Meetings are held bimonthly at the Holliday Park Nature Center unless otherwise noted. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. with a social time and a slide show of past and future trips. A speaker who talks about an outdoor topic begins at 7:00 p.m. CIWC meetings are open to everyone! And it's free!

Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Rd., Indianapolis.

Holliday Park Nature Center, Indianapolis
6:30 p.m. Social; 7:00 p.m. Presentation
Speakers: Jeff Rasley and Rick Kischuk

Survivor Nepal

First there were ten. Our two teachers dropped out, then, our M.D. was in an auto accident. Another member was unable to do the trek for personal reasons. So, we were six ...but only three of the six made it to Basa Village. Basa is located in a remote valley in the Solu region of eastern Nepal and is not visited by tourists, trekkers or climbers. Our leisurely walk-about village-culture trek became a death march (a bit of an exaggeration) as we had to do 8 to 12 hour hikes for six days to reach Basa Village to make up lost time. The three of us who made it to Basa had an extraordinary experience as the people of the village have a deep appreciation of hospitality and beauty despite their lack of material wealth. The children, like so many in remote Nepal villages, are curious and want to learn.

Join us for stories and photos of our 2009 Nepal trek and the Basa School Project, through which funds were raised to finish the village school and to hire and pay 4th and 5th grade teachers for the school.

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Holliday Park Nature Center, Indianapolis
6:30 p.m. Social; 7:00 p.m. Presentation

Isle Royale National Park

April is also the month for our annual business meeting and election of officers. These formalities will not take much time and we'll get right into our presentation. Several members of last September's trip to the remote island in Lake Superior will wet appetites for a return trip this year. Read about the 2008 trip: Trip Reports/Isle Royale.

In the slide presentation you'll be taken from the west end of the island (Windigo) via both the northern and southern shores to the eastern dock at Rock Harbor. You will see slides and hear great stories about scenery, solitude, history, and wildlife, not to mention all the fun. This National Park is the one of the least visited but one of the most unique you will ever find. Don't miss this one!

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Holliday Park Nature Center, Indianapolis
6:30 PM Social; 7:00 PM Presentation
Presenter: Joe Lawson

A Quest to Climb the Seven Summits

Joe Lawson of Expedition Hope is an Indianapolis native and mountain climber aspiring to climb the Seven Summits -- the highest peak on each continent. He has dedicated this quest to his father, who committed suicide when Joe was 16. Expedition Hope, sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, has the mission to raise awareness about depression and mental health. This awareness is achieved primarily via the media coverage that the Seven Summits project receives.

Joe began this project in spring 2005, and has since climbed on six of the continents, including spending a month in frozen Antarctica. To date, he has reached the summit on three of the peaks: Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Mt. Elbrus in Europe.

When the Wilderness Club meets in February, Joe will have just returned from a three week expedition for his second attempt on Argentina's Mt. Aconcaugua, the highest peak in South America, as well as the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. Please join us then to hear about his latest adventures and mission as well as to receive an exciting first-hand look at these mountains from around the world. To follow Joe along his journey, please visit www.expeditionhope.org.