10 Essential Questions: Nina Crampton

Read our member profile of Nina Crampton as she answer the 10 Essential Questions.
Kristina Ciari Tursi Kristina Ciari Tursi
January 01, 2014
10 Essential Questions: Nina Crampton
Nina Crampton leading a snowshoeing field trip.

This month we spoke with Nina Crampton, a volunteer leader who enjoys teaching almost as much a good beer after a long day in the mountains. For extra entertainment, read her interview with a British accent – she’s from the UK!

Name: Nina Crampton
Hometown: Bournemouth, Dorset, UK
Member Since: 2011
Occupation: Art Teacher
Favorite Activities: Scrambling, snowshoeing, backpacking, all things artsy, motorcycle riding, sailing and canoeing, drinking really good beer after a day in the mountains! Oh and teaching!

10 Essential Questions

How did you first get involved with The Mountaineers?
Having dinner with friends who I later learned were Mountaineers, various words came up that I did not recognize: ‘glissading’ and ‘plunge stepping,’ and what the heck was Alpine Scrambling? After some interrogation it was very clear that I would have to join the Mountaineers to do this fun stuff, especially after having spent many hours in the UK backpacking and actually Scrambling (though I was in blissful ignorance of this). In 2011, I took the Scramble class and loved it. Being a big mouth I then had to yap about it, so instructing became an obvious next step for me. Now I help to instruct Alpine Scrambling, Snowshoeing and Navigation (which I am particularly passionate about). I feel a tremendous sense of pride in paying it forward.

What motivates you to volunteer with us?
In my life, there is not much that can top watching the pleasure and sense of achievement in a student when they have perfected a skill, especially when they thought they would never ‘get it’. To sense their fear and reduce it throug a concrete, life-saving skill that is life saving, the eureka moment! Introducing and equipping people with knowledge and skill to enjoy and be safe in the mountains keeps me motivated. That and working with a pretty amazing bunch of people who give so much to
this organization. Brilliant!

Favorite Mountaineers memory?
I have a few so this is a difficult one for me. The first time I roped up to climb Glacier Mountain was especially cool. The silence of the early morning and just our little lights guiding our way was really amazing. I was nervous and excited and doing something I had not done before. It was great! I loved it! I'm hoping to do more of that again this year.

Who/What inspires you?
People inspire me to be the best teacher/instructor I can be with as much compassion and understanding as possible. It's always good to learn something new, to force yourself to be back in the position of learning, and to remember what it is like to not be able to do a particular skill. I love all of it really. Watching and listening to other instructors always teaches me something new.

What does adventure mean to you?
Adventure to me is doing anything new: exploring a new region, new mountains, new state, new country, new anything really. One of my favorite things to do is load my tent on the back of my motorcycle and set off. Sometimes I have no idea where I am headed, but I am very sure that it will be an adventure. Add a few scrambles, a swim, some great music onto that and it becomes a perfect adventure!

 

Lightning round!

Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise every time.
Smile or game face? Smile all the way.
Superpower? Sparkle with color.
Post-adventure meal of choice?  The food is irrelevant-the IPA is all that matters.
If you could be a rockstar at any outdoor
activity overnight, what would it be?  I would love to ski.

 

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