All American Women’s mAmas Dablam Expedition Successful

All American Women’s mAmas Dablam Expedition Successful

On November 9, 2003, two American women of the 2003 mAmas Dablam Women’s Expedition reached the Himalayan summit of Ama Dablam (22,494 ft) in Nepal. Angela Hawse and Ellie Pryor, already turned back several days before by extreme winds, climbed the dramatic Southwest ridge from their Camp 2 (19,500ft) in a 10-hour round-trip push. The nine American women, unsupported by Sherpas, were climbing to benefit the dZi Foundation.

All but two of the nine-member team were alumni of or guides with Chicks With Picks, a series of ice climbing seminars that teach both climbing skills and self-reliance in an all-women, non-competitive atmosphere, while at the same time, raise funds to support local women’s shelters.

The dZi Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Ridgeway, Colorado, directed by Jim Nowak and Kim Reynolds, that promotes the education, health and welfare of indigenous mountain communities in Asia. Funds raised by mAmas Dablam helped the dZi Foundation establish and support a residential facility that provides safe haven, shelter, education and medical assistance for young women in Sikkim, India.

“We were inspired by the energy and work that Chicks With Picks and dZi Foundation do for women,” Angela Hawse explained. “Our group came up with the plan a year and a half ago to raise money for the dZi project in Sikkim and to pull off a climb of one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.”

“The nature of the trip was all about laughter and fun. Everywhere we went we sang, laughed and reveled in the beauty of our surroundings. Raising money for the dZi Foundation gave us a sense of pride that was much greater than reaching the summit of the mountain,” Hawse said.

“We took a risk and used all new gear that we had never climbed in before,” observed Hawse. “With the support of Marmot, we were rewarded with excellent results. Their lightweight gear makes it possible for women like us to carry all our own loads up high.”

Expeditions members included: Angela Hawse, Kathy Cosley, Anna Keeling, Neena Jain, Heidi Wahl, Jen Grimes, Laurie Andrews, Ellie Pryor, and Julie Siemers. Other sponsors included: GoLite, Wild Roses, Sterling Ropes, Moving Comfort, Cloudveil, Climb High, Lowe Alpine Systems, Fox River, Isis, Sallie Shatz, Julbo and La Sportiva.

Altitech2: Digital Altimeter, Barometer, Compass and Thermometer. Time/Date/Alarms. Chronograph with 24 hour working range. Timer with stop, repeat and up function. Rotating Bezel. Leveling bubble. Carabiner latch. E.L. 3 second backlight. Water resistant. 4" x 2-1/4" x 3/4" 2 oz. Requires 1 CR2032 battery. See more here.

  Altitude pre-
   acclimatization

   Ascenders

   Atlas snowshoes

   Black Diamond

   Botas

   Brunton

   Carabiners

   CaVa Climbing Shoes
   Clearance

   Clif Bar

   CMI

   Crampons

   Edelweiss ropes
   Eureka Tents

   Featured

   FoxRiver

   Garmin

   Granite Gear

   Harnesses
   Headlamps
   Helmets

   HighGear
   Ice Axes

   Kavu Eyewear

   Katadyn

   Kong

   Lekisport

   Lowepro

   Motorola

   Nalgene

   New England Ropes

   Nikwax

   Omega

   Outdoor Designs

   Pelican

   PowerBar

   Princeton Tec

   Prescription Glacier

   Glasses

   Primus

   Rope Bags

   Seattle Sports

   Serius
   Sleeping Bags

   Stubai

   Suunto

   Tents

   Trekking Poles
   Ushba
   and more here