tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37451894852801248692024-03-06T08:41:42.757+00:00The People You Meet Along the Way....The Adventures of the Diva in DownHeather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-91259975873197800532020-04-04T01:44:00.000+01:002020-04-04T02:10:01.829+01:00Notes from Isolation - Week 2: Finding flow in crisis
“Sooner or later comes a crisis in our affairs, and how we meet it determines our future happiness and success. Since the beginning of time, every form of life has been called upon to meet such crisis.” - Robert Collier
Among family, friends and colleagues I’ve observed a fairly consistent response to the rapidly evolving Covid-19 crisis. Over the past two weeks, most conversations and Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-74720956238349663112020-03-22T22:51:00.003+00:002020-03-22T23:09:02.529+00:00Notes from Isolation - Week 1: Doing my bit "te-quil-a" virus and flatten the curve
What a week. Where do I begin?
My week actually started earlier this month when the promise of sand, sunshine, and margaritas beckoned so I flew down to Mexico for a short break. Fast forward two weeks, and I find myself back in Canada, with a fading tan and kicking off a second week of self-isolation, wondering if my last shot of Mexican tequila was a symbolic last hurrah, as I nowHeather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-71901329909869301942019-04-04T01:11:00.001+01:002019-04-04T03:09:15.289+01:00People You Meet Along the Way: Next Stop - Nepal: Destination Unknown....
You're off to great places,
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way..!
-Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go
A few final thoughts as I drag two heavy bags out the door for a long journey to Nepal. I’m feeling a wide range of emotions from apprehension and nervousness, to that insatiable adrenaline rush you get when you stand on the cusp of the unknown and Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-48517585925657105452019-03-14T21:25:00.003+00:002019-03-15T18:05:52.170+00:00"Tell me a little about yourself..."
“Tell me a little about yourself...” I’m speaking on a Panel this weekend to an audience of university students and this is the opening question. It’s straightforward yet I’m struggling to answer it…
What labels do I use to define myself? Labels defined by my career, my hobbies, my relationship-status, where I was born, what I studied in university? What’s on my business card or what’s not onHeather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-85084156725593641912019-03-08T02:23:00.003+00:002019-03-08T14:22:52.267+00:00The People You Meet Along The Way: Celebrating the Women of the World - International Womens Day 2019
Travel isn’t simply about movement from one place to the next. It’s deeper and broader. In travel, there are lessons to be learned from those who forge their lives in the hustle and bustle of the city, in dusty villages, along rolling hillsides and in the shadows of soaring mountain peaks.
Today is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-91544520374654221852019-03-05T16:12:00.001+00:002019-03-05T23:07:16.496+00:00The People You Meet Along The Way: Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans...
Life,
they say, is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. I don’t know
about you, but it feels like everyone’s ‘busy’ making plans these days. I’ve recently even
caught myself hopping on the ‘I’m so busy’
band wagon wondering how I'm going to fit everything on my 'to-do' list into a day.
There’s a popular meme that
goes, ‘You have as many hours in a day as Beyoncé.’ Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-41461558259440299782019-02-26T19:22:00.001+00:002019-03-03T21:02:30.902+00:00SPRING 2019 CLIMBING PLANS: A Tale of Two Mountains...
Mountains. Looking back on journeys to these wild places and looking ahead to those to come, I wonder why I'm drawn to their rocky, snowy slopes and why I consciously succumb into their folds. Is it the unharnessed, unpredictable wildness of these places in a world that feels increasingly 'pre-meditated, staged and controlled'? Is it the people I meet along the way – their hardy, Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-25253124597247750112019-02-24T22:13:00.000+00:002019-02-27T04:03:28.787+00:00The People You Meet Along The Way: Biscuits and Tea in Thame
The magic of Nepal isn’t just about the Himalayas. There’s also magic to be found in the hillsides of the soaring mountain peaks. I was reminded of this today as I started down a rabbit warren of photographs looking for ‘epic climbing pictures’ from my adventures in the mountains for an upcoming presentation.
The more I looked for ‘epic pictures’ the less I felt connected. And I began Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-25381720109004156222019-02-04T03:02:00.000+00:002019-02-04T13:54:27.365+00:00The People You Meet: "Where are you 'at'?
A friend recently reached out and asked where I was ‘at’. His use of quotation marks meant he wasn’t looking to hear that I was at Starbucks ordering a double-shot latte. The question made me pause, self-check and think - the reaction which met the questions intended purpose. Where was I ‘at’, really?
