MOUNTAINEERING AS MANAGEMENT METAPHOR:
The Wharton Leadership Expedition to Ecuador
By Mark Davidson, Wharton MBA Graduate (WG 1998)

Leadership by action: This is the theme that emerged from the inaugural Wharton Leadership Expedition to Ecuador, parallel in conception to the annual Wharton Leadership Trek to Mt. Everest

In early January, eleven Wharton students and alumni joined the ranks of high-altitude mountaineers. The group climbed to nearly 19,000 feet on Cayambe, a glaciated dormant volcano 60 miles north of Quito, Ecuador. A second team plans to travel to Ecuador in March to climb another peak of similar height, Cotopaxi.

"Climbing a mountain is a lot like running a company," suggested trip participant Nathan Romano. "You're out there in very unfamiliar territory, working with and literally tied to your colleagues. You can see the goal, the summit, right in front of you. You have a group of experts advising you (in this case professional mountain guides). But ultimately you make the decision every step of the way whether or not to go for it."

Many obstacles can prevent you from closing the deal: Deep crevasses, altitude sickness, group apathy, inadequate training, or insufficient resources. The group worked together to identify and overcome these obstacles, strengthening individual members and the team as a whole in the process.

As with business, some of the most successful learning experiences in climbing can result from an inability to reach the original goal. After successfully summiting Rucu Pinchincha (15,400 ft.), the group turned its attention to Cayambe. On summit day, our climbing team left a high shelter just after midnight, and by 7:30 AM it reached at an enormous crevasse just 100 feet below the summit. We found a thin ice bridge to cross the chasm, but a previous day's snowfall and a steep final slope plunging into the crevasse made it risky to push for the summit. In subsequent discussions, all members of the team felt that the right decision had been made to forgo the final 100 feet.

Risk management, group dynamics, team motivation, decision making: They were all part of the experiential learning of our mountaineering effort. Each climber learned to work with and rely upon others while making personal decisions about how to realize his or her own goals without compromising the safety and interests of the group. We also appreciated that reaching a mountain summit or company goal is far more than a personal achievement, for it always depends on collective effort with the contribution of each required for the success of all.

The outdoor lessons can usefully inform indoor learning as well. "Getting out there and living it -- that's really powerful stuff," offered participant Neil Whiteing. "These are the sort of personal stories and first-hand accounts that can be brought into the classroom to make leadership lessons really meaningful."

Adrian Ballinger has climbed and traveled throughout Asia and the Americas, combining his love of the mountains with his intellectual pursuits in world religions. He is a fantastic athlete: from telemarking to ice climbing, wake boarding to sport climbing, alpine climbing to big walls. Adrian runs Earth Treks’ international mountaineering program and will be in Ecuador for the third season.

Jaime Avila. Over the past 15 years, Jaime has climbed and guided the volcanoes of Ecuador more times than he or anyone else can count (over 150 summits of 19,348 foot Cotopaxi).  He has also explored and guided in the mountain ranges of Peru, Argentina, and Europe.  Jaime brings to our courses not only his extensive experience climbing at altitude, but also his understanding of South American cultures.

Joyce Hartpence-Warner is the owner of Teamworks Training and Development. Teamworks is an organizational development and team building provider for Johns Hopkins Hospital and University, SAP, Duetsche Bank Securities, Nordstrom, the National Institutes of Health and many more corporations and non-profit organizations. In addition to being a talented facilitator, Joyce is an experienced mountaineer and ice climber. This will be Joyce’s fourth expedition to Ecuador. Joyce can be reached at 410-313-9623 or teamworks9@aol.com.

Mark Davidson, WG’98: Mark is a past participant on the Wharton Leadership Trek to Mt. Everest and the recent Leadership Expedition to Ecuador. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Mark began his professional career as a clinical exercise physiologist studying human performance under physical stress. Subsequent work in employee wellness, preventive care, and exercise counseling provided the framework for an on-going interest in total wellness and experiential learning through outdoor activities. As a recently-former consultant in the health care information technology industry, Mark worked with senior executives on business and technology strategy as well as organizational structure, dynamics, and communication. Mark has organized a variety of outdoor activities: sailing charters, backpacking trips, mountain bike rides, winter camping, and backcountry and helicopter-skiing trips. He has climbed in the Alps, Appalachians, Sierras, Wasatch, Tetons, Rockies, and New Zealand.

Adrienne Mason, WG’02: This trip/experience is the first time I've ever done anything of this nature, although I am thrill-seeker at heart and I like to try new things.  I have done a bit of rock-climbing and camping, and a fair amount of hiking, but that's as close as it gets to what we are about to undertake.  I am a first year student, single, graduated from Wellesley in 1993, and I have lived in Phila. for the past 5 years.  Professionally, I have worked in high tech product development and in marketing/business development.  I am hoping to do something finance-related this summer.

