Amy Bauer

 
Amy Bauer discovered rockclimbing and mountain climbing after she came to Los Alamos as a graduate student in 2004.  Her first hike that summer was to the summit of Wheeler Peak (13,161') with Scott Hsu.  Through Scott, that same summer she learned to rock climb, led her first trad climb at El Rito, and climbed Mount Belford (14,197') her first Colorado 14er.  Her love for the mountains had crystallized!  Combining rock and mountain climbing, she ventured into technical alpine rockclimbing, ticking off Wham Ridge (5.4) on Vestal Peak (13,864') as her very next high summit.

Amy leading a pitch of the Prow (5.8) on Kit Carson Peak
Photo taken by Scott Hsu (Aug 07)
In 2005-06, Amy learned to ski and in May 2007 she had her first CO 14er ski descent off Missouri Mountain, Colorado. (14,067').  The first of only one child, her mother has asked "Do you REALLY have to do that?"

Amy at the trailhead of Missouri Mountain, Colorado
Photo taken by Scott Hsu (May 07)
Amy joined the Pajarito ski patrol and LAM in 2007, is NSP Avalanche II certified, and is currently training as an Avalanche I instructor.  During the 2008-09 ski season, Amy dedicated herself to learning telemark.  When she's not skiing or climbing, Amy is employed with the Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory where her main research interest is developing computational models and performing simulations of tumor-induced blood vessel growth.
One of several favorite quotes to live by: "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming WOW! WHAT A RIDE."- Hunter S Thompson

Amy skiing on Mt. Harvard's south slopes
Photo taken by Scott Hsu (May 2008)
Major LAM Activities:

• LAM member since 2003
• LAM climbing school graduate, 2003
• Helped in LAM climbing schools

Scott Hsu moved to Los Alamos in December 2002 for a position at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (just in time for ski season)!  He grew up in California doing a lot of hiking and inbounds skiing in the Sierra Nevada, but it wasn't until he moved to New Mexico that he started climbing and backcountry skiing.  In 2003 he enrolled in the LAM climbing school, and joined the Pajarito Ski Patrol.  He quickly started exploring the local backcountry skiing and climbing venues, and in 2004 he met Amy Bauer (now his wife) who became his most frequent skiing and climbing partner.  Together they have climbed over 50 high peaks in NM, CO, and CA, including many alpine technical climbs and ski descents (their two favorite mountaineering activities).

Scott rappelling off Lizard Head (13113') in the San Juan Mountains, CO
Photo taken by Amy Bauer (2008)
Scott is a National Ski Patrol certified Avalanche Level 1 Instructor and an Alpine Senior Patroller.  He learned how to telemark during the 2005/2006 ski season and now only occasionally breaks out the alpine skis.  Scott owes a great debt to two local friends, David Gardner (a Taos ski instructor) for being a great ski coach, and fellow LAM member David Rogers for being a wonderful climbing mentor.  In his spare time, Scott enjoys working on his "New Mexico Backcountry Skiing" webpage.  You can also find many of his CO trip reports here.

Scott skiing the Railroad Couloir toward the Bottomless Pit on Pikes Peak (14110'), COPhoto taken by Paul Janzen (May, 2007)
At the Lab, Scott is a Scientist in Physics Division working on fusion energy research.  A dream since he wrote a 7th grade book report, he hopes to live to see the day that fusion puts power on the grid.