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- Sep 26, 2013
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Appreciating our Alumni with a Weekend of Rock
I saw the Mountain Madness office for the first time in 15 years this past spring. As the daughter of the company’s late founder Scott Fischer, the mountains have always been an important part of my past. However, I have grown up fairly disconnected from the company itself. As soon as I walked into the office and met Mark G, I knew that I was not about to let this place slip away again. A week later I started working in the office and I have since come to call Mountain Madness my home.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=5f9d3f691663181437a48d36d4fbbf00 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=66ff3a7a32fd1effef47929835bfffcc 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=9a6cc53e7f07b274aa4e152b33975133 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=565c008380d520b76f2c6da64855a3ff 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=179911e52d5035abdbeaf7c4bc71466a 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=069b628e11a09ab522de2e9d08afef68 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=6a7aeae210780109d0ed35340983cfa5 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=7fa7be222f8de38932908b5f2993ea22 1024w)
John C. getting after it on Bruce’s Boulder. MM collection
The first weekend in September I accompanied the company’s owner Mark G and three of our guides on an Alumni rock climbing event in Leavenworth, WA. We organized a complimentary weekend of rock climbing and invited some of our most dedicated clients. We ended up with a group of 12, some who had flown across the country to be there. The weather was pretty poor on Saturday morning so we all met at a small coffee shop and kicked the weekend off with a leisurely breakfast. As I listened to the clients exchange climbing stories and bond over the their experiences with MM I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. Unfortunately the rain refused to let up, but we all agreed to make it happen anyway- Mountain Madness style!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=8d8ba804d41501177f8b4d87807822f5 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=2549b3cfb393060aeee9cb433ddfeb5e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=6a0373d6f730d43143f1174f3bcbc90b 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=4d087f56c6de497b64ff5163051f156f 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=646bfcbed0cb64afb8c7e79faf009a12 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=1e4e2c3829c41ae79ee16939b9091664 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=59e91d09ac503e969036a6860a26dcd6 1024w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=1981595fa75d50d0fbbedd149cc1080e 1024w)
Rappel practice for Matthias. MM collection
We spent the next few hours slipping around on wet rock. It was surprisingly awesome! MM Guide Tanner Joyce went over some climbing techniques while the other guides Marc Ripperger and Viviane deBros set up a Tyrolean traverse. Matthias and Scot sped across the Tyrolean multiple times, as they were both using the weekend as training for their upcoming climbs, for Scot it was for Carstensz Pyramid. We were each able to take the day at our own pace and, although the weather was less than ideal, we all left the rock feeling good. We closed the evening with burgers and beer which gave way to some laughs and more great conversation.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=dc1fb60239a685153a6f03cafb3ab5be 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=99d1282b0f5f007452be17b146aa9d68 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=8f1318c157f8a726ccde6b770ddfc288 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=9df5f9f336ec35893f7380bea7bebe43 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=0fa9b03b82f0b8c194cac0316056a254 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=498bf18f183868f4742ab614f68b6d57 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=b3dc29c4bc64162883f18bde47c64a69 768w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlumni_4.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=a93e35e691d43a9010665c3293d071d2 768w)
Sunny rock on day 2. MM collection
Sunday welcomed us with clear skies which lead to a full day of climbing. The group split up and half of us top roped on some awesome cracks while the other half climbed a multi pitch buttress. I had the pleasure of chatting with John C, a long time client of MM. John, at 69, dominated the cracks! We wrapped up the evening as a group, exchanged stories from the day and said goodbye.
The whole group hanging out at X‑Y Crag. MM collection
Though the climbing was incredible, the highlight of my weekend was the conversation. The event itself was an excellent testament to the true spirit of Mountain Madness. It is a spirit that started almost 30 years ago by my dad and his friends, just a few guys who found their passion and wanted to share it with as many people as possible. Mark G, the guides and especially the clients gave me a perfect snapshot of how MM has continued to cultivate and spread that passion. I am proud to now call myself a part of the team and I look forward to many more adventures with Madness. Thanks to all who came, shared, and climbed!
~ Katie Rose Fischer-Price
Alumni Group. Mike Bauman photo