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Coldfear
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Sit down with Aaron Mulkey, a professional ice climber and explorer. He has spent decades roaming mountain ranges around the world. Mulkey and his co hosts discuss experiences of Adventure, Exploration, Ice climbing, Training, and anything else that intrigues them.
37 Episodes
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This conversation explores the personal journey of running with Joe Grant, and the evolution of trail running culture. Joe discuss his experiences in the mountains, the importance of community support, and how cultural backgrounds shaped his outdoor pursuits. He reflects on the transition from casual running to professional aspirations, emphasizing the genuine passion that drives his adventures. Aaron Mulkey and Joe Grant explore the profound connection between passion and outdoor activities,...
In this engaging conversation, Aaron Mulkey and Zahan Billimoria discuss the importance of training for ice climbing, emphasizing the need for a habit-driven approach, the significance of aerobic fitness, and the role of community in maintaining motivation. They explore effective strength training principles, the impact of age on athletic performance, and the necessity of adaptation in training. The discussion highlights that it's never too late to start training and that enjoyment in the pro...
In this conversation, Kelly Halpin shares her experiences from the Snowman Race in Bhutan, a unique ultra marathon aimed at raising awareness about climate change. She discusses the challenges of running at high altitudes, the cultural richness of Bhutan, and the importance of community and environmental advocacy. The conversation also touches on the role of art in climate action and the personal reflections on the connection to nature. Kelly expresses her future plans for running and climbin...
In this episode, I sit down with Zahan Billimoria who has been featured in several Teton Gravity Films and other publications. He is a mountain athlete, guide, coach, and founder of Samsara Experience. We dive deep into the nature of risk, not just as something to manage, but as something to learn from. We talk about what it means to train the body and mind for uncertainty, how education in the mountains mirrors the kind of learning that sticks, and why presence—not just preparation—is at the...
If you spend enough time in the mountains, you’re bound to come across things that leave you scratching your head, wondering, how did this happen? Nature is breathtakingly beautiful, yet also unforgiving. In this episode, I share the story of a massive bull elk I discovered above an icefall—a find that will forever leave me questioning how he got there while also inspiring dreams of the incredible life he must have lived. This elk was undoubtedly the king of the mountain. You can find videos ...
Whether Kimberly Cross is leading friends up frozen waterfalls, tackling alpine climbs, or inspiring her kindergarten class with the wonders of the outdoors, her mission remains the same—helping others step outside without fear and push past obstacles. "Chasing an outdoor dream can build a renewed or deepened sense of self," she says. "Confidence, perseverance, and purpose grow when we experience the outdoors and witness the beauty these landscapes offer. It’s a powerful force for the mind, b...
I have known Jackson Marvell for a while now and I have always been in awe of his continued pursuit to push himself in the sport of ice, rock and alpine climbing. He and his friends Alan Rousseau and Matt Cornell became very well known climbers when their names hit the New York Times for their accent of Jannu. Take a dive into Jacksons mind, life and his teams ascent of Jannu in this episode.
Aaron Mulkey sits down with Matt Berry who is the head of QA and R&D at Black Diamond Equipment to talk everything ice screws. There are a ton of questions ice climbers have about the strength of ice screws and their placements. We dig into all of that, I ask every question I can think of. We also dive into the differences in Aluminum vs Steel ice screws. If you're an ice climber, this is a must listen! I will also post a couple key pieces of this chat on my YouTube Channel. Ther...
Aaron Mulkey shares information about The Cookeout Ice Festival and Wyoming Ice Festival events. They have an incredible lineup up of speakers at these two events. Aaron then shares a story about exploration and an Ice Axe he took through the bicep during an ice climbing fall many years ago deep in the backcountry. We also take time to remember Michael Gardner. A great video about who Michael Gardner was.
