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| Vermont's Northern Lights Rock & Ice Gears Up For Empowerment WeekendUniversally accessible ropes course and presentation by Warren Macdonald Contact: Jeremiah Cook (802) 658.4207 or email jeremiah@pdicreative.com Northern Lights Rock & Ice Challenge and Leadership Institute will present a special Empowerment Weekend featuring renowned climber, writer and award-winning filmmaker, Warren Macdonald. The brand new, one-million-dollar challenge and adventure facility will host Macdonald and his partner, rock and ice climber Margo Talbot on Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12. Macdonald will give his Empowerment Presentation on Saturday afternoon. 
In 1997, a climbing accident claimed both of Macdonald's legs, which were amputated above the knee. Nevertheless, he continues to climb peaks, cliff faces and walls of ice. Through use of prosthetics and adaptive climbing technologies, Macdonald became the first above-knee double-amputee to summit Africa's tallest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro. He is also the only known above-knee amputee to make an ascent of Canada's landmark frozen waterfall, the 600-foot "Weeping Wall" in Alberta. "We are very fortunate to have Warren coming," says Northern Lights Rock & Ice owner and CEO Christine Bacon. "He's a great speaker and his presentations are amazing." The dominant feature at Northern Lights is the 45-foot high, 100-foot long challenge course, also known as a ropes course. Individuals and teams move through the course, traversing a variety of "elements" or challenges. Skilled ropes course professionals guide participants through the experience, assisting, teaching and offering encouragement every step of the way. At the end of the course, participants can ride one of two 450-foot zip lines back to the facility's other two primary attractions: a state-of-the-art ErtrePrises© Climbing Pinnacle featuring multiple rock-climbing and "bouldering" challenges, and a double-sided, four-season rock- and ice-climbing "L" wall. 
"This place is universally accessible," Christine Bacon says. "Anybody at any level of ability can come here and have an incredible experience." The Empowerment Weekend will begin Saturday morning with a special climbing clinic led by Margo Talbot. A world-renowned ice climber, Talbot spent 23 years skiing and climbing in the Canadian Rockies before deciding to travel to the coldest reaches of the planet. She is co-founder of the women's adventure group, Glitter Girls. After a catered lunch and an hour of facility tours and demonstrations led by Northern Lights professional trainers, Warren Macdonald will present his keynote presentation, "Exit Stage Up." Saturday's activities will draw to a close at 5:00 PM. 
On Sunday morning, the Empowerment Weekend continues with two customized Empowerment Clinics. Clinic 1, "Confronting Disabilities," will be co-led by Macdonald and Northern Light's Bob Timmer, a rock- and ice-climbing professional with more than 20 years of experience. Clinic 2, "Team Building 101," will be co-led by Talbot and Northern Lights professionals, and will focus on the benefits of forging bonds between colleagues through challenge and recreation. 
Among those invited to attend the Empowerment Weekend are members of the veterans group Wounded Warriors; members from the Vermont Center for Independent Living; various medical professionals; representatives from the Vermont Department of Health, and the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living; corporate HR personnel from companies such as Ben & Jerry's, GE, Husky, IDX and IBM; several Vermont politicians; and various local and national media members. 
Northern Lights Rock & Ice is located at the Inn at Essex Resort on Essex Way in Essex, Vermont. Registration is required for both days. The cost of attendance on Saturday is $10. There is no charge for Sunday's activities. To register, or to learn more, please call 802.316.3300. Visit Northern Lights online at www.northernlightsvt.org. More information about Warren Macdonald and Margot Talbot can be found at: www.warren-macdonald.com and www.glitter-girls.ca. |