Help LittlePo to Climb Grand Teton – Raising Funds to Help Youth Expand Their Wilderness Experience捐款募集中—小Po將攀登Grand Teton為青少年走向戶外募款

Make a donation!

I signed up to participate in “summit for someone” which makes me obliged to raise at least $3500.00 to help teenage youth expand their wilderness experience. I have never done any fund-raising events before – this is the first time – so it’s indeed a very big commitment for me, especially since $3500.00 is a large sum. I am doing this because I believe it is meaningful and because climbing mountains has always been my dream. If you approve of the mission and are willing to help, please denote money online through this link: Help Szu-Ting Summit For Someone . All denotations are tax-deductible and your kind help is greatly appreciated.

Below details my driving forces in this fundraise:

1. I can climb and climbing mountains is my dream

I’ve been working very hard to become a mountaineer. On my way of mountaineer-to-be pursuit, I have discovered that not only is it a cash-burning path, but also it requires arduous physical and mental training. It has been really hard, and countless times I wanted to settle with what I have. After all I know I am a competent backpacker, and is it really that important for me to be a mountaineer? After I came back from my NOLS Alaska mountaineering course, one of my friends asked me “why do you want to climb?” I couldn’t give him a concrete reason, but what I had experienced and felt in Alaska have shown me clearly that there is no turning back. I want to be there, and I’m working on it.

2. At-risk youth can expand their wilderness horizon

All the money I raise will go towards the non-profit organization called Big City Mountaineers. This organization provides wilderness mentoring programs to urban teens who have limited or no opportunities to access the outdoors otherwise. The organization conducts multi-day trips, such as backpacking trips or canoeing trips; the teen/adult ratio is 5:5 so that those teens can get dedicated attention.

I have witnessed how much a youngster can grow through a wilderness mentoring program. About three years ago I participated in a family backpacking trip, the leader brought his mentee along. I was impressed by the kid on his broad outdoor knowledge and I appreciated the confidence and humbleness he demonstrated while interacting with me. Three years later, I encountered the kid again doing trail work; he has matured and possesses some outdoor skills I haven’t even acquired.

It’s very rewarding to introduce wilderness to the young and teach them how to be self-sufficient in the out-of-doors. I am also involved with the AMC Chapter Youth Program. The program serves as a bridge between young people and the wilderness, telling them other than motor jammed streets, there are other wild creatures and wider space await them. Our program is not as ambitious as that of Big City Mountaineers, we lead day hikes and short camping trips, but we share similar objective.

Here is my plan:

I am a newbie in fundraising, so I haven’t figured out a concrete plan to collect the required amount of funds before my deadline. What I have right now is basically a get-fit training program, and lessons and trips I will endure in order for me to get closer to becoming a true mountaineer. I do plan to record my fundraising efforts by blogging in case my readers want to read about my workouts or outings.

I am crossing my fingers hoping for colder weather and lots of white stuff. Living in Philly, it’s very difficult to find suitable environmental settings to practice what I have learned from my mountaineering course, but what is more difficult is to find partners since nobody should climb mountains alone.

So far, on my winter calendar I have beginners’ ice climbing clinic, avalanche I course, backcountry telemark tour, and presidential range traverse, some tentative plans including a Katahdin trip (hope I can make this happen this winter), a couple of winter backpacks in the Adirondacks and the Whites. I’m also trying to squeeze more time (and money) for telemark practice and more ice climbing lessons, but first of all, I have to hope for snow and ice.

Last but not least, please help at-risk youth to get to know the outdoors and help LittlePo climb, here is where you can make it happen: Help Szu-Ting Summit For Someone.