Aviva Shneider, WG’01: Prior to Wharton Aviva spent hours in front of a computer (doing her math undergrad) and then moved to on to an even more sedentary and nocturnal lifestyle by entering a consulting firm.  Upon her arrival at Wharton she has tried to rectify the situation by becoming involved with the extreme outdoors club, but unfortunately she remains the ultimate amateur.  She has tried most sports, but is not an expert at any.  And she is afraid of heights ... She is, however, really looking forward to Ecuador.

Jill Stitz, WG’01: Sorely disappointed at missing the opportunity to participate in the January trek, Jill agreed to help coordinate the repeat performance of the Leadership Expedition to Ecuador to ensure a spot for herself and personal trainer and husband, Colin Drane. Both hope to survive the trip so as not to orphan their beloved cats, TJ and Zuni. After leaving Wharton Jill will join Accenture to consult on change management and organizational design projects. As a Wharton Leadership Fellow, she has a warm spot for the fuzzy stuff that’s incorporated into this trip. Although not an avid outdoor sporting participant, Jill is willing to try almost everything and is looking forward to the challenge of this trip.

Tony Sun, WG’02: I grew up in Bethesda Maryland and went to Cornell University as an undergrad. Prior to attending Wharton, I completed my medical studies at Temple University and at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania residency program in Internal Medicine. I enjoy the outdoors and look forward to meeting everybody on the Ecuador trip!

Edwin Bernbaum is author, lecturer, scholar, mountaineer, and experienced climb leader. Ed holds a doctoral degree in Asian Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, where he is a Research Associate. A Senior Fellow at The Mountain Institute, he is a member of the World Conservation Union and sits on the Advisory Council of the American Himalayan Foundation. He is the author of The Way to Shambhala: A Search for the Mythical Kingdom Beyond the Andes (Anchor/Doubleday, 1980), a study of Tibetan myths and legends of hidden valleys, and of the award-winning Sacred Mountains of the World (University of California Press, 1998), which was the basis for an exhibit of his photographs at the Smithsonian Institution. A past instructor at the Colorado Outward Bound School and a member of the American Alpine Club, Ed has done extensive research on the role of mountain metaphors in leadership and has climbed, trekked, and led groups in mountains around the world. He consults and lectures widely on mountains, creativity, leadership, and teamwork to organizations such as the American Museum of Natural History, the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, and Sprint Corporation. Tel.: 510-527-1229. E-mail: <bernbaum@socrates.berkeley.edu>.

In March 2001, the Wharton Leadership Expedition will offer a week-long mountaineering and leadership development program designed to provide MBA students and graduates with a unique learning experience. Modeled after the annual Wharton Leadership Trek to Mount Everest, the Ecuador expedition will enable MBA students the opportunity to ascend one of the highest peaks in the Western Hemisphere and further develop their leadership skills while doing so.

Ecuador is one of the best places in the world to develop mountaineering skills. On this expedition, we will be ascending Rucu Pinchincha (15,700 ft.) and Cotopaxi (19,340 ft.). Cotopaxi is located about 40 miles southeast of Quito and is both Ecuador's second highest peak and the highest active volcano in the world. Since this is a skill development expedition, previous mountaineering experience is not a prerequisite for participation.

The expedition is designed to make the most of both the culture and the climbing of Ecuador. We will be visiting Otovalo, the Indian market famed for its woven textiles. We will also be exploring the colonial capital, Quito, with its beautiful cathedrals and wonderful old city.

The Wharton Ecuador Expedition provides an opportunity to continue your leadership development, exercise your body, cross-train your mind, and reflect on your leadership with fellow Wharton students and graduates among the awe-inspiring peaks of the northern Andes.

The expedition is intended to help build: 1) technical skills to safely summit a high altitude peak; 2) communication, leadership, and teamwork skills essential to functioning within a group in a demanding situation; and 3) methods for sharing your knowledge and understanding with others in your professional life. The expedition uses mountains, mountaineering, and climbing as powerful cross-cultural metaphors to expand and deepen our understanding of leadership and teamwork.

Through climbing and skill development, we build the knowledge and confidence to make a bid for two mountain summits. With daily seminars and evening discussions, we will explore metaphors and analogies between mountain travel and organization leadership.

High altitude mountaineering demands great physical endurance and emotional strength. The itinerary developed for this expedition puts great emphasis on acclimating, the process by which your body adapts to the unique stresses placed upon it at altitude. The ascent of Cotopaxi begins at an elevation of 15,000 feet and reaches nearly 19,000 feet at the summit. For the sake of the group and your own enjoyment, a high degree of aerobic conditioning is required. In preparing for the trip, it is imperative to undertake a rigorous conditioning program, with emphasis on the cardiovascular system and improving leg/back strength (a detailed training schedule has been provided). The climb involves technical mountaineering. Use of ropes, crampons or other climbing equipment will be taught to all participants as part of the program.

We emphasize continuous learning on the mountain through daily pre-planned seminars and many unanticipated events. Most days have a noontime seminar on a topic related to leadership and teamwork, and an evening discussion generally related to the day’s experience and plans for the next day. We devote time to considering leadership and team dynamics on the historic climbs of Ecuador’s central highlands and other peaks, across organizations and cultures, and within our own climbing party.

