Mountain ToursClimb a mountain
This 11 December is International Mountain Day. Almost one billion people live in mountain areas, and over half of our population depends on mountains for water, food and clean energy.
Yet mountains are under threat from climate change, land degradation, over exploitation and natural disasters. These have potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences, both for mountain communities and the rest of the world.
We spoke with Crista Valentino, Co-Founder and Director of CoalitionWILD. The coalition, made up of members under 35 years-old, is a global initiative connecting and equipping young people to transform the planet through youth-driven solutions. As an avid mountain climber, we asked Valentino why mountain climbing is critical to her work in supporting young entrepreneurs to tap their full potential and shape an exciting future for our world.
Do you see evidence of mountains under pressure? Why are they important?
I live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA the gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks known for their beauty, wildlife, scenery, and challenging mountain terrain. I see more people climbing mountains every time I go but as our population grows, so does our responsibility to protect the places we love the most. We must strike a balance: to inhabit mountain spaces, appreciate the beautiful vistas they afford and the challenges they pose while protecting and managing them for others to enjoy firsthand.
What does climbing a mountain teach you and why do you do it?
I didn’t always love adventuring in the mountains quite the opposite. The prospect was completely foreign to me. But since I stepped foot on my first trail nine years ago, I haven’t looked back. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the flurry of everyday life, always moving onto the next task on the to-do list. For me, being in the mountains calms my mind and brings clarity. As my gasps for oxygen become greater, the chaos in my head becomes quieter. As my focus turns towards taking one more step forward, it turns away from the clatter in my brain. Being in the mountains is like a moving meditation. Climbing allows me to shatter the perspective of what I can achieve, how far I can go and what I can endure. It has also given me a new definition of friendship and trust, knowing that the partners I choose to be with have my life in their hands, and theirs in mine.
