August 5: Heidi Wirtz and Petch Pietrolungo: The Frog and the Princess – From Dirtbags to Climbing Guides Location: Victory House, Club 300 Room at the Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa Date & Time: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 @ 7:30 PM (Social hour at 6:30) A story of toils, climbing, travel, life choices and love under your nose. From the Humboldt Redwood Coast to the limestone crags of Kalymnos, the beautiful granite spires of the Bugaboos, the dikes of Lovers Leap and more. Heidi Wirtz is a professional climber, guide, and yogi with over 35 years of experience chasing adventure on remote big walls and mountains around the globe. A pioneer in female exploration, she’s opened new routes in some of the world’s wildest places and continues to inspire others through her passion for nature, movement, and mindful living. Heidi is an AMGA-certified Rock Guide and Apprentice Alpine & Ski Guide, working toward full IFMGA certification. With over three decades of guiding experience, she blends technical expertise with a deep commitment to personal transformation. She’s the founder of Earth Play Retreats, which combines climbing, yoga, and nature connection to create powerful, life-shifting experiences. Heidi is also the co-founder of … READ MORE

August 15-18: Lassen Climbing and Camping Trip The Rock Ice & Mountain Club has reserved Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at a large group campsite at Gurnsey Creek Campground, which is located between Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lake Almanor near Chester, CA. We would like to extend an open invitation and are excited to partner with Women’s Lead Club on this trip. The trip is open to all past and present Rock Ice & Mountain Club members and members of Women’s Lead Club. There is no cost to attend and we encourage everyone and their families to join us. This area in northeast California has a variety of climbing and outdoor options. In the Park, there is traditional and sport climbing at the Plug and Eagle Peak and incredible bouldering below the Eagle Peak crag. In Warner Valley near Chester is the Loading Zone which is a single pitch top ropable traditional crag and Fallout Zone, which is a steep sport crag. There are numerous other isolated crags within one to two hours of the campground. Most all of the climbing areas are listed in the Mountain Project database. We also have guidebooks to the area. In addition to … READ MORE

June 3 – Nick Lozica – From Gym to Alpine Location: Victory House, Club 300 Room at the Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa Date & Time: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 @ 7:30 PM (Social hour at 6:30) Nick Lozica first started climbing in the gym at the age of 10. As he progressed as a climber so did his skills in the mountains. He has climbed everywhere from the gym and the Oceanside boulders of Mickey’s beach to the high mountains of the Alaska Range. As well as a climber and skier, Nick is also a mountain guide and facilities experiences for others in the mountains. Come listen to stories of dirt bagging, misadventures and time in the high mountains. Nick is sponsored by Zag Skies, FNGRJAM and works for Blackbird Mountain Guides and San Juan Mountain Guides.

May 6 – Climbing Meet-Up at Session Climbing Location: Session Climbing, 965 S A St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 Date & Time: Tuesday, May 6, 2025 from 6 – 9 PM We are mixing it up for our May General Meeting by having a climbing meet-up at Session Climbing in Santa Rosa, CA. Session is offering a discount on their day pass entry for Rock Ice & Mountain Club members including rental gear. If you are not a club member, you can sign up during the meet-up. There are many benefits of being a Rock Ice & Mountain Club member, including a single day pass entry to Session Climbing. We plan to meet between 6 – 9 PM. If you are not interested in climbing or a work out, please still feel free to attend as it will be a social event as well.