我參加了由Backpacker Magazine主辦的「為某人攀登（Summit For Someone）」的活動，也因此背負了募集美金3500元款項的任務。這是我第一次參與類似的活動，而且要募集的款項還為數不少，實在很緊張，也頗擔心自己是否能夠圓滿達成任務。不過，這活動的確相當有意義，所募集的款項都會用作，帶領弱勢青少年，接觸戶外、認識戶外的用途，而同時，藉由這個活動，個人也得以挑戰Grand Teton，也把我向我的登山夢更推進了一步。如果你認同小Po的這項任務，願意助小Po以及弱勢的青少年們一臂之力，請經由以下連結：「協助思婷為青少年攀登」捐款。所有捐助的款項都是免稅的，也在此感謝大家的熱心。

以下且讓我慢慢道來，決定參與這項活動的心路歷程：

1. 我得以攀登，而登山是我最大的夢想

自從三年前開始，自我一直很努力地朝向「登山家」的路徑邁進，走在這條路上，我發現，要成為一個登山家，除了要燒掉很多錢以外，還要歷經相當艱苦的體力以及心理層次的鍛鍊。很多時候，常常想中斷，想說就停留在現在所累積到的程度就好了。畢竟，我已經對能夠快樂地帶領、從事backpacking行程上，頗有自信了，能去的地方很多，真的需要夢想大山嗎？在我從NOLS的Mountaineering課程回來後，有個朋友問我「為了什麼而爬？」我答不出來，不是沒有答案，而是不知道怎麼用言語去形容，那股感動，或是衝動，還是蠢動？但是我知道，停不下來了，這是一條自己選擇的不歸路。我想要上大山去，而我逐漸地培養我的實力中。

2. 弱勢青年得以擴展他們的戶外視野

所募集的款項，會交給一名叫Big City Mountaineers的公益協會運用。這個協會以從事戶外活動的方式，輔導許多生長在城市中，決難有機會接觸真實自然世界的弱勢青少年。基本上，這個協會辦理的活動，都是長天數的Backpacking或者是Canoeing的行程。青少年和成人領隊的比例是五比五，如此青少年能夠取得足夠的關注。

我就曾經目證這樣的輔導方式給予一個少年，所帶來的正面影響。大概三年前吧，我參加一個親子backpacking的行程，領隊就帶了他正在輔導的少年參加了。我和那少年談了不少，我還記得當時對於他戶外知識的豐富感到相當驚喜，也對於他應對進退的得體感到讚嘆。三年後，在一趟步道維修的社區服務又遇到這個孩子，已經成長為成熟的青年，還擁有一些我所沒擁有的戶外技巧。

教導青少年認識大自然，如何自在安全地在野地生活，是相當有成就感的。這也是為什麼我是AMC Chapter Youth Program的自願領隊群的一員。這個計畫建立年輕人與大自然的橋樑，帶領他們從擁擠的街頭巷道走出，見識真實世界寬廣的空間和機會，以及尊重其他的野生動植物等。雖然說我們只有帶領單天的健行活動以及短天數的露營活動，不像Big City Mountaineers那樣的大規模，不過我們可說是擁有類似的目標的。

以下是我的短期募集以及自我鍛鍊的計畫：

對於募集款項這件事，我可是說是毫無經驗，目前還沒有相當具體的募集計畫，幫助我在限期前完成任務，只能先在這裡拜託大家的熱心協助。目前手上有的，不過是一些體力鍛鍊課表，以及準備在冬季真正到來的時刻，要上的一些課程，期許自己能成為獨當一面的登山家。不過我會一直在我的Blog上更新我的募款進度，以及分享我冬季活動的心得的。

目前費城的天氣還不算太冷，祈禱著氣溫再降些，然後趕快下一堆白雪。住在這裡的壞處就是，不容易找到適合的天候以及山勢條件，來複習我在NOLS課程中學到的知識。但更重要的是，也因為如此，使得找到志同道合的伙伴更是不容易，而我一個人是無法從事攀登活動的。

截至目前為止，在我的冬季行事曆上，排了冰攀入門、雪崩認識與救援、Telemark野地之旅，以及White Mountain區域的Presidential Range Traverse。其他還在計畫中的有Maine的Katahdin行程（希望今年冬季能成行），以及到Whites以及Adirondacks山區的冬季Backpacking。還在看能不能再擠出更多的時間（和金錢），練習Telemark ski以及冰攀，不過，計畫歸計畫，還是先要祈禱有好的冰與雪。

最後，提醒您，小Po需要你熱心的協助，弱勢的青少年感謝你的關心，按此連結贊助小Po的募款活動：「協助思婷為某青少年攀登」