Cheryl Talbert
Did you know that The Mountaineers have been leading international adventure activities since the 1960s? Since our beginnings we've taken members on 220 different adventures, trekking, hiking, backpacking, climbing, scrambling, and skiing to over 25 different countries and on nearly every continent.
To help quench your thirst for travel during this time when we're sequestered at home, our Global Adventures committee is launching a presentation series with gorgeous photos and trip planning and logistics information from some of our favorite international adventures - we're calling these "Armchair Global Adventures" and we'd love to have you join us!
ARMCHAIR GLOBAL ADVENTURES EVENTS
In our first event, at 6:30pm on May 12, 2020, long-time Olympia Branch Backpack Leader, Navigation instructor, and new Global Adventures leader Mike Kretzler will take us to the mountainous Mediterranean island of Corsica, home to the famous GR-20. This epic 112-mile trail traverses the granite backbone of the island, diagonally from Calenzana in the North to Conca in the South.
Some have called the GR-20 the "toughest trail in Europe." This is indeed a challenging trek, usually taking a little over two weeks, with ridge walks, many passes, some cable-supported moves, and a few airy traverses. But it's so much more - gorgeous and dramatic scenery and weather, steeped in the deep history of human interaction with this wild country.
Mike hiked the GR20 in 2015, staying in mountain huts, at ski resorts, in town hotels, in little roadhouse dormitories, and, once, in a tent. The overnight spots all have robust dinners, sometimes spartan breakfasts, and many have cooking facilities and other provisions available. And like most of the Grand-Randonee routes in Europe, the GR20 is filled with the charm of evening meals, drinks, raucous dining halls in the camaraderie of people from many countries experiencing it together.
In this 1.5 hour zoom event, Mike will take you with him on a photo journey, describe what it takes to undertake this trip and what it was like to experience it.
Additional Armchair Global Adventures will be held approximately every two weeks, and upcoming presentations will include Cindy Hoover taking you Nordic skiing in the pristine winter landscapes of western Canada, Steve Johnson taking you hut-hiking and village-based day hiking in the Dolomites, and Cheryl Talbert leading you on a rugged backpacking adventure past the towers of Monte FitzRoy and Cerro Torre and along the South Patagonian Icefield on the Huemul Circuit in Argentine Patagonia.
Find the next event in the series on our Virtual Events and Activities Calendar. These events are free and open to the public but you must RSVP at the above link to receive the zoom link to join the meeting.
Armchair Global Adventures Events
