Ep. 536: Building the First Climbing School in Iraq - Ryan Shuler and Milosz Pierwola

Imagine taking the adventure sport you love and being among the first to teach that sport in a part of the world that hasn't been possible until recently. That’s exactly what adventurer Milosz Pierwola and veteran Ryan Shuler are accomplishing in Iraq. Their plan is to build the first climbing school in Iraq in the city of Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdish Mountains. They’re fundraising to gather professional climbing equipment as well as build a climbing wall with local aspiring climbers, who have self-learned to climb solely from videos found on the internet. I hope you enjoy the story behind this epic project! Also, if you can, get involved! From the project’s website: “Our project will establish the first climbing school in the country of Iraq, creating gateways where a culture once saw barriers, through their indomitable mountains. Classes will focus on rock climbing and mountaineering skills that will enable expeditions to discover the as of yet unclimbed local peaks. The program will take place in a successful community center established in 2007 that services over 1,500 children and adults. It will be headed by a group of Iraqi mountaineers who have overcome great adversity, such as forging their own gear, to learn how to climb. The facility is equipped with classrooms, theater/cinema, internet, and most importantly, 5 hectares/12 acres of land upon which we will construct a 9 m/30 ft tall climbing wall. In addition to the wall, we will deliver a complete assortment of climbing equipment and publish the first native language mountaineering instructional book, Basic Principles of Mountaineering, translated from French.” More info about the project: http://adventuremilo.com/category/iraq/ Milosz’s Facebook: @AdventureMilo Milosz’s Instagram: @adventuremilo Milosz’s Twitter: @adventuremilo Ryan’s Instagram: @thefattestclimberyouknow Photo Credit Here Athletic Brewing Company is a pioneer in craft non-alcoholic beer. They make great-tasting beer for the healthy, active, modern adult. Athletic uses certified all organic grains and only 50-70 calories a can. With IPA, Golden Ale, stouts, and tons of seasonal style offerings. Save 15% by using ADVENTURE at athleticbrewing.com @athleticbrewing ASP is also sponsored by CS Instant Coffee. CS Instant Coffee is 100% Arabica Instant Coffee. Their compostable packaging provides guilt-free convenience that is perfect for the trail, office, and fitness.  Visit csinstant.coffee and use promo code 'Adventure' for 20% off at csinstant.coffee @c.s.coffee If you're in need of some personalized advice before buying your gear, go to backpacktribe.com. You're not only able to purchase the gear you need on their website but talk with someone with the experience and know how. They also offer gear bundles and free shipping. @backpacktribal Support the Adventure Sports Podcast by giving as low as $1/month to our efforts to produce this show at patreon.com/AdventureSportsPodcast Call and leave us a voicemail at 812-MAIL-POD or 812-624-5763 or send an email to info@adventuresportspodcast.com Our Sponsors: * Check out Shopify and use my code ASP for a great deal: www.shopify.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/adventure-sports-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy