One of the 2024 Summit Scholarship recipients, Isabelle is a budding climber who is ready to connect with a community of like-minded aspiring climbers. It all started with an impromptu climb of Mount Kilimanjaro and an appreciation for the simple life in the mountains. Isabel enjoyed the moments of connecting with local Tanzanians and climbers from all over the world, being in awe of the different ecosystems as she climbed the mountain, and feeling empowered by the team she took on the challenge with. As Isabel shared, “I’m hooked.”
But like most things in life, there are barriers, obstacles, and even our own impostor syndrome to overcome. Isabel’s journey from Mount Kilimanjaro to Mount Baker wasn’t always an easy one, but it did have some great highlights, including climbing Red Rocks with her mentor Ashley Faebstein. From a humble climb on New Mexico’s Wheeler Peak to overcoming medical hurdles, Isabel certainly learned a thing or two along the way and welcomed them as new opportunities to grow and learn. .
We had a chance to learn a little more about Isabel. She is an absolute inspiration. Keep scrolling to read Isabel’s story and thoughts below.
Hello Isabel! Can you describe how you felt when you found out you won? I was really shocked when I received the call. While waiting for the decision, I tried not to get too excited about the scholarship, but when I found out I had been selected, I realized how much I wanted this scholarship and to pursue this skill. I honestly realized how much I was interested in it. About mountain climbing. Being awarded this scholarship ignited a flame of confidence in me that has continued to energize me to go out and try difficult things in the weeks since.
What do you do to fill your days? Currently, I am working as a caregiver for the elderly, which I absolutely love. In just two weeks, you’ll begin working as a field ecologist in Yellowstone National Park and surrounding natural areas. Outside of work, my current passion is triathlon, and I’m planning to compete in my first Olympic triathlon at the end of April. On the weekends, I plan adventurous activities like rock climbing, caving, hiking, and playing in the water, and I try to convince friends and acquaintances to go with me. I love spending time with my extended family while I’m home for a few months. I also love reading, playing the ukulele, training my dog, and doing yoga.
What made you start your adventure? When I was in college, I received a scholarship that included travel expenses. My friend and I, who are complete beginners, came up with the crazy idea of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I bought a plane ticket and took off without thinking too much about it. The first night of Kilimanjaro trekking was the first night I slept in a tent and I loved it. The connections with locals and people from all over the world, the simple life of life in the mountains (just keep walking!) and camping, the different ecosystems we passed through as we gained altitude, and the memories of our lives as we faced off. The strength of the team saw many challenges in the trek. I was hooked.
What obstacles did you face while climbing? In starting mountaineering, I faced several medical hurdles that I had to learn how to overcome. I have a congenital eye defect and am legally blind in my right eye. This can lead to problems with depth perception and vision in low-light conditions, and it can take a long time to learn how to cope with this disorder and trust yourself when climbing and navigating rough, rugged terrain. I needed to travel. In the world of mountaineering and climbing, I find it difficult to find people who work with me without making assumptions about what I can or cannot do, who are curious about my situation and without prejudice, and who don’t take away from the responsibilities that I truly value. can be difficult. .
I also suffer from a genetic foot problem that causes both of my big toe joints to grow out of place, causing a lot of pain and only getting worse over time. In 2023, I had to undergo reconstructive surgery on my toe to realign the bones and place screws. In total, I had severely limited mobility and was on crutches for eight months of the year. I had to learn how to pull myself out of depression when I couldn’t get most of my passions, and I had to learn the perseverance to try again and again at the level of technical knowledge and physical fitness. I didn’t, but I think I became stronger. Of this.
Around the age of 14, I was also diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease. Although I am currently in remission, I suffered from severe symptoms during my high school and college years. The main obstacle this disease caused was the messages that society taught me at an even younger age that I was weak, fragile, and vulnerable. What a transformative lesson it was to discover that, in fact, the opposite was true for me.
Tell us about an outdoor incident that solidified your love and desire for mountaineering. About a year ago, I was living in northern New Mexico and my brother came to town to visit. I wanted to take him on a real adventure, so we planned a climb to Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest peak at 13,161 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Although it was early spring, there was still quite a bit of snow on the mountains. This was my first real experience of traveling in the snow. I felt super cool and smart, studying topos, checking weather conditions to find good weather windows, and getting advice on equipment and routes from experienced locals. But once we got to the mountain, it was a very humbling experience. By the time we got to the trailhead, the car had skidded and the road was covered in snow, so our navigation skills were abysmal and we found ourselves going completely the wrong way many times. By the time we were three-quarters of the way up the mountain to the core, it was afternoon, but the terrain had become steeper and the snow was very slushy. We knew we were in an avalanche zone, so we decided to head back to lower elevation. I’ll never forget that experience, just the two of us immersed in a completely otherworldly landscape, the wind pulling the breath from my lungs, and my brother and I laughing and grinning at the true adventure of it all. That day, I vowed to learn more about mountain travel so I could explore wisely and make the right decisions.
Tell us about someone who inspires you. Ashley “Ash” Ravestein is someone I know personally and has inspired me a lot. She was my field instructor during the semester at NOLS Wilderness Medicine and Rescue. We spent over 25 days backpacking and canyoning together in remote canyons in Utah. She mentored me while climbing at Red Rocks, Nevada. She was by my side as I led my first climb and completed my longest multi-pitch. I loved Ash’s way of living in the great outdoors…rather than “consuming” the experience, she first humbly and quietly observes the natural world, then slowly welcomes in the rhythms and whims of nature. He taught me the importance of things.
Please tell us about your biggest mountaineering ambition or dream. I would love to try Aconcagua and Mt Reiner! I want to do technical mountain climbing (using ropes). I want to be a guide on a mountain climbing trip. I would love to participate in a mountain expedition for the purpose of research or assistance. I would like to be part of a search and rescue team or an expeditionary medic. Summit all Colorado 14ers.
What do you hope to learn from your experience as a Summit Scholarship recipient? I hope to gain mentorship and connections with other amazing women and non-binary people who are just as excited about this as I am. I grew up in an environment where no one, especially women, had any interest or knowledge of outdoor skills, so I’m desperate for role models and connections to show me my way into this world. I want to improve my ability to understand and reduce risks in the mountains. I want to experience the technical skills necessary to continue climbing. I want to practice making decisions as a team. I’m so excited to learn about the complete process of an expedition like this… from route planning to permits, packing, meals, camping chores… I want to learn from the basics.
Isabel – Your climbing community is waiting. can’t wait for you to join AW Expedition team on mount baker This summer. Look forward to more laughs, more connections, and a lifetime of climbing. To follow Isabelle’s journey, visit our expedition partner AWExpedition. Instagram or facebook.