On Thursday, February 7th, Alpenglow Sports is pleased to host renowned ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich as the fourth speaker for the Winter Speaker Series, presented by davisREED Construction, Inc. The show itself, titled “Ski Mountaineering and Activism” is FREE, but raffle tickets and beverages will be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to Protect Our Winters.
As a professional athlete, Gleich has many accomplishments to her name, including ski mountaineering the three highest peaks in Ecuador in one week, the highest volcano in the US in a weekend, and King’s Peak in a single day. Perhaps most notably, she is known for being the first woman and fourth person ever to complete all 90 lines in “The Chuting Gallery”, a steep skiing guidebook to the Wasatch (a mountain range in Utah) by Andrew McLean.
An outspoken defender of equality in the outdoor industry, Gleich frequently speaks out about both cyber and general harassment that professional female athletes face on a daily basis.
In early May of 2018, Gleich had to publicly confront doubters of her abilities and defend her Chuting Gallery accomplishment. “I want female mountaineers to get the same recognition and credit as their male counterparts,” she wrote in an article originally published on her website, and later published again by Outside Magazine. “The way these local guides have fabricated a story about the style in which I climbed and skied the lines in The Chuting Gallery illustrates the kind of toxic masculinity that runs rampant in our culture.”
In September of 2018, Gleich pushed herself as an athlete once again by summiting and skiing Cho Oyu, in the Himalayas. It was on this trip that she also proposed to her long time partner, Rob Lea, who was on the trip with her. In a recent Instagram post, Gleich wrote, “I’m… grateful we’re at a time in society where I could ask for Rob’s hand in marriage. To other women who are thinking about popping the question- there is nothing wrong with proposing to your man, and for speaking up and asking for what you want. Only the insecure person is emasculated by a woman who speaks up and asks for what she wants.”
Among other causes, Gleich is a strong advocate for the environment. She frequently petitions in Washington, as well as in her home state of Utah. She was particularly active in the ongoing movement to preserve Bear’s Ears National Monument. She is also part of the POW Alliance, a group of professional athletes that have allied themselves with Protect Our Winters.
Gleich’s show, titled “Ski Mountaineering and Activism”, highlights what adventure and activism have in common and how can adventurers can use their skills to mobilize and create social and environmental impact. Gleich will share her personal stories about mountaineering and activism, show the parallels between adventure and advocacy, and give you tools and advice to make a difference in the world.
Join us for a night of adventure and activism at 7PM on February 7th in the Olympic Village Lodge at Squaw Valley. This is an event you won’t want to miss, so get there early to find a seat, the house is sure to be packed!