April 1 – Vegar Abelsnes: Exploring Antartica – Photo Guide and Voyage Photographer Location: Victory House, Club 300 Room at the Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa Date & Time: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 @ 7:30 PM (Social hour at 6:30) In December of last year, Vegar Abelsnes embarked on his first journey from Ushuaia to Antarctica, where he had the privilege of working as a photo guide and voyage photographer on three separate trips across the Antarctic Peninsula over the course of a month. From close encounters with whales, penguins, seals, and albatrosses, to rare sightings of moss, grass, and even a fossilized leaf millions of years old, it was an unforgettable adventure. Through the lens, Vegar captured not just the stunning landscapes, but also the raw beauty of a continent that few have the opportunity to experience. It’s an incredibly beautiful yet very harsh environment, with an overwhelming expanse of snow and ice that has accumulated over millions of years in this white desert called the 7th continent. Join Vegar as he shares the sights, stories, and challenges of photographing and filming the experience of visiting the most remote place on Earth. Vegar Abelsnes is a Norwegian born professional photographer based in Petaluma, CA … READ MORE

March 4: Ken Yager – The Life of a Gibbon Location: Victory House, Club 300 Room at the Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa Date & Time: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 @ 7:30 PM (Social hour at 6:30) 54 years of rock climbing, Founder of the Yosemite Climbing Association, the Yosemite Facelift, and the Ask A Climber program. Against all odds, Ken Yager was able to realize a 30+ year dream of a permanent climbing history museum/exhibit in Yosemite Valley. Currently living in town and working on the Yosemite Climbing Museum by the 4-way stop in Mariposa. Ken started climbing at the age of 12 as an equal with the UC Davis professors in the Physics and Engineering Departments in 1971. He saw El Capitan during his first climbing trip to Yosemite at 13 years old and immediately knew he had to climb it. Fresh out of High School, his father dropped him off in Camp 4 to pursue that goal in December of 1976. Join Ken for many colorful stories about his unorthodox Yosemite life which is somewhat Forrest Gump-like. Join us to hear about the infamous Airplane Crash, or what it was like to switch eggs out of … READ MORE

Tahoe Adventure Film Festival Road Tour 2025 March 7, 2025 Mystic Theatre, Petaluma Tickets – $20 All Ages Welcome Doors @ 6:30 Show @ 7:30 Tickets are available at Sonoma Outfitters in Santa Rosa and at McNears Restaurant in Petaluma. On-line tickets are available through the Mystic Theatre website.

February 4: Hans Florine – Hans Sharing Stories Location: Victory House, Club 300 Room at the Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa Date & Time: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 @ 7:30 PM (Social hour at 6:30) Hans will be sharing some brief stories of travels from 2024, short and medium length stories from years past in Yosemite, Africa, Papa New Guinea, Canada and perhaps elsewhere. Hans won the first International Speed Climbing Championships in 1991, and has held the US National title eleven times. Hans has won the ESPN X Games three years in a row. Hans has broken the speed record on The Nose Route on El Capitan in Yosemite 8 times over the past 23 years. Hans has climbed El Capitan 185 times with over 120 different people. Hans has produced, spoken, directed, rigged, modeled, edited, photographed, filmed, written, competed, and acted in projects with National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Outside, ESPN, and a very long list of others. Hans is a proud father to Marianna (24) and Pierce (21). Hans wrote THE book “Speed Climbing,” currently in it’s second edition. Hans will have his book “On The Nose” for sale at the meeting. He will also have a … READ MORE

January 7: Tom Turner – Moroccan Adventures Location: Victory House, Club 300 Room at the Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa Date & Time: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 @ 7:30 PM (Social hour at 6:30) Tom Turner is a travel photographer and is professor emeritus at Pacific Union College after working there for many years as a visual arts professor. Tom will share photographs and stories from his Morocco trip travelling from Rabat to Casablanca.

December 3: Mark Howe and Seth Dilles – Our Beautiful Backyard – The Sonoma Coast Location: Victory House, Club 300 Room at the Epicenter, 3215 Coffey Lane, Santa Rosa Date & Time: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 @ 7:30 PM (Social hour at 6:30) Mark Howe and Seth Dilles, longtime Rock Ice & Mountain Club members, will let you in on some of their climbing exploits on the Sonoma coast. This dynamic duo are interested in coastal adventure climbing and the Sonoma coast is one of the best places to do it. They are not put off by putting in a lot of hard work to accomplish these climbs and probably getting a bit wet as they do it.