Saturday, MARCH 10: Depart Philadelphia and arrive in Quito (9,350 feet) in the evening. Transfer to hotel.

Sunday, MaRCH 11: Explore Quito, visiting the cathedrals and historic sites of "Old Quito."

Monday, MARCH 12: Skills session on the climbing wall. Pack for the climb.

Tuesday, MARCH 13: Climb Pinchincha, a 15,700-foot volcano above Quito.

Wednesday, MARCH 14: Travel to the climber's hut on Cotopaxi (~15,000 ft.)

Thursday, MARCH 15: Skill development on the glaciers of Cotopaxi.

Friday, MARCH 16: Climb to the summit of Cotpaxi (19,340 ft.)

Saturday, MARCH 17: Explore the famed Indian market at Otovalo:

Sunday, MARCH 18: Depart Quito for Philadelphia.

The total land cost for the Wharton Ecuador Expedition is $1500 and includes double occupancy lodging in hotels, meals on the mountain, scheduled transportation within Ecuador, climbing guides, and group climbing and cooking gear (kitchen supplies, ropes, etc.).

What is not included in the cost of the trip: Airfare (Price is seasonal and can vary between $700-$1100), airport taxes, small group supplements, meals in Quito and other cities, hospitalization or evacuation from remote areas, medical check-ups, immunizations, insurance of any kind, excess baggage charges, additional lodging charges for those desiring a single room, laundry services or other personal expenses, liquor, snacks, souvenirs, tips for guides or camp staff, and personal gear.

There are ten volcanoes in Ecuador that rise above 5,000 meters, (16,400 ft.), two of which are still active. Nine of these peaks are glaciated, requiring technical mountaineering skills to ascend even their easiest routes. Ecuador is perhaps the best place in the world to develop mountaineering skills. The challenges you face here are similar to those found in all of the high mountain regions. Glacier travel, high altitude physiology, and snow climbing skills will be taught to you on your Earth Treks expedition.

On this expedition, we will be ascending Cotopaxi (19,348 ft.), Ecuador’s second highest peak. Standing above several smaller peaks, it is one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring mountains in the world. Cotopaxi is also the world’s highest active volcano, last erupting in 1942. (Geologists don’t predict any eruptions to take place during out trip. Based in the climber's hut at 15,700 feet, we will spend a day developing the requisite skills. Once ready, we will depart at midnight for the summit. The route winds through a complex system of crevasses, crossing small snow bridges and climbing exposed slopes. Be prepared for bitter cold and a long, hard climb. Summiting, hopefully at dawn, is an incredible accomplishment, rewarded by magnificent views and a well-deserved feeling of pride.

The Wharton School Expedition will be guided by Earth Treks in conjunction with Teamworks Training & Development Inc., our sister company. Teamworks focuses on corporate team development, utilizing experiential learning opportunities. Teamworks regular clients include the executives of Deutsche Bank, Nordstroms, and Johns Hopkins University.

Our expedition will focus both on the necessary technical skills to safely summit a high altitude peak, and the development of communication, leadership, and teamwork- skills essential to functioning within a group in a potentially high-stress situation.

It is important for you to understand that your Earth Treks guides will do everything in their power to help you get to the summit, but their first responsibility is your safety. By climbing in small teams led by experienced guides, we maintain the flexibility needed to maximize each person’s chances of summiting. You will be teamed with others of a similar pace and will probably move from one rope team to another as your performance dictates.

In addition to the incredible mountaineering, Ecuador is a country rich in culture. The people of this country possess a proud history, both pre and post Incan. The resultant blessings have allowed the people to develop a rightful sense of pride and well being. There are few developing countries in which you will feel so welcome and comfortable.

Our adventure in Ecuador is designed to make the most of both the culture and the climbing. We will be visiting Otovalo, the famed Indian market, with its wild displays of woven textiles. We will also be exploring the colonial capital, Quito, with its beautiful cathedrals and fantastic restaurants.

Since this is a skill development expedition, previous mountaineering experience is not a prerequisite for participation. More importantly you must place great value in pushing your personal limits. High altitude mountaineering demands great physical endurance and emotional strength. The itinerary developed for this expedition puts great emphasis on acclimating, the process by which your body adapts to the unique stresses placed upon it at altitude. We strongly recommend that your training include long aerobic workouts. And remember that a strong sense of self-confidence will be your greatest asset.

This will be Earth Treks ninth season of operating expeditions in Ecuador. This trip will be led by Adrian Ballinger or Chris Warner. Adrian has guided in Peru, Ecuador and Nepal. He has climbed Cotopaxi 5 times. Chris has guided over 50 high altitude expeditions, on 4 continents, including Mt. Everest. He is also an American Mountain Guides Association Certified Alpine Guide. Adrian and Chris’ personal and professional climbing experience and their thoughtful approach to the challenges of mountaineering will be vital ingredients in the success of your trip.