The question was timely and insightful. I’d slowly fallen into a cycle of chasing Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-1216926759695324772018-11-19T18:39:00.000+00:002019-02-03T19:13:38.489+00:00People You Meet: My (much) younger self...
A picture which makes me smile... It was taken in April 1999, mid-way through my first adventures to Nepal. I was a bit younger, a bit more naieve, a bit braver, with a few less bruises - real & proverbial. I genuinely can't believe that this was 19 years ago. Would I change anything about the way life has unfolded? Hell no. Would I relive it? Hell yes.
But what advice would I Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-13542676098783169592018-07-09T19:12:00.000+01:002018-08-01T19:19:13.635+01:00INTERVIEW with ILIVEXTREME.COM "Climbing Denali"
TAKING THE FIRST STEPS... A series of events that kicked-off a roller-coaster 10-years of adventure..! Just before I left for Denali last month, I shared a few candid insights into the literal (and proverbial) highs and lows of a life in the mountains, why I love my (desk) day-job, the "fun scale", my mountain-inspirations, failings in the kitchen and how I redeem myself through mean Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-29601196173303781322018-06-25T19:43:00.000+01:002019-02-03T18:15:15.757+00:00The Denali Diaries: WEEK 3 & SUMMIT SUCCESS!
Day 15: 25 June 2018
A 'Rest Day' at 14,000ft in preparation for our anticipated move to 17,000ft tomorrow. The weather forecast is correct in its prediction of 80% chance of snow as we wake to snow but relatively mild temperatures hovering around -10 (ish). Whilst the forecast was 'sketchy' (at best) for tomorrow, there's a small, short high pressure system (aka better weather) rollingHeather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0Denali National Park and Preserve, Parks Hwy, Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, USA63.1148002 -151.192605737.5927657 167.4988003 88.6368347 -109.8840117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-62899982837553177332018-06-18T19:43:00.000+01:002019-02-03T19:30:51.719+00:00The Denali Diaries: WEEK 2 - The 7 Day Cyclone Lockdown
Day 8: 18 June 2018 (Day 5 of shovelling/ riding out the storm at 11,000ft)
Every now and then I need some “me time” - and I found that “me-time” today in a major 7-hour therapeutic shovelling session... clarity: hole / cave digging session. I felt I needed a new goal for the expedition (given our Denali summit was looking less and less promising) so I decided to dig to China.
The wind Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0Denali National Park and Preserve, Parks Hwy, Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, USA63.1148002 -151.192605737.5927657 167.4988003 88.6368347 -109.8840117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-73909242931165025692018-06-11T19:40:00.000+01:002018-08-01T19:42:33.247+01:00The Denali Diaries: WEEK 1
DAY 0:
Starting today, @mountainclimbgrace and I will be sharing a day-by-day account of our Denali expedition - the snows, slopes, storms, shovelling, smiles, shuffles up the hill - and everything in between! .
We took heaps of pics & video and are psyched to share with anyone who either enjoys our antics, loves the outdoors as much as we do, or just wants to get a feel for what a big Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0Denali National Park and Preserve, Parks Hwy, Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, USA63.1148002 -151.192605737.5927657 167.4988003 88.6368347 -109.8840117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-33607263972982197332018-06-10T17:06:00.003+01:002018-06-10T17:24:06.951+01:00Destination Denali: "You're off to great places, today is your day! Your mountain is waiting so get on your way!"
You're off to great places,
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way..!
-Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go
A few final thoughts as I drag a heavy bag out the door and onto Anchorage, Alaska and then 90 miles north to the town of Talkeetna and the flanks of Denali! I've put project management skills into overdrive and my bags are parked at the frontHeather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-17124480316106377152018-06-05T21:51:00.003+01:002018-06-06T15:57:46.669+01:00Hoodies, Bisons, Diamonds, Traverses and Wipes - All you ever wanted to know about expedition gear
Toronto is known for a lot of things - the CN Tower, its vibrant food scene, the ROM and an abundance of hipster coffee shops. Unfortunately (for me) it’s not exactly famous as the mountaineering mecca of the world. You’re more likely to find a pair of Gucci heels or an Alexander McQueen gown within a ten kilometer radius than a pair of high-altitude boots – Mountain Equipment Co-Op excepted Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-27511496389939784822018-06-04T02:15:00.000+01:002018-06-04T04:11:41.264+01:00TRAINING: Leave your summits at the door & step into the ring
One of the most common questions I'm asked (especially here in Toronto) is, “How do you train to climb a mountain like Denali?”
