well-being
Leading the way
Lead the Climb
Find your independence and head up the climb with LeadTheClimb, a women’s mountaineering leadership course.
What inspired the creation of LeadTheClimb?
Traditionally, mountains have been the domain of men, rarely of women.
Women are in the minority when it comes to mountaineering, and most of the time they take on the role of second-in-command or follower. All-too-frequently, there is a stereotype of being too modest to succeed, a victim of one’s lack of self-confidence.
Few women have a mountain-based profession: only 2% of active mountain guides are women.
The idea was to feminise the sport and give women the confidence and skills they need to become a mountain leader.
Why did you choose to combine mountaineering with a self-sufficiency course for women?
LeadTheClimb focuses on learning between women to give them time to gain confidence and feel capable. It’s an essential and effective step in gaining a sense of competence and self-confidence as a leader. This helps to promote greater harmony within mixed mountaineering parties.
Similar initiatives are being proposed by other clubs and organisations in response to growing demand.
How does this course help/change participants?
The courses enable you to go into the mountains to develop your leadership skills as well as acquiring the knowledge needed for this sport, which is not without its dangers. It’s an adventure that’s experienced together with kindness and solidarity, without a competitive element. This fosters the development of self-confidence and the motivation to get out of your comfort zone and dare to go further, becoming more independent.
“Dare to give yourself the means to achieve your ambitions.”
What advice would you give to a woman who's hesitating about taking up the programme?
Dare to give yourself the means to achieve your ambitions. In the mountains it’s not strength that counts, it’s skill. And in this respect, women and men have the same capacity to learn and progress.
On the other hand, you have to be willing to get off your butt!
Nothing happens by chance, everything can be learned step by step, but you need desire and motivation. The courses take place in a friendly and supportive atmosphere, so that everyone has the opportunity to become a leader.
Can you share with us a few examples of successes or highlights since THE launch?
LeadTheClimb gave 5 women the opportunity to develop their skills as mountain leaders during a 2-year training programme supervised by two female mountain guides.
The programme ended in July 2023 with an expedition to Switzerland to climb 3 major high-altitude peaks on their own: the Matterhorn (4,478m), the Eiger (3,967m) and the Obergabelhorn (4,064m). They worked hard to produce an inspiring film about their journey, which will be released in 2024.
Following this success, two more classes are being selected for the next two years.
Every year, LeadTheClimbprovides and organises over 200 training days in the mountains, run by professionals but on a voluntary basis. It’s a lot of work, but the positive feedback from participants shows that things are changing and evolving. There are now more women in the mountains and taking the lead! We must continue to give them visibility.
Men’s attitudes to women mountaineers are also changing. All this is very encouraging.
What is a typical day like on your course?
Before the course, there is a discussion and preparation phase that takes place between the guide and the participants: arranging the meeting point, hut bookings and food management, compiling a list of equipment needed, itineraries for plan A, plan B and sometimes plan C depending on the mountain conditions. You have to be adaptable.
The group then heads off into the mountains accompanied by their guide, who trains and advises the independent rope parties: learning how to handle a rope, how to progress and secure a roped party, how to use an ice axe and crampons, how to assess the risks, the terrain and the weather, how to manage a route, how to choose technical equipment — it includes everything!