Adaptive Athlete’s Resume

Notable Ski Descents:

  • Northwest Couloir of Mount Helen, Wind River Range, WY (March, 2017):

Steep corn snow, 40-45 degree slope, 2k’ descent, 12 mile approach.

  • North Face Direct on Black Mountain, Absaroka Range, MT (March, 2018):

2k’ of powder on stable snow, about 50 degree slope, 7 mile trip.

  • East Couloir of Castle Mountain, Beartooth Range, MT (April, 2018):

Almost 60 degrees in the steepest place, about 800 feet, tight couloir, overnight mission.

In April of 2017, I completed a project: ski fourteen fourteeners in fourteen days. Here are a few descents I’m proud of from that project:

  • Southeast Couloir, Crestone Needle, Sangre de Cristo Range, CO (April, 2017):

Class four ascent variation up the east gully, corn snow and icy patches in the couloir on the descent, ~50-60 degree sustained slope, started/ended at the South Colony Lake Trailhead. 

  • Red Gully, Crestone Peak, Sangre de Cristo Range, CO (April, 2017):

Skied the Red Gully the day after the Crestone Needle, camped at the Upper South Colony Lake and went over Broken Hand Pass to access it, upper 40 degrees for the top and varied in the 40’s down, ~1200’ I calculated after, variable corn snow.

  • Southeast Gully, Humboldt Peak, Sangre de Cristo Range, CO (April 2017):

~3k’ descent in creamy almost-perfect corn snow, skied after a rest day at our lake camp, and it’s not a very technical line but it’s a special one, after a very long ascent with shaky hips, this ski let me open my turns up more and I was able to enjoy the descent despite the physical reminders of my disability, I was proud as hell to be an adaptive skier while rocketing down this wide dreamy gully, I don’t think I could forget hitting that line and how lucky my partner and I were to be there for those all-time conditions.

  • Third Bear Claw on Parry Peak, Winter Park, CO (April, 2017)

2k’ descent, about 45 degree slope, about 6.6 mile approach from Berthoud Pass lot and 3 mile bushwhack to the Frasier River trailhead.

  • Cross Couloir, Mount of the Holy Cross, Sawatch Range, CO (April, 2017)

1,300k’ descent in the couloir.

Notable Climbs:

  • Hallucinogen Wall, Black Canyon (October, 2018):

5.10 A3 R, Trad, Aid, 16 pitches

  • Painted Wall, the Dragon, Black Canyon (October, 2018):

5.9 A4 R, trad, aid, 2000 ft, 16 pitches

  • East Ridge, Grand Teton (September, 2017):

    5.7 alpine trad

  • High Roller, Mt. Rumney (September. 2018):

5.11c, sport, 160 ft, 2 pitches.

  • Quickbeam, Smugglers’ Notch (August, 2018):

5.11c, sport, 80 ft  

Objective/Goals:

My athletic goals are to ski traverse the Wind River Range, climb Lingsarmo (Fanny Bullock-Workman’s first record peak), and to climb (or ski) at least one 8000m peak before I am wheelchair-bound. Then, my goal is to be an adept sitskier.

My objective here is to empower physically ill/disabled/unique folks of all kinds to get back outside, to not be ruled by their injuries or chronic illnesses, and to find their own strength in nature. I want to show other disabled and chronically ill folks that you are so much more than your diagnosis and the label the doctor gives you.

I want to find gear that fused spine-havers, and other adaptive folks, can use outdoors. Finding clothing, equipment, and adaptive-friendly companies that fit well with how differently my body’s shaped/functions is difficult. The goal is to find and share that knowledge so we can all have better access to adventure and thrive in a more inclusive outdoor community.

Affiliations/Sponsorships:

  • Coalition Snow ambassador

  • Trew Gear Pro

  • Joolca- sponsorship

  • Summation Athletics athlete

  • Scholarship recipient for SheJumps AIARE avalanche course

  • Womb Tang ski group member

  • American Alpine Club member