Arlene Blum, a pioneer among female climbers, set to speak in Spokane

Arlene Blum has suffered and reaped the rewards.

Section:Gallery

Sat., Jan. 11, 2020

Arlene Blum stands in front of Mount Everest during a successful 1976 expedition.

Arlene Blum Courtesy
A photo from the all-woman expedition to Annurpurna led by Arlene Blum in 1978. A climber is seen on the rib-crest of the daunting mounting. The teams faced soft unstable snow and huge cornices. "It was grueling and scary work," Blum recalls.

Arlene Blum Courtesy
In 1978, legendary alpinist Arlene Blum led an all-woman team to Annapurna, a deadly 26,500-foot peak in the Himalayas. Prior to Blum's expedition only eight other people, all men, had summitted. Two from Blum's party summited, although Blum was not one of them.

Arlene Blum Courtesy
Arlene Blum holds her daughter while hiking across the Alps in 1987.

Arlene Blum Courtesy
Here, members of the expedition organized by Arlene Blum to Annapurna pose for a photo at base camp in 1978. (From left, back) Margi Rusmore, Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz, Christy Tews, Piro Kramar, Irene Beardsley Miller, Joan Firey, Annie Whitehouse, and Marie Ashton. (Front) Dyanna Taylor, Vera Watson, Vera Komarkova, Liz Klobusicky and Blum. Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz and Watson both died during their summit attempt.

Arlene Blum Courtesy