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.

• 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

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Alpine Climbing Ambassadors

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• View Steve's Profile
  Steve House

  Reinhold Messner called Steve House “the best high-altitude climber in the world today.” But for Steve, climbing is about process, not achievement. He says, “The moment your mind wanders from the climbing at hand will be the moment you fall.” Steve has earned Messner’s praise by leading the charge to climb bigger routes, from the Himalaya's to the Canadian Rockies, faster and with less equipment than anyone before.

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• View Colin's Profile
  Colin Haley

  Colin was born in Seattle in 1984 and still calls it home today. He grew up hiking, skiing and climbing in the rugged Cascade Mountains where he developed a love of mountain adventure and an indifference to foul weather. His climbing is focused on the mountains of Alaska and Patagonia, where he’s drawn to the steepest alpine faces.

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• View Hayden's Profile
  Hayden Kennedy

  Hayden climbed his first multi-pitch climb, the Kor-Ingalls route on Castleton Tower, when he was 13. He was petrified the entire day. Rather than deter him, the experience solidified his climbing obsession. Today Hayden works toward the goal of mastery in all aspects of climbing. He finds inspiration from the struggle of a hard redpoint or the mental challenge of a dicey alpine lead.

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• View Josh's Profile
  Josh Wharton

  Although Josh loves all aspects of the sport, his primary passion is alpine climbing. He’s particularly proud of the climbs that require special effort from himself and his partners – be it a willingness to take big risks, train hard, or make some major sacrifice in life. He hopes to continue chasing climbing dreams that inspire him, from 10-foot boulders to 10,000-foot alpine routes.

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• View Kelly's Profile
  Kelly Cordes

  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.

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• View Matt's Profile
  Matt Helliker

  Living in Chamonix, Matt has instant access to his favorite climbing area – the European Alps. He enjoys the variety of routes within easy travelling distance, and the good coffee shops in the valley. He’s drawn to alpinism because it takes him to unique places physically, mentally and geographically. Matt has climbed around the globe, completing numerous, cutting-edge first ascents.

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• View Zoe's Profile
  Zoe Hart

  Zoe is the fourth American woman to earn her International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations status, the highest level of credential available to professional mountain guides. When she’s not guiding or climbing in her backyard, Chamonix, France, Zoe’s on international expeditions or climbing trips throughout North America. Although Zoe considers herself a climbing “jack-of-all-trades,” alpine climbing is her passion.

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• View Katsutaka's Profile
  Katsutaka “Jumbo” Yokoyama

  Even after twenty years of climbing, Katsutaka still heads into the mountains with both excitement and anxiety. It’s the indescribable grandeur of nature that draws him to alpine routes. The bigger and harsher the mountain, the more insignificant he feels in such an environment. It reminds him of the emotions he felt on his first climb – a mixture of terror and euphoria!

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• View Marko's Profile
  Marko Prezelj

  Within a month, Marko completed his chemical engineering study at the Ljubljana University, married his wife Katja and became a father. That whirlwind of events only confirmed what Marko had learned over the years as an alpine climber – his limits were all in his head. Marko feels drawn to mountains because the outcome of every day is a mystery.

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• View Kitty's Profile
  Kitty Calhoun

  Kitty first roped up in South Carolina at 18. She started ice climbing a year later, which led to winter ascents in the Rockies where her passion for alpine climbing began. While guiding for the American Alpine Institute, she climbed dozens of peaks in Peru, Bolivia, Alaska, Argentina, and Nepal. In recognition of her accomplishments, she received the American Alpine Club’s Underhill Award.

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• View Vince's Profile
  Vince Anderson

  Dedicated to the “whole-hearted” pursuit of alpinism, Vince Anderson splits his time between mountain guiding, rocking out to heavy metal and “mind-expanding” climbing experiences. Vince has climbed the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat and made the first ascent of routes on K7 West in Pakistan and the North Face of Mount Alberta. He dreams of climbing the West Face of K2 in alpine style.

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• View Barry's Profile
  Barry Blanchard

  One of Patagonia’s first ambassadors and member of the R&D team, Canmore-based Barry Blanchard is aptly described as the “Bonatti of the Rockies.” Barry travels the globe in search of adventure on high alpine faces. His exploits include the first ascent of Infinite Patience on the Emperor Face of Mt. Robson, the first ascent of the North Pillar of North Twin, a first ascent on the north face of Les Droites.

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• View Mark's Profile
  Mark Wilford

  Mark is considered one of the most proficient and diverse alpinist/rock climbers around. With more than 30 years of experience, he’s accumulated a resume of bold rock ascents, alpine solos, Alaskan climbs and Himalayan expeditions. Among his notable climbs are the first American solo ascent of the Eiger North Face, a first ascent on Nameless Tower and first ascents in Alaska's Saint Elias Range.

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• View Dylan's Profile
  Dylan Johnson

  Dylan believes his life is defined by a balancing act between the world of big mountains, running an architecture practice and maintaining a family life. Big, remote alpine faces keep him motivated and through his climbing he’s learned that pushing himself in the mountains translates to dealing with stressful situations in everyday life. He chooses to climb because climbing simply makes life better.

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• View Maxime's Profile
  Maxime Turgeon

  Canadian Maxime Turgeon grew up in the suburbs of Montreal. He discovered climbing in the gym first, and within a season had progressed from traditional rock routes to ice climbing. A taste of alpine climbing on the Wapta Traverse was enough to hook Maxime and a few seasons later he was climbing what he calls the best route of his life, Spice Factory on Mount Bradley.

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