Trip pricing of $1500 is given for land costs only. This includes double occupancy lodging in hotels, meals on the mountain, scheduled transportation within the countries we are visiting, guides, group climbing and cooking gear (kitchen supplies, ropes, etc.).

Airfare, airport taxes, small group supplements, meals in Quito and other cities, hospitalization or evacuation from remote areas, medical check-ups, immunizations, insurance of any kind, excess baggage charges, additional lodging charges for those desiring a single room, laundry services or other personal expenses, liquor, snacks, souvenirs, and tips for guides or camp staff.

The cost of delays is not included if any trip is held up due to river levels, road and trail conditions, flight delays, illness, government delays or any other factor which is beyond the control of EARTH TREKS, INC. or their agents.

A $250 non-refundable deposit is required to confirm a reservation. The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days before departure.

We reserve the right to cancel any trip due to inadequate sign up, natural disasters, or political unrest. We will fully refund the land costs in that case.

If you must cancel your trip more than 60 days prior to departure, your balance will be refunded, minus the $250 non-refundable deposit. If we are notified 45 days, or less, before the trip, 50% will be refunded. If we are notified 30 days, or less, before the trip, there is no refund.

Earth Treks, Inc. reserves the right to determine routes and destinations, and to change these at the discretion of the guides, to best meet the needs of the participants, and to ensure maximum safety. No refunds will be permitted in the event of a change in the course itinerary. Our itineraries describe each of our trips in detail. The schedule allows for acclimatization and adjustment to life in a foreign country. We include extra time in Quito (9,000 ft.) and other small cities because it can be such a fun and relaxing way to acclimate and enjoy this country. Exploring the markets, with their wealth of hand made textiles, sipping fruit drinks in small cafes and watching the Ecuadorians at work and play all provide endless hours of entertainment. Because it is so easy to wander for hours around these towns, we don't always meet for lunch during our days spent in town.

In regards to your arrival in Quito, an EARTH TREKS guide will be waiting for your flight to arrive. Upon exiting customs and claiming your baggage, keep your eyes peeled for a sign waiving, smiling gringo. Generally tourists are able to exit the baggage claim without having their baggage inspected.

We recommend that all participants obtain a short-term insurance policy covering baggage, accident/life and trip cancellation. Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for non-refundable air and land costs should you have to cancel the trip due to personal or family illness. Ask us about obtaining reliable coverage. You should purchase cancellation insurance soon after signing up.

This trip is a rigorous mountain climbing expedition. By its very nature it is physically demanding and involves travel to many areas where medical facilities are virtually nonexistent. EARTH TREKS, INC. will furnish a well supplied first aid kit and our guides are certified in first aid, CPR and have taken courses specific to wilderness medicine. EARTH TREKS, INC. assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. You are urged to check your insurance coverage to be sure it is adequate. The trip leaders have the right to disqualify any member from the group at any time if considered medically necessary or to avoid endangering the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the trip. Refunds are not given under such circumstances.

You should have a personal supply of any special medications which you may need. It is understood that EARTH TREKS, INC. is not a medical facility and therefore has no expertise or responsibility regarding what medications or inoculations you and your private physician should decide necessary for your safe participation in the tour. Many climbers who take part in extended high altitude mountaineering trips, take Diamox prophylactically. Diamox is proven to aid in the prevention of altitude related illnesses. Dexamethasone (also called decadron) is a very effective preventive for High Altitude Cerebral Edema. Please ask us for an article we have on altitude related illness and treatment.

Many travelers visiting third world countries also carry Bactrim (as a prophylactic, once a day every day) and a course of Cipro (500mg tablets). Both are antibiotics that fight gastro-intestinal problems which, if left untreated, might force you to change your schedule. Please ask your doctor about the use of these two drugs. Malaria is not a threat in the highlands of Ecuador.

The fitter you are aerobically the more fun you will be able to have. We all know that life above 10,000 ft. will put a strain on our bodies. Some of us may suffer from fatigue due to our not properly preparing our bodies. At the very least, please exercise aerobically at least four times a week, for an hour each time. Running and biking are the most highly recommended forms of exercise for high altitude mountaineering. Combine these regular workouts with a few long dayhikes with a small pack on the biggest hills you can find in your area.

If you are prone to motion sickness bring along Dramamine. The train trips and long bus rides can be tough on weak stomachs.

The sun is extremely intense in Ecuador. Not only are we near the equator, we are also in the rarefied air of the upper elevations. Invest in a really good pair of glacier glasses, zinc oxide, the most powerful sun screen, and a baseball or sun hat (making sure that the underside of the brim isn't white).

Brace yourself! Diarrhea is a common ailment in the third world. Basically new strains of bacteria visit our intestines and our body has only one way to get rid of them. As noted earlier, ask your doctor about Bactrim and Cipro. Also stock up on extra strength, caplet Pepto Bismal and Immodium AD. In order to avoid dehydration you'll need to drink plenty of liquids. Remember that prevention is the best medicine. Try to avoid drinking water that wasn't either filtered, boiled or iodized. Never swap water bottles. Don't eat fruits and vegetables that weren't either peeled or washed in treated water. We'll only dine in places that cater to the stomachs of gringos. If you do get diarrhea please let your guide know so that we can supply you with a little compassion and the best medical treatment available. It is always advisable to carry a stash of toilet paper with you as all rest rooms are not stocked.

