You are a woman working in a field populated primarily by men. What is that like?
The people that I’m surrounded with as co-workers are awesome. They treat me like an equal, and they are very supportive. I respect them, and I feel respected, equal. With male clients who are older, they don’t seem to respect me right off the bat like my male co-workers. They see me, and I’m a small person, and they don’t know what to think. Like they don’t know what I can do. It’s through my actions that I gain respect. I just be myself, try to do my best, and it happens, trust comes. In the beginning I feel their sense of doubt and then, it all comes out fine. And, the women – they are always so happy to have you! So, why is alpine climbing such a male dominated sport? (note: this question is about mountaineering, not rock climbing which draws more women) The suffering. Hands down, the suffering. You have to know how to suffer and know how to embrace it, and if you can’t embrace it, you’ll hate it. Having no privacy, building camps, all the gear, having your period. It’s a lot of wo
