Women in High Places: Annapurna
and Other Climbs

In 1978, a team of ten women led by Arlene Blum made the first American ascent of Annapurna I (26,500'), a difficult and dangerous Himalayan giant.

Arlene's slides and personal narrative portray the major psychological and organizational challenges she overcame in putting together the expedition, leading the climb through storms and avalanches to the triumph of the summit, and dealing with the tragic deaths of two of her team members.

This classic Annapurna story is embedded in a fascinating and often humorous history of 175 years of climbing and exploration by women. Arlene tells of Maria Paradis who climbed Mt. Blanc in 1808 to get more business for her souvenir stand at the foot of the mountain; Alexandra David-Neel, who at the age of 56, walked 2,000 miles to Lhasa disguised as a Tibetan beggar woman; and of her own expeditions to McKinley, Everest and Bhrigupanth.   The lecture reveals the challenges and rewards of climbing the world's highest mountains. Its beautiful slides are presented in a two projector-dissolve format with Himalayan and Western music.In 1978, a team of ten women led by Arlene Blum made the first American ascent of Annapurna I (26,500'), a difficult and dangerous Himalayan giant.

This lecture will be customized to meet your specific objectives.
Please read lectures references.

To schedule a class or for more information, please click here or call Arlene Blum Lectures at (510) 644 3164