Trust the Timing: Ski Mountaineer Caroline Gleich

She Explores

English - January 23, 2019 10:30 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MB - ★★★★★ - 878 ratings
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Previous Episode: Reading a River: Heather Hansman

Next Episode: Work in Progress: RANGE Founder Jeanine Pesce

Caroline Gleich is a ski mountaineer who knows the meaning of scary but rewarding: whether she's climbing 8,000 meter mountains in the Himalayas or anticipating her future as an adventure-seeking wife and mom. Years of hard work have brought her here and while she's a self described late bloomer, Caroline's learned to trust the timing in her life.

Looking back on 2018, Caroline shared on her Instagram that she summited 72 peaks and climbed 489,704 human powered vertical feet of uphill. Included in these peaks and vertical feet was the 6th highest mountain in the world, Cho Oyu. We talked with Caroline about that climb and the family she sees in her future. Even though she’s ski mountaineered some of the tallest mountains in the world, her thoughts on fear, self-trust, and creating the life she wants for herself hit close to home.

Plus, we catch up with Karen Wang two years after we interviewed her for Episode 9, After the Pacific Crest Trail.

Women featured in this episode: Caroline Gleich and Karen Wang

Hosted by Gale Straub

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In this episode you'll hear:

What surprised Caroline about her climb of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world
Why she continues to ski mountaineer despite the inherent risks
How altitude sickness almost cost her the summit
Why she proposed to her fiancé and not the other way around
How what she learned on Cho Oyu will help her on her spring climb of Everest
How Caroline copes with pre-trip anxiety and post-trip depression
Why getting married and planning to have kids feels scarier than a big mountaineering trip
Our up with Karen Wang two years after her "After the Pacific Crest Trail" interview