Climbing and alpinism have been an essential part of my life since 2003. I love and practice all kinds of climbing. I still have to get in my first bigwall experience and get some mileage on cracks and chimneys, but otherwise I've been at everything from high-altitude mountaineering to indoor climbing and dabbling at waterfall ice. Onsight trad leads at my limit are a big favorite and technical alpine routes is what I enjoy most. Like mathematics technical climbing is very authentic and very precise and it allows me to experience emotions such as joy and fear in the purest form.
I enjoy travelling and exploring new climbing locations, in the USA or abroad, and practicing my French, Italian, Spanish (or German, when nothing else works) with the locals. I have been fortunate to meet some very special people with whom I shared good times in the mountains or on the rocks.
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Cesare P.
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Paul M.
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Ron M.
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Amy B.
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Luc L.
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The women that inspire me:
- Catherine Destivelle: A name that needs no further words! My Italian friend Cesare bought me her book Verticali...haven't found yet any better words to describe my views on mathematics research than those that Destivelle uses to describe her climbing accomplishments ("non aspiro ad arrampicare continuamente, a collezionare vie, perche mi darebbe l'impressione di girare a vuoto").
- Arlene Blum
- Steph Davis is my favorite, maybe because of the emphasis she puts on hard work in climbing throughout her public appearances, maybe because I've had the honor and pleasure to meet her in person!
- Silvia Vidal is a Spanish alpinist who has put solo bigwall first ascents up to A5. A link to an interview with Vidal (in Italian). Silvia's latest climbing accomplishment is a first bigwall solo ascent at an altitude of ~19000ft in Pakistan. Love Silvia's ideas about chaotic training!
- Danielle Gelinas, after a PhD in Biology and after sampling the academic and corporate worlds, has taken her climbing to the professional level and is an AMGA certified guide.
- Andi Fichtner: from ABO first ascents on the walls of Greenland to 8a sport routes, Andi climbs it all!
- Gloria Hopkins: Painter and photographer of nature, writer of design and composition, Gloria is a visual artist that pursues her passions with the utmost dedication that a human being can give. Truly inspiring! I am very lucky to have her as a friend.
Some men inspire me as well:
- Janne Corax has been cycling to the most remote corners of the world and climbing mountains full-time for many, many years now. His collection of pictures at Summitpost is simply fantastic!
- Guillaume Dargaud: another existence on the edge that revolves around climbing and some stunning photography.
- QT Luong: one of the most finest climbing, nature and travel photographers of all times, former inhabitant of the Ivory Tower. (PhD in Computer Science)
- Ray Jardine: a life of eclectic adventure.
Some links that I have put together before a trip to Ecuador and Chile.
My Summitpost profile contains a small collection of selected pictures from various trips.
La Sportiva boots for sale!
A small collection of internet climbing haunts. Great for enhancing one's technical knowledge, planning a trip or meeting new partners:
Copyright © 2007 Irina G.
