The Mountaineering Culture Studies Group is made possible through the Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop programme at the Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan. It is also generously supported as a Special Interest Group by the university's Department of English.
Please address any questions or ideas about the organization or its events to the MCSG Graduate Coordinator, Amrita Dhar (amritad@umich.edu).
If you have any questions about the website, or if you are a member or speaker and would like details on this website updated, please contact the MCSG webmaster, Lia Wolock (lwolock@umich.edu).
| Neale Batra neale.batra@gmail.com Outdoor adventure educator for youth and adult groups and personal mountaineering and climbing expeditions in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and American Southwest. |
Alumnus, University of Michigan; currently employed by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health | Extensive climbing and mountain experience, interest in the intersection of culture, politics, and geography; discussion of ethics in climbing and mountaineering; outdoor adventure educator for youth and adult groups and personal mountaineering and climbing expeditions in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and American Southwest. |
| Jeff Butler jbut@med.umich.edu |
Graduate Student, University of Michigan Medical School | I love rocks. |
Upal Chakrabarti My interest in mountaineering culture studies comes primarily from my own experience of mountaineering. The questions about mountaineering as a sport, as a philosophical quest, as a way of being, have occurred to me while climbing mountains, reading about mountaineering, and following lives of famous mountaineers, and big mountaineering events all over the world. |
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Presidency University, Kolkata | I am planning an expedition to one of the most challenging, and highest peaks of the Indian Himalayas in June 2013. The peak is called Nanda Devi East (7434m). I would love to share with the MCSG my experiences of being part of expeditions to Mt. Shivling (2003 & 07), Mt. Changuch (2010), and Mt. Thalaysagar (2011), organised by the South Calcutta Trekkers' Association, a club for adventure activities in Kolkata. I would love to share photos from these expeditions with the MCSG. These photos are on Picasa albums online. I would also love to be a part of discussions over the culture of mountaineering organised by the MCSG. If possible, we can hold online sessions, which I can join from Kolkata. |
| Emmanuel Dechenaux edechena@kent.edu |
Faculty, Department of Economics, Kent State University | I like mountains. |
| Carolyn Dekker Not a climber, but a backpacker and lover of mountains. The last two summers, I was a Graduate Student Instructor for an experiential learning course on history & literature of the Rockies in Jackson, WY at UMich's Camp Davis. Interested in mountaineering literature's intersections with conservation literature, sublime experience, etc. |
Graduate Student, Department of English, University of Michigan | Since returning to New England, I've been entertaining an (as-yet very half-baked) notion about doing some research on summit structures in New England (inns! trolleys! observatories! this car climbed Mount Washington!) and what their history might tell us about a communal (or at the very least non-solitary!) mountain appreciation. |
Amrita Dhar Expedition member and photographer for several Himalayan peak and pass-crossing expeditions (for instance, expeditions to Jogin III, 20,065 ft, Gangotri III, 21,572 ft, and Kalindikhal, 19,500 ft, in the Garhwal Himalaya). |
Graduate Student, Department of English, University of Michigan | Climbing and travel in the mountains; current research project: the culture, literature, and history of Indian mountaineering, particularly Indian civilian mountaineering. Publications: ‘The Unaccommodated: The Himalaya and the Makers of Their Literature' (forthcoming in The Himalayan Journal in 2013); 'Food and Literature of the Himalayan Heights', in The Writer's Feast: Food and the Cultures of Representation (New Delhi: Orient Blackswan, 2011), pp. 206-222. |
| Laura Haskins llhaskins@gmail.com Curious observer hoping-to-be-participant of mountaineering. |
Alumna and staff, University of Michigan; currently employed as a Registered Nurse at the University of Michigan Health System | Fledgling dreams of getting to the Himalayas sometime in the summer of 2013. |
| George Hoffman | Faculty, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan | Purely diletante! |
| Achirri Ishmael achirri@umich.edu |
