Kelly Cordes

Alpine Climbing, Rock Climbing

Hometown

State College, PA

Resides

Estes Park, CO

Bio

Adhering to a life-long avoidance of full-time work, Kelly specializes in margaritas, maximizing outdoor time and climbing alpine-style routes. This minimalism influences his climbing, which includes the first ascent of the Azeem Ridge in “disaster style.” Professionally, a stint at Pizza Hut (flexible hours, free leftovers) led to years of shack dwelling, which, somehow, led to a living climbing and writing.

Career Highlights

First ascent of the Azeem Ridge on Great Trango Tower, Pakistan
First link-up of Tiempos Perdidos and the upper West Face ice routes on Cerro Torre, Patagonia
First ascent of Personal Jesus on Nevado Ulta, Peru

First ascent of The Trailer Park on London Tower, Alaska
First ascent of Deadbeat, Thunder Mountain, Alaska
First ascent of Ring of Fire, Thunder Mountain, Alaska