Deep South Section. The Deep South Section had an active inaugural year, with our members taking a stance in the climbing and conservation communities throughout the southeast. Our Section covers Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and includes groups like the Atlanta Climbing Club and the activist climbing organization, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition. The first event the AAC hosted was an evening with Ken Kamler, M.D. Ken is the author of two books, Doctor on Everest and Surviving the Extremes. He was the only doctor on Mt. Everest during the 1996 catastrophe. The event was co-sponsored by High Country Outfitters in Buckhead, Atlanta and the Explorers Club. We had a great turnout, with beer and barbecue and silent auction items from High Country, the AAC, and Patagonia.

Ours is a diverse and dedicated group. One of our star members, Frank Nederhand, was featured in the AAC E-News regarding his global warming research/climbing project in the Cordillera Blanca. I also made it to Peru and attempted a new route on Yannapaccha (5,460m). Other members in the Section went to the Himalaya. Members get together almost every weekend for climbing excursions, while numerous trail clean-up days tend to have great turnouts. We sponsored a few smaller events in the region through our ambassador, Jay Love. Were looking forward to expanding into Alabama and Florida in 2010

Chadwick Hagan, Chair