Goddesses on the Rocks - Jtree 2007

[happiegrrrl]

This event is coming up very soon. Lucky me - I have volunteered to help out in whatever way I can, and will get to be part of an experience that is sure to be tremendously exciting and powerful.

I've found there's something special about my climbing partnerships with women. I cherish the ones I have and look forward to the new ones.

Anyway - I started this thread because the ClimbAddict shop is going to be donating some product to give away at the event. Some t-shirts and batches of stickers. In the sticker sets will be a note asking the participants to log on here and let us know how the Goddesses on the Rocks workshop was for them.

I'll definitely be putting in a little TR, and I HOPE we will have a wonderful slew of posts from many others. Feel free to contribute whatever thoughts you come up with - Post photos, spray about your accomplishments, say a special thanks to some anonymous person who helped you and then disapearred before you got to let them know your appreciation, funny anecdotes - whatever!

See you in Joshua Tree!

[happiegrrrl]

Hi Everyone -

What a great event the JTree Goddesses on the Rocks was! I am so glad I was able to volunteer, and definitely hope to be involved in more events in the future. Here's a little photo essay of the first day, from my perspective.

As people began to show up for registration on Saturday morning, it was clear that the event was going to be a success. Everyone was friendly, excited and anticipating a positive experience. Here we have some of the earlybirds signing in for the day.


Barbara, taking things easy before she heads of to her workshop.


Mother and child discuss things with a new friend.


More arrivals!


Don't know what they were talking about, but it seems they were in agreement!


Yet more participants have made their way to the meeting spot near Turtle Rock in Real Hidden Valley.


Trying on a demo pair of 5.10 shoes for the day


The youngest Goddess of the day gets a diaper check from her mom. Look at that sweet changing pad!


Participants heading off to their workshops, ready for action!


More to come.....!

[sonya]

Hey Happie, these pictures are awesome!

Yes, the event was a big success thanks to everyone that was involved...Peak Rescue Inst., the Sterling & Prana athletes, local guides, and volunteers. It was a bit hot, but I didn't hear a single complaint from any of the participants!

The clinics being offered were new this year as I have had many requests from the ladies wanting to learn how to lead climb, place gear, build anchors, self-rescue, - basically become more self-sufficient. I have received much positive feedback from the attendees on how much they learned and about their instructors. All of our events will now follow this format so we can empower more women to get out there!

We have two more women's events scheduled for this year:

North Conway, NH: September 8-9, 2007
New River Gorge, WV: September 29-30, 2007

The info is not on Sterling Rope's website yet, but we're working on it!

Glenn (Peak Rescue) and I are already planning next years' event at Joshua Tree. We have scheduled it for April 19 - 20 with free camping at Sheep's Pass.

Thanks for posting about the event and also putting the pictures up. I am working on a link from our website with a trip report as well as pictures.

Thanks for everything Happie!!! ;D

Sonya
Events Coordinator
Sterling Rope Co.

[happiegrrrl]

Thanks Sonya, for the HUGE efforts you put into making the event as wonderful as it was! I'll get copies of these photos to you by email later today.

Here's some more photos. These are from the Saturday session for Elana's trad leading group.

Starting out, Elana goes over the basics of placing gear.


Giving the girls the lowdown on how to be passive-aggressive on the sharp end


Awe, Hex....


Gearing up for ground school


Practice....

Practice....

Practice!


Let the show begin! Each participant takes center stage while Elana provides a gear placement review.


The good, the bad and the ugly. Everyone who remembers their first day practicing gear placement knows the feeling.


Everyone did a great job with this section of the workshop, analyzing possibilities, selecting sizes, slotting the gear, finagling for a better fit, knowing bunk the moment....after....they placed it.... the satisfying feeling of a solid placement...

It was really great to watch everyone particpating, and made me wish I had gotten my ground school training in such a venue. My first time was that I'd hired a guide, and to lower the cost, asked a gym partner if they'd like to come to. It was a guy, and even though it would surprise a lot of people to imagine I had taken a back seat while he postured...that is what happened. He was more willing to grab 'n go, and I was more meek, worried about 'getting it right.'

When it came to tying pieces together to build anchors, my guide had us work together placing the pieces. My partner slammed in three cams before I had set my first(perfect, dammit!) nut. I'll never forget how I just wanted to step back and let him do everything, feeling like I was getting left behind. No one's fault; it was just the way it was. I think a lot of time, we women see the masculine energy of 'full speed ahead' and it's just something we feel better about stepping aside for. It's almost like we sense an inevitable crash ahead and decide to avoid the gore.

Unfortunately, because I had deferred, I also lost out on practice with a qualified person to analyze my placements. Later, I did the same thing - hired a guide - with TWO guys this time.....(I do happen to be a hard headed Taurus). But this time, I made sure I got my licks in. And how sweet it was, when Mike Rawdon(who works with Alpine Endeavors here at the Gunks) checked an anchor system I'd created and praised me on using 2 of 3 pieces passive gear and a perfect hex placement!


Anywa....more to come. Next will be shots of the participants on their mock leads. Stay tuned!!!

[happiegrrrl]

As sharp as the sharp end can get when one knows there's a TR safety mechanism, the Goddesses on the Rocks women made their mock leads. I know that if I were up there, I would have felt all the sensations - risk assessment, responsibility, focus, trust..... I know that the mass of others at the base would have played with my mind, and thoughts of belayer distraction would have made me wish for not only a backup belay but an iron-clad dedication to the "Do Not Fall" mentality. Kudos to all these women for tying in and trusting each other and their own senses of self-responsibility!

In case you're having difficulty imagining.....



Some of our fearless leaders!








The group down the stone from Elana's was headed by Kate, who brought her big wall techniques into use, jumarring a fixed line to stay in step with her leaders as they worked their routes.




Her fixed line set between two routes, Kate was able to work double time....Has she given a new meaning to the term "swinging leads?"


There was certainly so much more to this weekend than I can show from the few photos I've placed here. The seeds of many friendships were planted, climbing skills and awareness was elevated for everyone who particpated, fun was definitely had and memories were created. And I have shown just day one of the workshop, and experienced just a fraction of the clinics. Along with trad leading, particpatnts had choices ranging from beginner climbing technique, bouldering, crack climbing, and self-rescue.

(Note: I heard the self-rescue group got only two particpants.....How LUCKY those 2 were! A similar thing happened to me last year, when I signed up for a group self-rescue worskhop. Expecting somewhere between 8 and 20 others, imagine my shock to see it was just me and one other. Practically one on one guidance! As did my guide, the GoTR group did the right thing; they continued with the session instead of cancelling. The skills I learned, as I am sure the goddesses did too, are so important to have.)


On Saturday night, there was a delicious barbeque, followed by a schwag raffle extraordinaire. Several companies had come out in full force to support this project! Shoes, packs, ropes, shirts, hats and a host of other gear seemed to be never-ending. Wow.

The second day of climbing was more of the same - fun, friendship and Jtree magic. This little JTree garden goddess seemed to revel in the positive energy, hanging out for quite a while just feet away from all the activity.



Finally - a gigantic THANKS to everyone who helped make this event possible - from Sterling Ropes, Peak Rescue, the workshop leaders, gear representatives, participants and to the administrators of Joshua Tree who allowed access. What a spectacular time.