We are excited to introduce to the community, Savanna Deger, one of our newest Climbing Rangers. As a climbing ranger, Savanna’s love grows by combining two of her passions; connecting with fellow climbers and growing the connection we have to the land we recreate on. This job allows her to have the important conversations around how we can minimize our impact as climbers in the Eastern Sierra.
Growing up in El Portal, at the mouth of Yosemite Valley, Savanna’s community placed a high value on understanding the intertwined relationship between outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship. As a child, Savanna’s dad would often bring her to the crag, although she didn’t truly connect as a climber until many years later. During her years attending Humboldt State University in pursuit of an Environmental Education degree, she joined the climbing team and acquired a job working at the school's climbing gym. Summers during college were spent working in Yosemite Valley ticking off mellow classics, while she gained the necessary skills to help people better understand the natural world and our relationship to it during the school year. Upon graduating, Savanna spent her first summer in the Eastern Sierra working for the Mono Lake Committee and growing her experience climbing on the Eastside. She developed a strong connection to the Eastern Sierra which continued to beckon her back for both work and play. Being on the Eastern Sierra created a deeper understanding of pushing grades, trying different styles of climbing, experiencing more alpine climbs, and challenging herself on long days in the mountains.
As the year moves forward, Savanna has been spearheading the program; Bishop Climbing : Know Before You Go, for the local Climbing Gyms around California, and has just hosted her first week of successful events in the Bay Area in early February. Mark your calendars for the next Gym to Crag events!! Savanna will be heading to the Reno/Tahoe area, hosting an event at Mesa Rim Reno - Tuesday, March 8th and South Lake Tahoe Blue Granite - Wednesday, March 9th.
Huge shout out to the Companies and Brands who have helped make these events possible! Visit Bishop, Bishop Area Climbers Coalition, Arc’teryx, Fngr Jam, Black Diamond, Rocky Talky, Allez Outdoors, Black Sheep Coffee Roasters, Sage to Summit, Petzl, Edelrid, Pacific Hemp Provisions, Gnarly Nutrition, Sea and Summit, Patagonia and Rhino Skin.
If you would like to donate directly to help support the Climbing Rangers and their mission, go to the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) website and donate today!