A Quip from Carla

Those are gators!

Kilimanjaro Summit

A Big, FAT Congratulations is due to RC Jaimee!

She has successfully reached the Roof of Africa by summitting the 19, 347 ft Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa.

It is also the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Jamiee has been hiking with us for quite a while, diligently training for this endeavor. We have heard this expedition go from a dream to reality over the last few years and personally, I couldn't be more honored for her to now share her achievement with us as well.

I have made Jaimee promise to share more of her stories...hopefully, wile sitting around a campfire at the Real Chicks October trip. Jaimee will be there!

In MJ's Words: Solidarity

I began going on the Real Chicks Hike in Omaha about a year and a half ago. I started by thinking it would simply be a nice way to have other people to enjoy the outdoors with. I never would have guessed that the Real Chicks would become my best friends and biggest supporters.

You see, even though the Backwoods event is the Real Chicks Hike, hiking has very little to do with being a real chick. Going on a hike is your ticket to the most empowering community I have ever witnessed. Whatever your personal dream might be, the Real Chicks are going to give you the confidence and support to make it a reality.

For example, one member has wanted to climb Kilimanjaro all of her life. You can find her hitting the local trails with the other Real Chicks in preparation for her climb next month. I group of women decided they wanted to do a triathalon. Did the fact that several of them can swim stop them?! Heck no! Swim lessons have commenced and plans are made to race the Omaha triathalon this fall. I am a kayak polo player (think hockey in a kayak) and my goal was to make the US team that would participate in the 2010 Kayak Polo World Championships. The chicks not only helped me train for try-outs but also encouraged me along the way. Now that I am on the team, they are organizing my fundraising for me!

It is not only in athletic pursuits that the Real Chicks support each other. After being laid off from my job, I happened to meet a woman in my field on a Real Chicks Hike. We exchanged phone numbers and she insisted I give her a call to set up an interview at her office. I just accepted the job!

A key piece in developing the Real Chicks into more than just a hiking group was thei participation in the Backwoods Adventures Custom Trip to Colorado. A group of 8 women flew out to the mountains to spend the weekend hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and taking in nature. It was on this trip that we really got to know each other and became commited to supporting each other. The theme for our trip quickly became "Solidarity." It was a commitment that no one would be left behind; if one fell while skiing, we all weent down. We insisted on an attitude of "give it a try- it's okay if you aren't a pro." After Colorado, we don't just belong to the Real Chicks, we define ourselves as Real Chicks.

Not a day goes by that I don't have some sort of communication with this group. As a result of participating in the Real Chicks Hike, I've been invited to join other hikes, 5K runs, mountain and road bike rides, adventure races, canoe races, and kayak polo games; not to mention endless coffee, lunch and dinner plans. There is something for everyone.

Thanks to everyone at Backwoods for the opportunity to develop such great friendships. I hope that if you are in Omaha and love the outdoors you will join the Real Chicks on our next hike.

*This entry originally written for the Backwoods: Muddy Hands Blog
** Note: The Kilimanjaro climber successfully reached the summit of the Roof of Africa last month