Christian Gilbert '98
Christian Gilbert ’98 and his colleague Brian Honkomp have a love for the outdoors and have found a way to help educate students while climbing some of the tallest mountains in the world.
Gilbert and Honkomp both teach eighth graders at Clearwater Middle School in the Waconia School District. Gilbert teaches world geography, while Honkomp teaches earth science.
In 2007 they climbed to the top of Mt. Rainier in Washington state, which has a peak elevation of 14,411 feet. Then in 2008 they ventured to the top of Mt. Aconcagua (22,841 feet) in the Andes Mountains of Argentina.
On Thursday, April 1 the pair of teachers reached the peak of Mt. Elbrus in Russia – the highest point in Europe at 18,510 feet. Here is what Gilbert and Honkomp wrote to students and other friends via email following their adventure:
Gilbert and Honkomp at the peak of Mt. Elbrus in Russia.
“At 4:15 a.m. Minnesota time Mr. Honkomp and Mr. Gilbert stepped up onto the highest point in Europe! We are both pretty excited and had a great day on the mountain. I know for myself, this was THE toughest day of my life due to the fact that we covered over 12,000 feet of elevation change on a rope team, the round trip took 15 hours, we had equipment on our backs, fighting temps of negative 22 degrees, and in deep snow…we are tired (more like destroyed). Happy to report there were NO injuries and we are back in camp for one more night then take a gondola back into town tomorrow morning. Sorry this is so short, but I can hardly type I’m so tired!”
What is unique about Gilbert and Honkomp’s adventures is that they are using modern technology to constantly communicate with their students back at Clearwater Middle School. As a result, the students have the opportunity to learn about the geography, geology, and climate of a foreign country.
Click here to read a story in the Waconia Patriot about Gilbert and Honkomp’s recent trek up Mt. Elbrus.
Click here to read a 2009 Star Tribune story about Gilbert and Honkomp’s climb up Mt. Aconcagua.
Christian Gilbert received his bachelor’s degree in geography from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1998. He is the son of Jim Gilbert ’62, former Executive Director of the Linnaeus Arboretum.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510