Rothberg Birdwhistell Exploration Fund

With dreams of personal adventures in Patagonian Chile, Dave Watson asked Nacho Aguilera and me to join him paddling in the archipelago south of the Golfo De Penas. Almost a year before we put our paddles in the water, we started talking and planning. Tasks were delegated to be ready to begin our expedition in…

This 15-day expedition began with an interest to take on a challenge we had not encountered before. One day, after working a contract in East Africa, James “KG” Kagambi, Evan Kuria, and I began discussing enhancing our outdoor skills. Evan suggested we explore the Rwenzori Mountains, the nearest mountains with easy access to a glacier.…

Thanks to the Rothberg-Birdwhistell Exploration Fund for NOLS Instructors, Damaris Jaramillo and Nicolas ‘Nico’ Navarrete set out in June of 2023 to spend 17 days climbing in Ak-Su Valley, Kyrgyzstan.