Ben Clark

At 21, I abandoned a career in architecture for an unknown path that I hoped would lead me to the top of Everest. Curiously enough, it did in 2003 at 23 years old. That path also led me everywhere in between and into some places I could’ve gone and some places I can’t believe I’ve gone…ever been to “The Pavement” in Nairobi, Kenya? Shhhhhh!!!!!

My twenties have been packed full of mileage, it’s cool to be in my last year of them and seeing more mountain ranges on the horizon instead of less. Clinging to the mountain lifestyle as much as the mountainside, I’ve woken up in as many places as possible and now call Telluride, Co. home. It feels good to know these mountains.

These days my resume is a collection of the experiences I always dreamed of living; backcountry turns in the morning, ice climbing in the afternoon, winter days bouldering and hopping on a rope in the desert, long runs in the dry summer mountains and enchaining peaks that once took entire days to climb. The alpine climbing is still sketchy and the mountains sometimes turn me away. I respect my partners and wouldn’t have these experiences without them or the support of sponsors.