinghistoryarchivesna.com

More information can be found and tickets purchased on the Festival website.
www.oakdaleclimbersfestival.com

supertopo.com/climbing/thre…

See you there!