Carrie Gibson
Carrie, is a Scout leader in Inverkip and a District Scout Leader with Greenock District.
So far, only 4 Scottish Women have managed the ascent to the top of the world’s highest peak....
Why I want to climb Everest
In 2003 I was on Mera Peak in Nepal looking over at Everest, I was asked then what would be my Everest my goal. I couldn’t answer for sure all I knew was I was hooked on Mountaineering and hooked on Nepal . Arriving back home in search of my goal there, on the cover of Scottish Scout News was the Scout Seven Summit Report on Mount Cook. The decision was made, I wanted to be on the next Summit Team.
It came as quite a shock that the next Summit would be Everest! I started to research the trip, read trip reports, lots of disaster books watched the IMAX film and learned lots more about Chomolungma, Sagarmatha or Everest as we know her best.
My Altitude training so far has taken me to almost 7000m on the summit of Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America after climbing on 3 Himalayan peaks of over 6000m (Mera Peak, Island Peakand Loubuche East).The Seven Summits Training Team are helping me with my technical training and so far we have been ice climbing, completed winter routes, lots of ridge walking and to top it all a week in the alps. I train regularly at the Lady Octavia Sports Centre and can bee seen running around Inverkip and Greenock.
This trip for me is about giving something back. I have gained so much already from Scouting, it has given me chances to travel, to meet new people, and the chance to develop into the person I am today. I owe a lot to scouting I want everyone to know just how much you can gain from Scouting and the Everest Expedition is the best way I can imagine to spread the word.
In today’s society young people need avenues to express themselves and employers need something more that just academic qualifications. It’s about goal–setting, problem solving and never losing sight of where you want to go. Adventure is in our nature. We each explore and test our limits in different ways through Scouting, and throughout life and we can all set our own Everest.
My “Scouting Life” began in 1988 when I became a member of the 1st Inverkip Venture Scout Unit, although I really began “Scouting” in 1978 as a Brownie in Troon (where I used to live) and as a Guide in Inverkip where I gained my Baden Powell Trefoil.
I gained my Queen Scout Award, working on Community/Conservation projects with the Rangers at Cornalees Bridge Centre, and sailing as a representative of Greenock district Scouting on board the Sail Training Associations Tall Ships. I have been a Scout leader for 15 years, District Scout Leader for 3 years and a member of the Greenock Gang Show (come and see it in November 2006)
I am a Project Manager at James Watt College of Further & Higher Education in Greenock, working in the Center for Employability and Funding Initiatives.