Who is Aaron Mulkey? I figured it was time to go beyond the surface of my life. Like just about anyone I have struggled in life multiple times. I have lost, loved, fallen and escaped life when I needed to disconnect from reality. Climbing and Kayaking kept me alive in my darkest times, but I was incredibly lucky. Attempting to find balance between work, climbing and family has always been a struggle. Social Media tells a story that we curate for our followers, but the reality of a life can on...
This is a super powerful conversation with Sarah Hueniken who has been a driving force in the Ice and Mixed Climbing community for many years. She is one of the strongest winter athletes I know and one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Sarah shares some of her secrets to her success and how she navigates fear and risk. We also chat about accidents and loss in the mountains and how we as a climbing community can better support each other. Check out https://www.mountainmuskox...
History is made with the introduction of the "Many-Headed Beast" The Black Diamond Hydra ice climbing tool. I sit down with ice and alpine climbing legends Will Gadd and Jackson Marvell along with the incredible design and engineering team at Black Diamond, Sean Dunlop, Derek Gustafson and Jeremy Stack. This is a first of its kind conversation about how the Hydra Ice Climbing Tool came to be. We also dive into some Ice Climbing history and the many ice tools that Black Diamond has developed o...
Connor Koch is a mountain endurance athlete rooted in the Rockies. His climbing career has been shaped by fast and light pushes on the Colorado 14ers, technical Teton and Montana high points, and ski descents from the granite giants of the Sierra. While comfortable on any medium, Connor is most inspired by long days with nothing but a small pack and running shoes, testing his limits and finding the edge of possibility between the earth and the sky.
The time is now to start training for your winter season. I sit down with Seth Keena to talk about the Ice Climbing training plan he and I put together with Evoke Endurance. Seth is a full time coach at Evoke Endurance and started mentoring under legend Scott Johnston in 2015. Seth is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to training and how the body responds. We talk about the Ice Climbing training plan and how easy it is to start this plan for people who also have full time jobs. If you're lo...
Kelly Halpin grew up in Jackson WY with the Tetons and National Forest as her playground. She has made a name for herself in the world of mountain running by taking on massive mountain ranges solo and unsupported. It's not a trail that sets her path, It's the ridge ahead that has led her to set a number of FKT records in some of the most remote spots in the U.S. Sometimes her runs have her moving through the night and on her feet for over 60 hours. She started climbing at age 6 which led to a...
Meet Ryan Vachon, a seasoned climate scientist and geochemist with a Ph.D. earned in 2006. For over 15 years, Ryan's research has taken him across Greenland, Alaska, the Andes, and the Himalayas, studying the impacts of climate change. Beyond his academic achievements, Ryan is an accomplished climber across all disciplines, known for putting up numerous first ascents. A reliable partner for tackling challenging projects, he's the go-to person when it's time to achieve something signif...
Steve House is a highly accomplished alpinist known for his bold and groundbreaking ascents in the world of alpine climbing. With a career spanning several decades, House has established himself as one of the most influential climbers of his generation. His notable achievements include numerous first ascents in remote and challenging mountain ranges around the globe. As a sought-after speaker and author, House has shared his expertise and experiences with audiences worldwide. In this episode ...
I sit down with Dan Vastyan and Chris Guyer to talk about all things that have happened in the last couple months from Post Holing 10 hours into a climb, a First Ascent, Alaska and Bloody Ice.
Episode 19 I sit down with Steven Dunnavant about his life renewed. Steven is one of the most stoked and nicest individuals you will ever meet, but we can all learn from his motivation to get fit and eliminate excuses. He started ice climbing when he weighed over 300 pounds and has lost over 75 pounds over the last year. Ice Climbing lit a fire in his heart and mind. It opened a door to a life he didn't know existed and it has now become a part of him he can not live without. He is a fa...
Episode 18 is a fun conversation with Alpinist contributor and author Christian Kiefer. He talks about what it's like to be middle-aged and an intermediate climber. His goals and risk tolerance look very different than others. Is he too focused on grades and not the experience? I think he is finding that balance like many others. But we also talk about poop, books, mediocrity, and a ton of other subjects. This is a fun one!