Graduate Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan | I am researching on "waterscapes" from a holistic perspective, and intend to focus on mountain experiences and perspectives when I'm done with my graduate project. |
| Corina Kesler corinak@umich.edu |
Lecturer, Department of Classical Studies, University of Michigan | Interest in mountaineering literature, the mountain as escape, as ontological other. |
Mika LaVaque-Manty Most of my climbing so far has been indoors, but I've done some cool outdoor things, including Devil's Tower and Seneca Rocks. |
Faculty, Department of Political Science, University of Michigan | I've been climbing and adventure racing for a couple of years; my recent scholarly work is on autonomy and physical culture, and I'm interested thinking further about things like fear, overcoming challenges, cooperation, and learning. I'm interested in incorporating some climbing-related experiential learning in my teaching. Personal plans include getting comfortable with trad and doing some moderate Alpine stuff in the next year or so. |
| Tapsi Mathur | Graduate Student, Department of History, University of Michigan | |
| Dante Michael dantem@umich.edu |
Undergraduate Student, Asian Studies, University of Michigan | I am looking to nurture the adventurer in me. I enjoy rock climbing. I dream of joining an expedition of some sort, even if as a porter. I got strong legs and a strong back! |
| Steven Nelson stevenel@umich.edu |
Graduate Student, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan | I climb, and would love to learn more about it. |
Markus Nornes Grew up in Colorado. Weaned on Edward Abbey. Spent every weekend in the mountains and deserts. My Life was the mountains. Bagged 33 14-ers before I entered grad school and ruined everything. I'm glad that this group started up; now if you would only meet at a time slot I had open! |
Faculty, Department of Screen Arts and Cultures, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, and Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design, University of Michigan | Toying with an article idea that brings together neuroscience and my beloved ski porn. An experience to share: arrived at the summit of Mt. Fuji at 5 in the morning, only to be turned away from the warming hut by an old geezer that hated foreigners; when I got to the parking lot I realized I missed the last bus out, but another old geezer gave me a ride to my front door 4 hours away in Tokyo. |
| Molly Rorick rorick@umich.edu |
Postdoctoral scholar, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan | Interest in climbing and world travel/culture/religion. |
| Paddy Scannell scannep@umich.edu |
Faculty, Department of Communication Studies, University of Michigan | Spoke at a meeting of the Mountaineering Culture Studies Group in November 2012: ‘Social Climbing in the UK: A Brief History’ |
Jyotsna Singh Grew up in the Indian Himalayas and spent long spells in mountain towns. |
Faculty, Department of English, Michigan State University | Spoke at a meeting of the Mountaineering Culture Studies Group in January 2012: ‘Mapping the Himalayan Imaginary: A Postcolonial Perspective’ |
Alice Tsay |
Graduate Student, Department of English, University of Michigan | Research interest in travel writing. |
Richard Tucker Long-term enthusiasm for mountain trekking, on the fringe of climbing. |
Faculty, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan | Comparative interest in Himalayas, US Sierras and Andes. Research interest in history of mountain ecosystems, and environmental impacts of forest clearance and development programs. I coordinate an international research program on environmental impacts of warfare; one specific element is mountain ecosystems. My publications, 1980-95, were largely on the history of environmental impacts in the Indian and Nepali Himalayas, though not specifically on the sociology, culture or economics of mountaineering. |
| Bo White bowhite@umich.edu |
Graduate Student, University of Michigan Law School |
Trying to get back to Tajikistan to continue some projects. Publications: ‘2011: Gunt and Sizdh Valleys: various ascents’ in the American Alpine Journal |
| Paul Wolberg pwolberg@umich.edu |
Staff, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School | |
| Lia Wolock lwolock@umich.edu |
Graduate Student, Department of Communication Studies, University of Michigan | I'm going climbing at Planet Rock, Ann Arbor, for the first time in January 2013. |
| Carmen Yu carmenyu@umich.edu |
Staff, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School | |
| Cordelia Zuckerman czukerma@umich.edu |
Graduate Student, Department of English, University of Michigan | Interest in ideas of space and place. An experience to share: hiking in Jotunheimen National Park, Norway. |