Climbing for Conservation

The Team
To make a successful attempt on the mountain, it is helpful to have a team that is in sync with each other, and for each individual to possess skills that complement the group. Climbing as a team can be most rewarding and is sometimes a challenging accomplishment. The group dynamic is an important factor when camping, sharing chores and working together to accomplish a difficult task such as climbing a technical route on a mountain like Alpamayo.

The members of this team have climbed together before. Whether on a weekend jaunt to climb vertical ice on the shoreline of Lake Superior, or on an extended mountaineering trip with the goal of reaching the summit, all of the climbers are good friends with a climbing history who know how to be part of a working machine.

Tim Jenema
Age: 31
Occupation: Licensed Builder
10 year Traverse City Resident
Tim Jenema (TJ) has been an avid climber for over 10 years. He has achieved successful summits on Mt. Rainier WA, Granite Peak WY, Cotopoxi and Iliniza Norte, and Iliniza Sur, Ecuador. He is an accomplished rock and ice climber, sport and traditional, and is a confident leader and route finder.

Tim Barrons
Age: 31
Occupation: Web Developer
12 year Traverse City Resident
Tim has been a resident of the Grand Traverse area for his entire life. He is an avid rock and ice climber and has summited several major peaks in the U.S. including Mt. Rainier and Granite Peak in the Wind River Range. Tim is comfortable leading technically difficult pitches including traditional and sport rock routes and waterfall ice routes. He rounds out the team, bringing the highest degree of skill on ice as well as an attitude that remains positive and steady in any situation.

His company, Byte Productions L.L.C., is a sponsor of the expedition and is donating time and resources in the form of production for media-related needs before and after the climb.

Keith Tampa
Age: 31
Occupation: Paramedic / Outdoor Educator
8 year Traverse City Resident
Keith has been involved in outdoor pursuits for 12 years, and currently instructs courses in climbing, backpacking, and caving for Northwestern Michigan College. His expertise is in experiential outdoor education. He has been active in building local ropes courses, climbing walls, and court run programs designed to rebuild troubled youth. Keith is also an avid climber and caver, whose humor and delightful candor are always a welcome on any trip.

Keith's paramedic knowledge combined with skills at high angle rescue and first aid are invaluable to the upcoming expedition.

Joe Oesterling
Age: 28
Occupation: Woodworker
24 year Traverse City Resident
Joe's climbing accomplishments include two summits on Mt. Rainier WA, successful climbs on Cotopoxi, Iliniza Norte, and Iliniza Sur, Ecuador, and multi-pitch rock climbs in Wyoming. Joe is a recreational rock and ice climber and avid kayaker and skier. When he is not climbing he can usually be found surf kayaking in the waves of Lake Michigan, or paddling along the icy shorelines of the Leelanau Peninsula.

The Team To make a successful attempt on the mountain, it is helpful to have a team that is in sync with each other, and for each individual to possess skills that complement the group. Climbing as a team can be most rewarding and is sometimes a challenging accomplishment. The group dynamic is an important factor when camping, sharing chores and working together to accomplish a difficult task such as climbing a technical route on a mountain like Alpamayo. The members of this team have climbed together before. Whether on a weekend jaunt to climb vertical ice on the shoreline of Lake Superior, or on an extended mountaineering trip with the goal of reaching the summit, all of the climbers are good friends with a climbing history who know how to be part of a working machine.

Tim Jenema Age: 31 Occupation: Licensed Builder 10 year Traverse City Resident Tim Jenema (TJ) has been an avid climber for over 10 years. He has achieved successful summits on Mt. Rainier WA, Granite Peak WY, Cotopoxi and Iliniza Norte, and Iliniza Sur, Ecuador. He is an accomplished rock and ice climber, sport and traditional, and is a confident leader and route finder.

Tim Barrons Age: 31 Occupation: Web Developer 12 year Traverse City Resident Tim has been a resident of the Grand Traverse area for his entire life. He is an avid rock and ice climber and has summited several major peaks in the U.S. including Mt. Rainier and Granite Peak in the Wind River Range. Tim is comfortable leading technically difficult pitches including traditional and sport rock routes and waterfall ice routes. He rounds out the team, bringing the highest degree of skill on ice as well as an attitude that remains positive and steady in any situation. His company, Byte Productions L.L.C., is a sponsor of the expedition and is donating time and resources in the form of production for media-related needs before and after the climb.

Keith Tampa Age: 31 Occupation: Paramedic / Outdoor Educator 8 year Traverse City Resident Keith has been involved in outdoor pursuits for 12 years, and currently instructs courses in climbing, backpacking, and caving for Northwestern Michigan College. His expertise is in experiential outdoor education. He has been active in building local ropes courses, climbing walls, and court run programs designed to rebuild troubled youth. Keith is also an avid climber and caver, whose humor and delightful candor are always a welcome on any trip. Keith's paramedic knowledge combined with skills at high angle rescue and first aid are invaluable to the upcoming expedition.

Joe Oesterling Age: 28 Occupation: Woodworker 24 year Traverse City Resident Joe's climbing accomplishments include two summits on Mt. Rainier WA, successful climbs on Cotopoxi, Iliniza Norte, and Iliniza Sur, Ecuador, and multi-pitch rock climbs in Wyoming. Joe is a recreational rock and ice climber and avid kayaker and skier. When he is not climbing he can usually be found surf kayaking in the waves of Lake Michigan, or paddling along the icy shorelines of the Leelanau Peninsula.