Bean Bowers

Bio
I squirmed out of the womb at 8,770 feet in Southwest Colorado, and have always been drawn to that environment – the high mountains that is, not necessarily the womb. Growing up skiing, building snow caves, and hiking around in the krummholz and tundra, left their mark; I knew that was where I would spend my life.

Climbing started as means to get to the top, but has morphed into an end in and of itself. The heart-pounding rhythm of breaking trail, countered by the delicate sequence of a hard rock climb; the exhilaration of knowing that letting go will result in a hospital stay countered by the bond shared between two climbing partners; these are but a few of alpinism’s great rewards and contradictions.

Climbing has been a great vehicle for my continued learning, leading me to grow through my encounters with the gracious culture of Pakistan, or the open-armed inclusiveness of Argentina. It has also brought me up against my mortality and expanded my humility. Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there.

Alpine Climbing Ambassadors