Good afternoon everyone,

I hope that you are well and that my northern hemisphere subscribers are enjoying the intimations of spring we've been getting these last few days. I personally am delighted, I left work when it was light several times this week and even saw a bee enjoying some flowers this morning. Obviously this means I want to be outdoors all the time, so here's a Fem Fri about women enjoying the outdoors.

Firstly, climbing is a particularly visceral way of enjoying the outdoors, and here is an article about some Edinburgh women who set up a climbing club at the turn of the last century:

To qualify, women had to ascend four peaks of at least 3,000 feet with two snow climbs and two rock climbs. To be decent, they would start their climbs in their restrictive, long skirts. However, when no men were around they would often discard these to climb in knickerbockers: knee length trousers that could be hidden under dresses. The club were extremely ambitious, and would take on bold climbs of mountains such as the Beuckle  (Buachaille Etive Mòr) and Suilven, ascents that still challenge modern climbers with all the latest gear.

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/badass-edinburgh-photo-shows-two-15914541

Of course climbing is still a great thing to do in Scotland, and the munroes offer you a way to combine climbing, walking, and ticking wee boxes. What more could you want. Meet Hazel Strachen, whose answer to that question is "nothing" and who has completed every munro in Scotland ten times as of October last year:

“There will be an 11th round of Munroes. There are still lots of routes which I would like to climb in different weathers and seasons. I’m glad I didn’t stop at just one round, I’ve had the time of my life.” She fits her hobby around a full-time job as a scientist with the Scottish Government and once bagged 14 Munros in a single day in June last year.

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/here-she-munros-again-one-more-mountain-to-climb-before-bagger-tops-all-the-summits-for-the-tenth-time/

Let it never be said that I forget my southern hemisphere friends, who will be heading into autumn now. Here's what's cool, winter can be a good time to be outdoors too! Check out these women ICE CLIMBERS for inspiration, you don't even need to wear knickerbockers any more:

In the years from 1992 to 1997, French alpinist Chantal Maudit (1964-1998) climbed six 8,000 meter peaks, alpine style and without supplemental oxygen. Some of her most notable achievements included K2 by the Abruzzi ridge, and her solo ascents of Lhotse (8,516 m) and Manaslu (8,163 m), made just fifteen days apart. Her book, “J’habite au Paradis” (“I Live in Paradise”), accurately sums up the spirit with which she took on her projects.

https://www.blueice.com/ch/en/module/smartblog/details?slug=does-it-take-balls-to-go-on-an-expedition&selectshop_zone=CH

Happy weekend everyone!

A xx.