2018 PNW Summer Women’s Programs

May 10, 2018

By IMG Guide Anna Hicks

I’ve personally experienced the constraints a person can face on their journey to becoming a mountaineer. Now that I’m a mountain guide, I’m passionate about helping other people achieve their goals in the mountains. Currently women are very underrepresented in mountaineering, and being the only woman on a climb can be challenging.  Therefore, myself and the other female guides at IMG have developed programs to help women build competence and confidence in the mountains.

This year we are offering 3 all-women’s programs during the 2018 summer season!  Whether you’re a first-time mountaineer who wants an introduction to climbing or a seasoned adventurer looking for a refresher course with in-depth hands-on training and practice, we have a program that will suit your needs.  You can sign up for a summit climb of Rainier via the Disappointment Cleaver route, or a 6-day mountaineering skills seminar on Mount Baker or Mount Shuksan.  Check out our website for program details and dates.

During last year’s women’s programs I asked every participant why they signed up and I heard a wide range of reasons.  A couple of women said it happened to be the only spot left on a Disappointment Cleaver climb of Rainier.  A few said that they didn’t necessarily care if it was an all-women’s climb, but that they can relate better to female guides.  Others said they wanted an all-women’s climb because they believe it can be a more supportive learning environment, that they want to focus on the strengths we share as women, or that they wanted to meet future female climbing partners.

Our different reasons for choosing one of IMG’s all-women’s programs is a big part of what we individually have to contribute to the whole: a wide variety of perspectives, opinions, skillsets, and backgrounds.   We at IMG look forward to speaking with you about our women’s programs and helping you pick the right program for your goals.  We look forward to you becoming part of our community of women in the mountains who are working together to become more competent and confident mountaineers.

I hope you can join us on one of our women’s climbs this summer!

Anna Hicks