People love presents. If you have a big family you had better bring a duffle bag full of $20 dollar bills. Actually, $10 to $15 per present is plenty as sweaters cost between $9 and $15. Wall hangings cost from $10 to $50 dollars, and leather goods are cheap and omnipresent. Bargaining is the name of the game, so feel free to haggle with the locals. AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVELER'S CHEQUES are preferred over cash for traveling with. Plan on spending $3-$4 per breakfast and lunch and $5-8 per dinner while in town. You will also need to pay a $25 departure tax at the Quito airport. Carry your money and passport in a neck pouch or waist belt. Look for these at your local camping store. Many of the nicer shops in Quito accept credit cards.

We suggest you bring both ASA 64 and 200 slide film and/or ASA 100 and 200 print film. Bring all your film and fresh batteries from home. A telephoto lens is ideal for portraits and mountains while a wide angle creates some magical photos in the markets. Remembering the intensity of the high altitude sun and the predominance of snow covered subject matter, a polarizer filter is strongly recommended. A sturdy camera case and a comfortable strap make carrying your camera less of a worry. Those of you with video cameras are strongly encouraged to bring them. In the past, expedition members have taken some amazing footage, even from the summits.

Theft is a possibility. Thieves will be looking for luggage that is easily opened and expensive looking. Canvas or heavy nylon duffels are your best bet for luggage. Get a small lock to secure it all. Handbags are easily snatched, or sliced by a razor; think twice about bringing one. Keep your carry on to a minimum. Everything should fit into a single daypack (jackets, cameras, books, everything). At the airport the weather is usually mild (60 to 80 degrees) at this time of year so please dress accordingly.

Theft is seldom heard of in the mountains, but a small lock for the lockers and common sense are your greatest protector.

By taking a few precautions with regard to health and safety, we will help insure that our time in Ecuador will be fondly remembered. The precautions mentioned would be no different then those recommended for any city of the United States. The Third World has so much to offer us, not only in terms of beauty and adventure, but also an increased understanding of what life is really like at home.

You are going to suffer.

These are the three-muscle/organ groups that will be pushing you up the hill and dragging you back down it.

Luckily you can train all of these at the same time. We suggest a two-prong approach: daily cardiovascular workouts and 6 extended days of carrying a pack.

Daily workouts

Begin a daily training regimen as soon as possible. Of course, if you are disciplined, you can do this on your own. 45 minutes on the stair stepper, treadmill or jogging will get you there. You may want to add some quad, hamstring and calf workouts to this regimen. The daily workouts will help you develop a foundation of fitness and help you shed some extra pounds. Keep this up until days before you arrive. However, this regimen alone is not enough to train your body and mind for the challenges of climbing for 8 to 12 hours.

Climbing these peaks is very different from thrashing on a stair stepper for 45 minutes. You will need endurance (8 to 12 hours worth). You will need to be familiar with regulating your body temperature (taking your clothes off or adding more as the need arises), eating and drinking while hiking, carrying a pack of 35 pounds (with all of the adjustments of both the gear and your hip and shoulder muscles), and being a cheerleader for yourself. A program like the following would be great. If possible, use the same pack and gear you will be using in Ecuador. We suggest using your bigger pack (with a full suspension system). Wear hiking, not mountaineering, boots.

Day 1: A 5 to 8 mile hike on relatively level terrain, with about 20 pounds on your back. This should take 2 to 4 hours depending on the terrain.

Day 2: The same hike, but with at least 35 pounds.

Day 3: An 8 to 12 mile hike, with plenty of hills. Carry a 20-pound pack. This should take 4 to 6 hours (a loop on Old Rag, VA, is perfect for this.)

Day 4: The same hike but with 35 pounds.

Day 5: Go for a lot of mileage. 10 to 14 miles with hills and a 20-pound pack. Hopefully you will be on the trail for 7 to 10 hours. Got your headlamp?

Day 6: Same hike but with 35 pounds. 10 hours???

If you do this series of hikes, you will be ready for the challenges (except the altitude challenge) of climbing these peaks. Try to complete these hikes 14 days prior to the trip starts. Be careful: one climber slipped on the ice during a day hike just days before coming to Ecuador. He was alone and thought he might not get home alive. When we picked him up at the airport in Quito he looked like the loser of a bar room brawl. He did go on to summit every peak in great style (still looked horrible in pictures, but…).

Once you are at altitude, the challenge becomes one of managing the strength you’ve developed. We will talk all about this at the course start. But let’s plant some seeds.

Drinking: plenty of water. There are so many studies that link dehydration to everything from irritability to fatigue. Try to drink at least four quarts of water each day. Bottled water is available in most of the places we visit (bring purification tablets for the mountains). Bring some fun drink mixes with you (Gatorade powder, etc.). Don’t drink or brush your teeth with the tap water.

