03/05/2026
Last night I gave a talk to a seventh-grade class from Dedham Country Day School from Massachusetts. It was up at Pinkham Notch, AMC visitor Center. They come up every year for three days and hike and learn about the area. My first talk to them was 23 years ago. There were about 40 kids, and I speak to them about winter safety, what the carry in my pack, what to do with an emergency. I have a slideshow prepared about my journey in climbing and the places it has taken me. I showed them the documentary 109 below and talk about it. I stop after my slideshow, and after the movie to see if there are any questions. And there are lots of questions. Then I take my pack apart and show them everything I carry on a winter trip up Mount Washington and why. They got to come and play with the gear and asked me questions. It is the most enjoyable group I ever speak to. They are young and they have so many questions. In this day and age, it is a joy to see such a group, and to provide them with something that will make them think how about something they probably never thought of before. Their teacher, Rick Edie, it was his first year teaching the first year they came up here. It has been a delight to work with him and his class all these years. In the 23 years, I have only missed two sessions, one because of Covid at one because of a scheduling conflict on my end. In a few weeks, I will get a stack of handwritten cards, they will be drawings and thanking me for my talk. It is my pleasure and I will do this for as long as they ask me.
