Name, Age, From:
Jenn Carter, 38, Carnation, WA
When and why she got started climbing:
I grew up backpacking and caving in Tennessee. When I first moved out west, I did a lot of solo backpacking. Climbing was just the next step to experiencing more.
I remeber a 6 day solo backpacking trip to the Glacier Peak wilderness. Some Mountaineers flew past me with helmets and ice axes going at what I thought was a break-neck speed. I thought, “damn! I need to do that!” Not long after, I joined the Mountaineers and 10 years later, I’m still trying to keep up!
Loves mountaineering because:
I love trailhead bivies. Alpine starts. Sunrises on the glacier. Blasting down the mountain to try to get back to the trail before dark. My body in motion for 20+ hours. Eating out of a bag. Pooping in a bag. Sleeping in a bag. Carrying a bag. It’s all sort of a circluar beauty, really.
Least favorite part of mountaineering:
The descent. Of all the times I’ve climbed Mt Rainier, I always say “I’m never walking down this piece of shit ever again!” I really, really need to learn to ski better or paraglide. Or both.
Favorite piece of gear:
My BD Fusions. They are so beautiful, I have them hanging as art in my house (when I’m not using them, that is).
If she had a Spirit Mountain it would be:
Washington’s Mt Stuart. I always say the 2nd gulley going up the the West Ridge is my happy place. 4th class granite to the sky. My friend Paul and I climbed it once together and giggled the whole way up.
What her friends would say about her climbing style, or who she is on the mountain:
They would probably ask me to stop eating so much Chili Mac and Cheese.
How she’s getting in shape for this climb:
So far, I’ve found people to hike and run by headlamp, in the pouring rain, up mountains at night. I wonder how long they’ll stay my friends?
When she’s not climbing, she’s:
Reading to kids at the library, trail running with my best bud, learning to ski, or heading out to the mountains to help as a volunteer with Seattle Mountain Rescue.
First thing she wants to eat when she gets back to town after a climb:
Olives. And avocados. But not together. Separately.
Day Job:
I’m a children’s librarian at a public library. I get to do story time, bookclubs, summer programs and I have a very impressive puppet collection.
Thing she thinks she’ll miss the most while on the mountain:
My dog, best friend and cuddle buddy: Banjo.
Favorite thing about climbing with women:
Women don’t freak out when someone cries. Really, guys… it’s just a stress release. There’s no need to freak out. Crying is normal. We cry a little and then everything is peachy. Just get over it, already.
Thing she thinks will be the hardest about doing this climb:
Staying warm.
Next on her climbing list:
El Capitan! I was supposed to do it last year, but my climbing partner had a child care emergency. I’m hoping to celebrate my 40th birthday on the wall!
Favorite climbing quote:
Not really a climbing quote, but part of a poem by the Spanish poet, Antonio Machado:
caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar.
Al andar se hace camino
Roughly translated to:
“Wanderer/ pilgrim, there is no road/ there is no “way”,
We make the road by walking.
By walking we make the road…”
I feel I am a pilgrim into the mountains and that as a team, we will make our journey together. Denali will be, for a few weeks, our mountain, our journey, to make it what we will, together.
We love you so much! We miss you and hope you are having so much fun in Denali.
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