Alcohol: I know they explained this to me in high school; something about impaired judgment, dehydration, loss of fine motor skills….Moderation is key. To encourage responsible drinking our policy is that for every beer a client buys, they must also buy one for each of the guides.

Drugs: The best ones come from your pharmacist. We encourage everyone to take Diamox, a drug that helps our body adjust to the altitude. We recommend the use of 250 mg./day for folks who are feeling good and 500 mg./day for folks who are really feeling the altitude. Yes, Diamox does make you pee a lot. It also causes a lovely (or distracting) tingling sensation in various parts of your body. Once you are acclimated, you can decrease your dosage. Compasine is another favorite. This anti nausea drug is great for folks who puke easily. Altitude can lead to an upset stomach with vomiting or sudden diarrhea following closely behind. A few of our regulars have found that a dosage of this stuff before climbing has made a dramatic difference in their ability to enjoy the climb while decreasing their laundry bills. Dramamine: ever get carsick??? Bactrim: a great antibiotic for lower Gastro-intestinal illnesses. You can even take this every day to limit your chances of getting sick. This can lead to yeast infections, so be prepared. Ciprofloxin: the antibiotic bomb (Bactrim on steroids). Now, be certain to talk to your doctor about any and all of these drugs. We realize that we encourage drug usage while many better-educated folks do not. Our opinions are based on field experience and the advice of climbing doctors.

Pacing: This trip is really one long endurance event, with a few really steep sections. It is critical that you pace yourself: emotionally as well as physically. We try our best to structure the trips in such a way that everyone can get some non-group and/or alone time. That quiet time may be critical to your mind’s ability to relax and recuperate. Physically, it may be best to limit your celebrations to the last night of the trip.

In the end, it is through an open dialogue with the guides that most physical and climbing related emotional challenges are over-come. Don’t hide the pain from us. We’d rather hear your squeamish tales of explosive bowel movements than watch you collapse at 18,000 feet.

Well, what are you waiting for…drop and give me twenty!!!!!

DETAILED ITINERARY and READING LISTS

Leadership is a capacity that draws on all aspects of yourself and your organization. Developing a vision, articulating it, and inspiring others to achieve it require not only careful analysis and technical knowledge but also a sense for what is important for the organization and for the people in and around it. Mastering these abilities is a lifelong endeavor. Modeled after the annual Wharton Leadership Trek to Mount Everest, the Ecuador expedition will enable MBA students, graduates, and others an opportunity to ascend one of the highest peaks in the Western Hemisphere and to further develop their leadership skills while doing so.

Images of mountains resonate deeply in cultures around the world; they are symbols of patience and strength, effort and inspiration. Reaching a summit is usually far more than a personal achievement, for it almost always depends on collective effort, with the contribution of each required for the success of all. As the Japanese leader of a Mount Fuji society puts it, "The most important thing in climbing is the inner strength to help each other, so that not just the strongest but all the members of the group reach the goal."

Through climbing and skill development, we build the knowledge and confidence to make a bid for two mountain summits. With daily discussions, we will explore metaphors and analogies between mountain travel and organization leadership, with discussion topics such as:

How have expeditions to Everest, Annapurna, K2 and other great mountain peaks built the leadership and teamwork required to reach the summit – or to retreat safely when good judgment suggests they should?

How do non-Western ways of approaching mountains reveal different possibilities of leading and working together as a team?

Can the lands of the Incas and other early South American inhabitants help us understand the underlying purpose of leadership and teamwork?

What does it mean to reach a summit? What have we achieved? What should be next?

Experiential learning on the mountain is gained through pre-planned discussion topics and many unanticipated events. Most days have two main discussion topics; one related to the day’s experiences, and a second discussion related to leadership, teamwork, and plans for the next day. We devote time to considering leadership and team dynamics on historic climbs, across organizations and cultures, and within our own climbing party.

Our professional outfitter, Earth Treks, Inc. is responsible for the overall trip logistics, planning and safety. However, to emphasize the experiential process, we rotate daily leadership responsibility among the group. Two participants take responsibility for coordinating each day’s events within the parameters of our outfitters’ guidelines. They lead the daily discussions, and they carry responsibilities for the day’s goal setting, special challenges, logistical issues, teamwork concerns, organizational dilemmas, and personal problems ranging from irritation to illness.

Depart Philadelphia and arrive in Quito (9,350 feet) in the evening. Transfer to hotel.

Reading:

Roos and Renterghem, Ecuador: A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture
(For additional background reading on Ecuador, consider the books listed in "Suggested Additional Readings" section of this document).

Explore Quito, visiting the cathedrals and historic sites of "Old Quito".

Theme: Establishing baselines and exploring stories – myths and metaphors – that relate the expedition to leadership in the workplace

Discussion Topic:

Self-introductions, the purpose of the expedition, personal reasons for joining the expedition, and building a climbing team.

Spirituality, and the Mountains of Ecuador

What are the precursors for establishing myths?

