Interview with Araceli Segarra, Mountaineer

The protagonist of her children's stories, Tina, is a true reflection of Araceli's indomitable and adventurous spirit. Through this child character, the mountaineer highlights values such as effort, camaraderie, and respect for nature. The mountain is not her profession, but she acknowledges it as her "source of energy." Used to living in extreme situations-Araceli Segarra participated in the rescue of the Everest expedition in which thirteen climbers lost their lives in 1996-she would have loved to take part in the Himalayan expeditions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

It's interesting that her passion for the mountains originated from caving.

I've always been attracted to adventure, discovery, and the unknown... When I went caving, I found myself in the depths of the earth with lakes of incredible beauty, calm, and a spectacular mystery.

She recalls a special trip when she was a child.

Yes. I remember a trip to Zamora with my brother to participate in a canoeing competition. I was 9 years old then. We were in a van. I also remember stopping in a field and picking peaches. I cherish that feeling of being in nature, by that lake. It was very nice.

What is your opinion on traveling?

From my perspective, travel is a school of life. One reason I write and illustrate Tina's stories is that in a hypothetical world, if travel were a subject, it would be one of the best subjects. Not because of how fun it might be, but because of the learning and the lessons you can take away.

What else do travels bring?

They help you discover who you are. When things are going well, everyone is very nice and friendly, but when plans don't go as you hoped, then your true personality comes out. Sometimes it's good to realize that maybe you are not as patient or resourceful in certain situations.

I find it somewhat hard to imagine you relaxed in a hotel after giving a talk to, for example, executives of a large company...

Incorporating small doses of a different kind of travel than what you usually do can also be very good. I did an all-inclusive trip to Cancun, for example, and I had a great time. I believe you can do both. You have to try everything.

But the mountains remain your first destination. The search for the legendary eight-thousanders...

Quantity, I say because of height, does not equal quality. For me, the effort involved in climbing a route in the Alps can be more satisfying than climbing an eight-thousand-meter mountain, where you do absolutely nothing. I prefer certain technical difficulty. One thing is having the stamina to summit an eight-thousander, and another is, for example, facing the challenge of climbing a route in Patagonia. I am more satisfied tackling a difficult route. There are impressive climbers and mountaineers opening difficult routes in Peru, but it is harder for them to be recognized.

Is this a critique of the media?

Absolutely. Someone climbs Cho Oyu (Tibet-Nepal) via the normal route, with fixed ropes and porters, and it makes the front page of newspapers. A good technical mountaineer is much less known and valued than someone who just does eight-thousanders.

Of all the places you know, which one do you prefer?

As a country, I choose France. I envy the respect they have for the mountains, cities, and culture. You travel through Southern France, and each town is a gem. They are ancient, well-preserved towns. Towns where no houses have been torn down to build a five-story block. There's a reason France is the top tourist destination.

Do you think they are more aware than we are about the need to preserve heritage?

France takes care of all levels of tourism, from those with high purchasing power to those with little. There are places for vans and trailers to park for free. Here in Spain, those places don't exist, and vans are frowned upon. In France, they are smarter and know that all tourists leave something behind.

What is your favorite city?

I choose Florence. There are many beautiful cities, but Florence is a true gem. It's number one for me. As someone who loves art, I find the works of the best artists there. I could go on and on about it.

Any corner of the coast or inland Catalonia?

I hardly know the coast. I'm not much into water. Inland, there's a beautiful place in the Pyrenees called Sierra de Cadí. It's a vast meadow-the Cadí Meadow-surrounded by mountains, where you encounter few people. Spectacular.

Anything curious or unusual that happened to you during a trip?

The most curious thing happened when we were filming Seven Years in Tibet for the Brad Pitt movie. We were incognito and pretending it was a documentary. We hid the film inside the truck, in different places, because if the Chinese found us, we'd all end up in jail. It was a tense shoot: we were enjoying ourselves while constantly looking over our shoulders.

You must be a master at packing and preparing luggage...

The first thing I do after packing is divide the luggage in half because I won't need half of it. I try to take clothes that don't wrinkle, that wash quickly, and then I buy what I need upon arriving at the destination.

What mode of transport do you prefer?

The train. It has space and is practical. You can work and move around. There's no problem with excess luggage; it's easier to get in and out, and the stations are in the city centers... Recently, I took the train from Barcelona to Valencia, then Valencia to Madrid, and Madrid to Toledo-all by train.

Is there a place you still haven't visited that you would like to see?

I have Japan on my to-do list. When I'm older, I would like to travel on the famous Orient Express, visit a lot of islands, and leisurely explore New Zealand.

What do you like most about Spain?

How close everything is. You can be skiing in the morning and swimming in the sea in the afternoon. We also have many areas for mountain skiing or ice and rock climbing.

In what era would you have liked to live?

In the late 19th or early 20th centuries, the golden age of discovery and exploration of the Himalayas. But I would ask to be a man, because women weren't allowed to participate in those expeditions at the time.

Why did you choose Cerdanya to live in?

Because I need to live surrounded by nature. Some need the city, and I need nature, to train and for everything. Besides, I have France nearby, and I can escape to the Alps from time to time.