Lisette-Juaniita Sipelgas
Language learning began with mother's milk: zhumaar, bahill, pickaxe, UIAA, Pamir, Kamchatka, carbine. And already my sister was putting a bag on my back and my father was demonstrating belaying with a pickaxe. I was 15 years old then and I don't remember if I even had the chance to refuse. On the third day, while waiting for the storm to end at the Kazbek weather station (base camp), I drew tomatoes on the wall, blessed the mountain gods and studied escape strategies. We didn't reach the summit, and no helicopter was ordered for me. On the fifth day, when my toes touched the green grass again, a cold shower caressed my body and tomatoes landed from the wall on the dining table, I realized that something had changed. Be careful! Alpinism is a disease spread through ropes.
My next encounter with tomatoes and the grassroots came while I was pursuing my master's degree in horticulture. In thinking about the intersections of nature and humans, whether through landscaping or weeding, I find a lot of daily inspiration to experiment with new things.
When pursuing any academic or professional goals, I have always been inspired by the image of standing at the foot of a mountain range – impossible, too little knowledge, I turn back, read a few books first… to quote Saint-Exupéry: “Only one thing saves – one step must be taken. And one more step. It is always the same step, which is started again…” With this as a mantra in mind, there are no longer highs and lows, and difficult and easy ones – there is a journey.
Main travel interests: mountain hikes, longer walking and cycling trips, exotic destinations.
Language skills: Estonian.
Training/courses: Alpinist training at the Firn Alpine Club; various alpinist training and lectures by M. Aasa; climbing camps at the Karula mill.
Made tops: Aconcagua (6962 m), Kilimanjaro (5895 m), Elbrus (5642 m), Orizaba (5636 m), Ararat (5137 m), Kazbek (5054 m), Tetnuldi (4858 m), Mt. Blanc (4808 m), Giluwe (4367 m), Toubkal (4167 m), Aragats (4090 m).
Contact: lisette@elamuspluss.ee