Summit Sisters Aiming High

Summit Sisters: Create Your Own Path is a programme developed by Mountaineering Ireland informed by teenage girls.

The theme is adventure, the location is the hills but the goal is not about getting to the peak. Summit Sisters is an immersive programme which involves bringing teenage girls’ individuality and creativity to the hills. The girls choose their own challenge be it to develop their interest in photography, science, music, art, nature, the environment or to learn something new. 

The first few days will incorporate short introductory trail walks where a guide/mentor will provide useful information on gear and safety tips.

Our MCS summit sisters just had their first day: “At 9.30, we hopped on the bus to Mushera Mountain. We got out and were greeted by the coordinator from Sports Ireland. We then met Anna, a photographer and Maureen, our guide. The walk lasted almost three hours, with a few breaks. Anna, the photographer showed us different photographing techniques, as well as some advice on how to improve picture quality. We then took some photos, both with her guidance and on our own during the walk. During the walk, we saw sheep with their lambs, and a view of some local farmlands and mountains. Overall, we all found this a very enjoyable few hours, and we all feel we have learned something from it.”

The girls will have two more outings, on Mushera and Mullaghanish. Each day brings a different location and different theme, where an expert joins the group and shares their knowledge and imparts skills in art, photography, geology, upland nature, wellbeing, navigation, bouldering, or music (this can be tailored based on the group’s main interest). The girls will then choose which interest they want to base their own challenge on and at the end of the programme they can reach the summit with the photo they took, the song they wrote, the flower they found, by navigating with the guide, or with the scientific discovery they made. When they have completed the programme, they will have learned some informal skills around map reading and navigation, but the main emphasis will be on their own achievement and sharing that with the group. Having young women who are completing their Mountain Leader qualification and who have the experience to bring groups out will help provide role models for the girls.