What myths do we want to create with this inaugural expedition to Ecuador?

What relevance does this experience have both in our work and personal lives?

Leadership. Climbing provides natural metaphors for moving through a corporate environment and attaining personal and organizational goals.

How is a leader selected?

What characteristics or actions define a leader?

How do the answers to these questions change in different situations or within different context?

What guidelines do we want to establish for our own leadership experience?

This discussion establishes a framework for relating experiences on the expedition to issues of leadership and teamwork in the workplace.

Reading:

Bernbaum, Sacred Mountains of the World, ch.14 pp. 236-247, and ch.15 pp. 255-258

Campbell, A Joseph Campbell Companion, pp. 15-26 and pp. 77-82.

Monday, MARCH 12

Skills session on the climbing wall. Pack for the climb

Theme: The Leadership Environment – Explore our preceding discussions and emerging shared and/or divergent understanding of leadership in the context of different climbing styles: Alpine Ascent vs. Siege (Expedition) style.

Exercise: Getting up to speed on equipment, resolving outstanding questions, and learning the basics – climbing, rope handling, and safety.

Discussion Topic: Alternative Paths to the Top - In Thomas Hornbein’s Everest: The West Ridge, an account of the first American ascent of Everest and the first-ever ascent of its West Ridge in 1963, we see two objectives and two kinds of leadership and teamwork at work: those who choose the unclimbed but less certain West Ridge and those who choose the previously climbed but more certain regular route via the South Col. The former is achieved by a small group in "alpine" style, the latter through a large team effort in "siege" or "assault" manner.

What are the distinctive styles of leadership and teamwork required to make small teams and large organizations successful?

What does leadership involve when you are not the expert?

What skills are needed to work with subject matter experts (our professional guides)?

Hornbein, Everest, The West Ridge Introduction, Chapter 9, Chapter 11, Chapter 14. (For additional background reading on mountaineering, consider the books listed in "Suggested Additional Readings" section of this document.)

Tuesday, MARCH 13

Climb Pinchincha, a 15,700-foot volcano above Quito

Theme: Rotating Leadership - recognizing strengths and weaknesses in different forms of leadership

Exercise: Experiment with walking at the front of the group, in the middle, and at the rear, focusing on the pros and cons of each for team leadership position. Consider how this relates to both the trail experience and your position in the "work world".

Discussion Topic:

Brief Health Check – discuss performance on the climb and motivation.

Divergent Participant Accounts of Shared Events – Consider the excerpts from Maurice Herzog's and Arlene Blum’s books on Annapurna to discuss the extent to which the leader should become directly engaged in the daily work of the organization, and how they make decisions and manage risk.

What does it mean to be the leader in a climbing situation?

What are the implications of responsibility, skill, and knowledge?

What explains why participants in the same set of events often have such different memories of them or create such different accounts of about them?

Herzog, Annapurna, Foreword; Chapter 1 "Preparations"; Chapter 13, "The Third of June"; Chapter 15, "The Avalanche"

"Rewriting Annapurna" Climbing Magazine, December 15, 1997 – February 1, 1998, pp. 72-78

Travel to the climber's hut on Cayambe (15,000 ft.)

Theme: The importance of planning, preparation, patience, and reflection as well as mental tenacity for leadership and climbing.

Exercise: Mental Clarity - How to keep calm while keeping the forward momentum toward the goal. We become acquainted with basic techniques of relaxation and meditation and explore their possible applications and benefits for those in stressful leadership positions, both on the summit attempt and in the work environment

Discussion Topic: Leadership, Teamwork, and Responsibility When It Really Counts – Maintaining a clear vision.

What is our obligation and responsibility for assisting those who are faltering around us?

Is there an obligation of the fortunate to aid the less fortunate, and if so when?

Did Buzz McCoy do or not do the right thing when he encountered the freezing Sadhu near the high pass not far from Annapurna?

Consider the contrast in working with peers on the climbing team vs. working with colleagues in business – physical disparities vs. social and financial disparities. U.S. companies operate across national boundaries, and they frequently encounter enormous disparities in wealth and wage rates. How well should you compensate your factory or office workers in a third-world country? Do you have an obligation to assist people who are destitute?

Readings:

McCoy, "The Parable of the Sadhu," Harvard Business Review, September-October, 1983, pp. 103-108.

Schultheis, "Bone Games: One Man’s Search for the Ultimate Athletic High" Chapter 8.

Skill development on the glaciers of Cayambe.

Theme: Team selection

Exercise: Learn and practice rope-handling, snow climbing, and basic glacier travel skills. Select rope teams and prepare for a midnight summit departure.

Rope teams will start at different times depending on their anticipated speed. While the ultimate responsibility for rope team selection lies with our professional guide team, the process provides a vehicle for understanding our own approach to climbing, achieving goals, and interacting with our colleagues.

How are teams selected, and how are group attitudes impacted by the selection process?

What does it mean to "have the right team" in climbing? In business?

What issues did Arlene Blum encounter when selecting summit teams for their Annapurna summit bid?

