Tag: Alpine Climbing

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Enormocast 328: Matt Cornell – The Right Reasons

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On Episode 328 of the Enormocast, we sit down with alpinist and Michigander, Matt Cornell. That’s right, one of the world’s best alpinists grew up in the mountain-less upper Midwest dreaming of vertical playgrounds beyond his home State’s borders. Despite the pressures of modern suburban expectations, Matt moved into his hatchback and become a climbing bum post high school. But it was a suggestion of a mentor that convinced Matt to move to Bozeman and become an ice climber. After a season or two of bumbling his way into the hard-nose and hard-knock scene in Hyalite Canyon, Matt’s fuse was lit and the greater ranges beckoned. An epic or two later, Matt’s burgeoning skills finally started to knab him first ascents and coalesced a crew of like minded climbers around Cornell. Epically, but not finally, Cornell, Jackson Marvell, and Alan Rousseau did what some would say is the finest alpine style ascent of all time on the North Face of Jannu in 2023.

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Enormocast 324: Ines Papert – Only One Life

Photos: Klaus Fengler, Torje Stenkjaer, Ines Papert Collection
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On Episode 324 of the Enormocast, I sit down for the second time with German climber Ines Papert. The first time was way back in 2016 when Ines and I climbed together in Indian Creek and found time torecord an interview. At that time, Ines was the single mom of a teenager but still managing the life of a pro climber. As her boy gained more independence in the following decade, Ines’ career flourished as she climbed all over the world focusing on alpine climbing in the greater ranges. This interview finds Ines contemplating aging, her life as a mom, and her motivations as a rock climber and ice climber as alpinism takes a back seat for now.

Ines on Instagram

Ines’ Website (surprisingly up to date trip reports!)

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Enormocast 319: Freja Shannon – Moments of Glad Grace

Photos Fay Manners, Hamish Frost, Al Lee
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On episode 319 of the Enormocast, I connect across the Atlantic with Irish/Swedish climber and guide, Freja Shannon. Freja split her youth between the west coast of Ireland and Sweden. Her first mountain sport was snowboarding which took her to Chamonix for a winter season when she was 19. But in that spring, she found climbing and finally felt “this is it!”. Freja dove into all the alpine pursuits with abandon and started racking up ascents in Chamonix, her other home in Sweden, and discovered that the sea cliffs of Ailladie were only a few miles from where she grew up. Then an serious fall in 2023 in the Alps broke her back and dealt a major blow to her confidence. Freja’s body recovered quickly but she’ also had to reassess her risk tolerance and her commitment to the alpine. The fire is still there, but Freja’s focus may have changed for the better.

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