Arlene Blum is a truly inspiring mountain climber, scientist and environmental health advocate. She has climbed the hardest peaks all over the globe, including in a tour she called the “Endless Winter” (1). Breaking expectations as a pioneer for women in science (she has a PhD in chemistry from UC Berkeley and also attended MIT) and climbing, she dealt with unfair sexist treatment by colleagues, the media and others in the climbing community. Persevering, Arlene did not allow the extreme physical challenges, social or mental pressures, or her humble beginnings to stop her from traveling the world and doing amazing things.

Here are just a few of her accomplishments. Arlene Blum:

• Organized and deputy-led the first all-women team (the “Denali Damsels”) to summit Denali in Alaska (at 20,310 ft. high, it is the tallest mountain in North America)
• Walked 2,000 miles across the Himalayas from Bhutan to India
• Hiked the Alps with her baby on her back
• Founded The Berkeley Himalayan Fair (normally in February)
• Led the first American and all-women ascent of Annapurna I in Nepal (over 8,000 m / 26,000 ft.)

I was privileged to see Arlene Blum speak in person in September at the climbing group of the local chapter of the Sierra Club. I was a bit nervous to be at a Meetup where I’d never been and didn’t know anyone. Arlene’s voice and demeanor immediately put me at ease and I was drawn into her many stories of daring feats and tragic events. Though her tales of far-flung adventures and risky climbing maneuvers were quite foreign to me, I somehow still found her quite relatable.

I was surprised (and a tad ashamed) that I had not previously heard of Arlene or her accomplishments. The following video recognition from Dove’s “Women who should be famous” series seeks to solve that:

Blum founded the Green Policy Institute in order to fund scientific research and better advocate for reducing/eliminating the use of harmful chemicals. Surprisingly there is no government agency regulating the use of chemicals in the home or consumer products (other than food and medicine). Potentially cancerous materials can show up in our house and make their way into our bodies. The educational/awareness campaign is called the Six Classes of harmful chemicals (highly fluorinated, anti-microbials, flame retardants, bisphenols and phthalates, some solvents and certain metals).

In 2018, in recognition of her achievements and pioneering spirit, Arlene Blum was inducted into the California Hall of Fame along with Joan Baez, Ed Lee and Robert Redford.

I encourage you to find out more about her, such as by reading one of her books – Annapurna: A Woman’s Place or Breaking Trail (my reflections on Breaking Trail).

Notes

1. In a nod to Bruce Brown’s surfing documentary The Endless Summer (1966), Arlene embarked on a 1 year climbing tour with stops in Africa, Afghanistan and Nepal.