How can teams within your organization seek alternative route or an alternative approach (in this case speed) to the same – or perhaps even different goals – without undermining the objectives of one another or the whole?

Readings:

Blum, Annapurna: A Woman's Place, Chapter 7 "The Mountain Gods."

Climb to the summit of Cotopaxi – 19,340 ft.)

Theme: Group and Individual Accomplishments

Exercise: Yep – plenty of it today. Starting at midnight we will climb to the summit of Cotopaxi (19,340 ft.), hopefully summiting at dawn. We will be rewarded with awe-inspiring views of the surrounding peaks and the crater of this glaciated volcano. After descending to the hut, we will pack up and travel to our hotel.

Think about how to describe the feelings and sensations you experience throughout the day. Come up with a phrase or brief description that you can share with the group in the evening.

Discussion Topics:

Review our experiences after the climb, focusing on what shared elements we can use in building our own mythic story.

Recognize each members’ contribution and celebrate both individual and group accomplishments.

Consider the leadership and teamwork implications that have emerged for our work and careers back home.

Take some time to reflect on our accomplishments in the context of our original discussions on mountains, myths, and metaphors. How does our mythic story contrast with a typically Western view of mountains as objects to be conquered, while many around the world see mountains as sacred places not to be disturbed?

Readings:

Breen, Fast Company, "What’s your intuition?" September 2000, pp. 290-300.

Saturday, MARCH 17

Visit the Markets of Otovalo and Return to Quito:

We will spend the day relaxing and exploring the famous Indian market of Otovalo. After lunch, we'll visit the home of Jose Cotacachi, a famed artisan, and learn about local culture and industry.

Theme: Managing businesses in emerging economies.

Exercise: While visiting local markets, consider issues raised by local business holders. Also consider issues of sustainable development, environmental protection, and the differing roles of wilderness and conservation efforts in developing countries and the U.S. Consider the role of culture in preserving the environment and how business leaders can contribute.

Discussion Topic: We talk with a local merchant about the issues of managing a business in a third world country. How they deal with health benefits, long-term savings, and family needs while providing good service.

Evening Celebration: Dinner friends, colleagues, and locals; a cup of coffee sipped in front of the fire-place and/or dancing to live Otovalan music will allow us opportunities to recognize and celebrate our accomplishments together. We will return to Quito late in the evening. Discussions may evolve around sustainable development and environmental conservation.

Gabriel, "Scaling Corporate Heights Without Going Over a Cliff," New York Times, June 1, 1997, p. F10

Rachowiecki, Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands (Lonely Planet Guide on Otovalo)

Review initial readings on myth and metaphor - A Joseph Campbell Companion, and Sacred Mountains of the World excerpts in the Expedition Reader

Sunday, MARCH 18

Depart Quito for Philadelphia.

Theme: Lessons Learned – Return safely home bringing renewed awareness for the important lessons learned from mountaineering and insight for translating those lessons into our professional lives.

Books and articles on leadership, teamwork, climbing, mountaineering, and the country of Ecuador would be useful to read as preparation for the expedition. You will be provided with a "Expedition Reader." These readings serve as a basis for our daily seminars on the expedition and should be read before departure. All climbers should consider independently purchasing Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills, 6^th edition for extensive coverage on climbing technique for future expeditions.

The reader includes articles and excerpts from the following publications:

General Information about Experiential Learning Opportunities is available on the website for the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management

Wharton Leadership Expedition to Ecuador

Our trip will be lead by the professional guide service, Earth Treks, Inc.

General travel information is available for US travelers at

http://travel.state.gov

Information on Ecuador and its region can be found at several web sites:

Rachowiecki, Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands (Lonely Planet Guide for Quito)

Rachowiecki, Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands (Lonely Planet Guide on Otovalo)

Bernbaum, Sacred Mountains of the World, Chapter 14 pp. 236-247, and Chapter 15 pp. 255-258

Campbell, A Joseph Campbell Companion, pp. 77-82

Hornbein, Everest, The West Ridge Introduction, Chapter 9, Chapter 11, Chapter 14

Herzog, Annapurna, Foreword; Chapter 1 "Preparations"; Chapter 13, "The Third of June"; Chapter 15, "The Avalanche"

"Rewriting Annapurna" Climbing Magazine, December 15, 1997 – February 1, 1998, pp. 72-78

McCoy, "The Parable of the Sadhu," Harvard Business Review, September-October, 1983, pp. 103-108

Schultheis, "Bone Games: One Man’s Search for the Ultimate Athletic High" Chapter 8

Blum, Annapurna: A Woman's Place, Chapter 7, "The Mountain Gods,"

Waterman, The Quotable Climber, Summits pp. 108-111.

Breen, Fast Company, "What’s your intuition?" September 2000, pp. 290-300.

Gabriel, "Scaling Corporate Heights Without Going Over a Cliff," New York Times, June 1, 1997, p. F 10

Chris Warner, Climbing Magazine

(These are additional books or articles that we have found interesting)