Well, Torontonians are very astute. There clearly aren’t any mountains on my doorstep and apart from 12 flights of stairs when the elevator breaks down, vertical movement doesn't often feature in my routine.
But, the long and short answer is, “Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-13499682078239428612018-05-21T02:59:00.002+01:002018-05-22T21:10:05.116+01:00Careers, consulting, crevasses & cold – big mountains, big decisions and the lessons learned along the way
A passion for adventure balanced against a career in consulting has taught me a lot about the fine art of multi-tasking, deep breathing and smiling bravely through those moments when you realize that there are only 24 hours in the day and you've planned for 30. These are the moments when I find myself in the gym after a long day at work, gasping for breath on a treadmill whilst reading emailsHeather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-37630712539836453132018-05-02T03:40:00.004+01:002018-05-02T13:54:57.135+01:00Destination Denali: Reaching New Heights to Support Research into the Health & Wellbeing of Women
My passion for adventure is the by-product
of a love for the outdoors instilled by rural Canadian roots and an inherent
sense of ‘wanderlust’. These same rural roots have also instilled in me the
importance of community and my personal responsibility in playing a part to
make it better.
Over the course of the literal (and proverbial) ‘highs’ and
‘lows’ of the past 10 years of Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-41173509565571648162017-10-27T01:42:00.000+01:002017-10-27T02:07:30.131+01:00The People You Meet: Climbing to Contribute - Mt. Rainier, Washington
“Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.”
Climbing has enabled me to join an informal ‘global community’ of people who have influenced my perspectives, helped to fulfil many of my dreams, helped me to celebrate successes and overcome fears, and have provided a support network when things don’t quite work out as Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-61181797395697065262017-07-06T01:02:00.000+01:002017-07-06T01:31:10.016+01:00Climbing the Blazing Beacon - In the Footsteps of Legends on Mount Rainier: The 'Climb to Contribute' Expedition
“Of all the fire-mountains which, like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific Coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest,” wrote American author John Muir. And thus, this blazing beacon becomes a fitting objective as I prepare for my next expedition – and my first in the continental United States.
Whilst I am Canadian, (and a proud one at that having just celebrated the country’s Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-50445864923222233682017-04-15T12:04:00.001+01:002017-04-16T04:44:37.353+01:00The People You Meet... Paul Oakenfold, SoundTrek, Everest & "The Worlds Highest Party"
I’ve got a bit of a reputation for singing off-tune. I’m not picky on the genre – I’ll attempt anything from Bieber to Beegees to Beachboys to Blackbox... (the eclectic list goes on). These outbursts of song take place when I’m happy, when I’m celebrating, or when I’m with friends sharing a mutual joy for a moment, event or tune. I sing most when I’m happy. As such, many of these ‘Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-62468310769405785802017-03-12T20:29:00.000+00:002018-03-05T20:31:21.177+00:00The People You Meet: Chaotic Clouds of Colour - Celebrating Holi in KTM
Happy Holi..!
Today I celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi under
clouds of technicolored powder along with millions of people in Nepal, India,
and around the world. This annual raucous Festival of Colours is a celebration
of the vibrancy of spring, fertility, love and the triumph of good over evil. I
flew in from Toronto the previous day especially for the festival and the
opportunity to Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-21050021937223354662017-03-09T10:41:00.000+00:002017-03-23T16:36:09.008+00:00A Life In Transit...
"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions." –Stephen Covey (educator, author, businessman)
A backpacking trip that started 17 years ago now brings me full-circle... Today I find myself in the organised chaos of Kathmandu as all of my worldly belongings (now filling a more than a few backpacks) make their way over the Atlantic ocean and to my new home in Toronto.&Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745189485280124869.post-83150618568297930742016-12-22T17:13:00.001+00:002016-12-22T17:13:56.480+00:00Holiday Traditions: Cogne Ice Climbing Festival - December 16 - 18, 2016
Christmas is a time of traditions – traditional foods, traditional songs, traditional stockings hung by the fire… For me (as well as about 80 others!), the Christmas season is marked by another tradition - an annual migration to the Aosta Valley – to Cogne, Italy – for the Cogne Ice Opening celebration.
Spearheading this annual event is no easy task – fluctuations in weather, Heather Gelukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09219735195847621271noreply@blogger.com0