Bio
I started out on my wild adventure in 1981 in the rural Alaskan bush chipping ice off the natural spring to collect water for the homestead. We built a cabin 10 miles — a hike and a paddle (or a dogsled ride) — from Tok Junction. Without electricity or running water, we spent lots of time outside in view of the big bright mountains of the Alaska Range, and in winter consumed by art projects on snowbound days. I attribute my love of climbing partly to the trapeze that hung from the log rafters above my parents’ bed where I learned to swing, climb and dangle by the age of 4.

In the early 90's Vashon Island, Washington became home, and my life was infused with green and blue. The Cascades, the Olympics, and the tall Douglas Fir presided over my teenage years and still are the view from my "home." Then I was off and running, captivated by the red desert of Utah, and away for school at the Colorado College where I finally learned to climb and received a BA in Biology and minor in Fine Art.

Learning to rock climb I headed to Yosemite Valley, it was my springboard into the rest of my life. It gave me an inspired community and new way to interact with that tall beauty in the landscape.

"Let the beauty you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth." Rumi

Though still working as a biologist and fly-fishing guide occasionally, rock climbing has taken over. Freeing the Moonlight Buttress V 5.12+, and the Regular North West Face of Half Dome V 5.12+ with funny and strong female, Madaleine Sorkin, are two of my most exciting and inspiring climbing achievements. Free-climbing long crack systems is my passion. Moving all day, watching the peregrine falcons and swifts fly and spiral glinting like flashes in the light, and finding silver frogs matching their granite home, perfect finger locks under a flowering succulent, this constitutes a perfect outing for me.

My years in Alaska were instrumental in shaping the way I live. My days as a toddler in a canoe, fishing, collecting cranberries all day, cross country skiing as a mode of transportation, all gave me an inherent closeness to the natural world. It feels normal, wonderful and easy to be outside on the rocks, mountains, rivers, and forests all the time. I feel inspired to share this with the rest of the world’s people. We must recognize our fortune, we live in such a beautiful world, lets play in it, and save it!

Three things inspire me right now,
1. Reducing carbon dioxide in the world to 350ppm (350.org), we need to make big changes, not just one light bulb in your house, but all of them, and a hybrid car!
2. I am making art, simple beauty that people can wear, stone jewelry (suspendedstonedesign.com).
3. And I am headed out CLIMBING!