Mark Hudon, El Capitan climber

 

FROM AVERAGE TO EXTRAORDINARY - LESSONS FROM EL CAPITAN

 

“Have you ever thought you were just ordinary?” Mark Hudon asked Minden Rotarians at a recent meeting.  He continued on to show how even ordinary people can achieve an extraordinary life.

 

When he was 16 years old, Hudon started rock climbing.  He was able to finish his senior year in high school early, enabling him to attempt to climb El Capitan in Yosemite with a friend at just the right time of the year.  According to the website for the National Park, El Capitan is more than 3000 feet above the valley floor and is 2.5 times as tall as the Empire State Building.

 

The team of two spent the first two days on a practice route and Hudon shared that by day two he was honestly scared.  It was at this point that he adopted the motto “Climb the next three feet and do your best job”.  The success rate for climbing to the top of El Capitan is only 50% but Hudon feels “your desire drives your destiny”.  Handholds are no bigger than two credit cards and footholds are just a little divet.

 

The climbers are harnessed in by ropes, so a fall is not usually fatal but is definitely a setback as you need to start over again.   “It was a point to learn - to master the art of the restart” stated Hudon when describing a spot when his right foot slipped.  He climbed again to the same point and solved the problem with more weight on his right foot.  “Solutions to easy problems help solve harder problems”, he shared.

 

It takes an average of five days to climb El Capitan.  One person will climb, anchor and set the gear.  Then the climbing partner does the same.  Climbers pack food, water, medical supplies and sleeping bags and carry this weight with them during their climb.  The pack starts at about 250 pounds and gets lighter as the 100 lbs of water is drunk and the food is eaten.

 

Hudon and his climbing partner completed the climb in 4 days, just before sunset.  “It was the longest, most difficult day - but also the best day.”  And he realized on the top that if he could climb El Capitan, he could do anything!  Hudon went on to build homes, become a coffee roaster and continues to rock climb.  He now adds motivational speaker to his resume!

100 year Celebration Committee Chairs

Howard Vipperman, Chairman of the Rotary Club of Minden Foundation, shows the new signs that will be posted in local classrooms where granted funding has been used to support the local schools.

Minden Rotary's third round of grant funding for the fiscal year was awarded to:

• Krystal Koontz at Pa-Wa-Lu for 8th grade history novels
• Koby Lindberg and Douglas High for welding safety equipment
• Tara Van Patten and Amy Roby at Carson Valley Middle School
• Chuck Johnson at Douglas County Chess for traveling chess sets
• Jeanette Bostadt at CV Magic to support local families in need with emergency situations such as vehicle breakdowns
• Jeannie Dwyer representing CC Meneley and Scarcelli for Art supplies
• Carly Smith at CV Middle School for a Shakespeare Workshop
• Teresa Rose at CC Meneley Elementary for novels
• Lori Breyer representing the Carson Valley Quilters Guild for book pillow materials to be made by the Guild for Douglas County CASA and the Family Support Council.

The Rotary Club of Minden is happy to welcome the following new members:

• Ric Casper is a graduate from Carson City High (but is quick to add his 3 kids all graduated from Douglas High).  He attended BYU as an undergraduate and Yale Law School.  He worked for the US Attorney's office for 4 years before coming back home and working for the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
• Loral Langemeier from Live Out Loud Publishing.  Loral has 2 kids (Logan age 25 and Tristan age 18).  She is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan, has an MA from Omaha and is a writer.  AND she's dating President Graham.
• Eric Barter from Bad Boys Bail Bonds (Past President from the Rotary Club of Arcadia).  See the October 23rd newsletter for Eric's craft talk.
• Daniel Crawford, sponsored by Howard Vipperman. It was said he is the first native American to become a member in the Rotary Club of Minden. He is a Douglas County native, spent time in Diamond Valley, graduated from school in Douglas, served on tribal council, works for Washoe Native TANF as the project and resource specialist, and attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence Kansas.  Craft talk about his current occupation done at the December 4th meeting!
• Mark Gardner, sponsored by Dick Schwabe, was inducted into membership on March 12.  Mark is the current Chairman of the Douglas County.
• Kathy Morales received her badge and Rotary pin March 5, 2026, becoming the newest Rotarian in the World.

We look forward to hearing the rest of the craft talks soon and getting to know you better!

4/9   District Foundation Dinner at Mercantile (5-9pm).  Make your EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) contribution!  Login to your account at www.rotary.org.  Tickets are $60 per person when you go directly through Ken Miller (make checks payable to Rotary Club of Minden) or you can get tickets online for a slightly higher price (to pay for the registration overhead charge) at this LINK.  RSVP by 3/26.

5/1-5/3   District Conference at Grand Sierra Casino.  Register HERE

5/2 (5:30-8pm) Twilight for Tomorrow Gala at Douglas County Community Center - fundraiser for CV Health Foundation

5/16   Rotary Club Minden's 5th Annual Giving Cup @ Genoa Lakes

6/9   Rotary Club Minden's 100 Year Anniversary Celebration @ CVI (6-9pm)

9/19 Rotary Club Minden's Oktoberfest @ Heritage Park

April 9:  No meeting - Foundation Dinner  - doors open at 5:30pm

April 16:  Area Speech Contest

April 23:  CV Ranching, Brian Parks

April 30:  No midday meeting at the COD Casino; Club Social, 5:00 at the Carson Valley Country Club Clubhouse Restaurant

May 7: Magic in the Carson Valley, Jeanette Bostadt

May 14: Golf Tournament Prep

May 21:  Rotary Polio Plus, Dave Bianchi

May 28:  No midday meeting at the COD Casino; Club Social, 5:00 at the Carson Valley Country Club Clubhouse Restaurant