Join us on Google Meet for the 2026 PMC Mountain Fitness Spring Speaker Series, where top experts share their knowledge on training smarter, climbing stronger, and performing better. Whether you’re a weekend hiker, backcountry skier, rock climber, or preparing for a major mountain expedition, this series is designed for you! *Attendees will receive the Google Meet link after registering.

Title: Where Ancient Trails Meet New Lines: Lessons from Planning a First Ascent in the Ancient Nepalese Kingdom of Lo

Topic: PMC 2025 Expedition Grant awardee Kevin Bialy shares an inside look at what it takes to plan an expedition to an unclimbed 20,400+ foot peak in Nepal’s remote Upper Mustang region. Designed for mountaineers of all levels, this talk walks through the lifecycle of an expedition—from the first idea to boots on the glacier. Kevin will break down how to research an objective in a little-traveled area, navigate permits and logistics in Nepal,  and create a plan that prepares you for altitude, remoteness, and uncertainty. He’ll also discuss the realities of attempting a first ascent: assessing limited route information, managing objective hazards, making weather-driven decisions, and adapting when plans inevitably change. Whether your goal is a future Himalayan expedition or your first major alpine climb, this session will provide practical lessons in preparation, risk management, and decision-making that apply to mountaineering at any level. Come ready to learn what happens not just when everything goes right—but when it doesn’t.

Speaker: Although he self-identifies as a perpetual novice, PMC member Kevin Bialy has tackled numerous high altitude climbs and treks in the US, Himalayas, Andes and Patagonia, Alps, Africa, and New Guinea, in some cases solo. He is WFR certified with several re-certs, has taken the AIARE 1 and Rescue courses, is rescue diver certified, and spends his free time training for the mountains or introducing his 4-year old to the great outdoors.