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Couples who march together stay together. Today is the big day! I’ll be marching with you all in spirit to demand action on climate and to advocate for a future of renewable energy.#RiseForClimate #March4POW
Category: Instagram
Follow me on Instagram @carolinegleich
Heading to Cho Oyu basecamp today (16,400 ft./5000m). For this trip, I wanted to push myself to bring a different narrative to how we approach mountaineering and use this expedition as an opportunity to talk about inclusivity and allyship. As I’ve grown as an activist, I’ve come to realize that social and environmental issues are related, and that how we treat people is how we treat the planet. I feel it’s more important than ever to speak up about inclusivity and diversity to create a more resilient environmental movement. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting friends I’ve met who have challenged my point of view, helped me grow and who are evolving our perceptions of who belongs in the mountains. Stay tuned for more… #MountainsAreForEveryone
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Potola Palace, Lhasa, Tibet. 11,995’/3650m. Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world and the holy center of Tibetan Buddhism. Visiting the Potala Palace will go down as one of my top life experiences. Tibet is a place that few Westerners are able to visit. Every moment, I am filled with gratitude to be here, happy and healthy. Walking up and down all the stairs, I am thankful for the nights spent in the @hypoxico tent. Morale is high as we make our way through the Tibetan highlands into the Himalayas and to Cho Oyu base camp over the next few days. My intention for this time is to savor each moment and share as many smiles with the people I meet as possible. @KEEN #keenambassador
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After what felt like a marathon day of travel, we made it to Chengdu, China (a city home to around 14 million people, and the capitol of the Sichuan Province), had a little sleep and are awaiting our departure to Lhasa. There are few experiences in life as deeply uncomfortable as being an exhausted foreigner arriving in a country where you do not speak the language. Thank goodness for google translate and for the fine logistical support from @alpenglowexpeditions. There were some minor snafus along the way, but nothing major and morale is high after a few hours at an airport hotel. I’ve done some international trips alone and it’s a different beast (especially with ski luggage). I’m so grateful to have @rob.lea as a travel companion. When Rob and I first met four years ago, I never imagined that we would go on a trip like this together. At that point, I had written off trying to find a life partner who was also a mountaineering partner. I wanted someone who was solid at home- that I could depend on to pick me up at the airport and cook me good meals. It turns out, Rob ticked those boxes and he is a crusher in the mountains. I learned an important lesson- that sometimes, when you stop searching, it’s easier to find what you are looking for. Onward we go. I’m sure there will be many more hiccups along the way, and I’ll continue to be glad to have someone who is so patient and kind and who makes me laugh when I cry, by my side.
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Packing day. Tomorrow, we depart. I am nervous and excited for the big challenge ahead. I can’t believe we are so close…Honestly, I tend to get pretty bad pre-trip anxiety. To help ease the stress in my mind, I try to make a mantra and visualization. I try not to get too wrapped up in the worry of the future and just focus on one step at a time. For my mantra on this trip, I’m thinking about all of you- the army of support I have- and how that support will propel me up the mountain. I want to show that mountaineering doesn’t need to be elitist- that #MountainsAreForEveryone. That you don’t need to grow up climbing or skiing competitively. You can figure it out and it’s never too late. I’ll do my best to keep you updated along the way! Thanks for all the support and encouragement. Can’t wait to meet the rest of the team from @alpenglowexpeditions! @KEEN #KEENambassador @clifbar #feedyouradventure Photo: @rob.lea