Wild Ideas Worth Living

Jim Morrison is a ski mountaineer who has spent more than a decade climbing and skiing some of the most challenging mountains in the world. In 2018, he and his life partner, Hilaree Nelson, became the first people to climb and ski down Lhotse, the 28,000 foot Himalayan peak neighboring Mount Everest. In October 2025, after years of pursuing an even bigger objective, Jim became the first person to climb and ski down the treacherous north face of Mount Everest. The historic expedition came after years of personal tragedy, a global pandemic, knee surgery, and the immense logistical challenges of attempting one of the most difficult ski mountaineering objectives in the world.Connect with Jim: Instagram Get tickets to see Everest: The Other Side Explore upcoming REI x Intrepid Travel trips!Thank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®Smartwool  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Explorer and professional climber Leo Houlding has spent more than 30 years pushing into some of the world’s most remote places. One of his most ambitious expeditions took him across Antarctica by kite ski to climb The Spectre. These days, Leo is taking on a different kind of adventure, bringing his wife and two kids along to climb, hike, camp, and explore the world together.Connect with Leo: Website Instagram YouTube Explore upcoming REI x Intrepid Travel trips!Thank you to our sponsors:The North FaceCapital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Powderchaser Steve has spent decades studying weather patterns and geography in pursuit of the best powder. A snowboarder and self taught forecaster, he has built a reputation for predicting where the deepest snow will fall and chasing winter storms to find it. His passion for weather, snow and the pursuit of fresh tracks has made him a legend among skiers and snowboarders.Connect with Powderchaser Steve: Powderchasers websiteInstagramListen to REI’s Camp Monsters podcast!Thank you to our sponsors:The North FaceCapital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kimber Cross is an adaptive ice climber and mountaineer who has spent the last decade tackling some of the most demanding ice routes in North America. Born without one hand, she climbs with a custom prosthetic featuring an ice axe that extends from her right forearm. In 2026, Kimber made the first adaptive female ascent of Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado, one of the country's most challenging ice climbs.Connect with Kimber: Website Instagram If you enjoyed this conversation listen to, Becoming a Professional Adaptive Rock Climber with Mo BeckListen to REI’s Camp Monsters podcast!Thank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®AllTrails Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mohamed Lahna is a Paralympic medalist, endurance athlete, and one of the world's most accomplished para-triathletes. Born without a femur in his right leg, he didn't begin running or cycling until his twenties. On July 29, 2026, he completed a self-designed triathlon across America: a 28 mile swim around Manhattan, a 3,000 mile bike ride from New York to Las Vegas, and a 350 mile run to Venice Beach. He completed the journey in 47 days while raising more than $150,000 for Save the Children and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.Connect with Mohamed: Website Instagram Donate to Save the Children and The Challenged Athletes FoundationListen to REI’s Camp Monsters podcast!Thank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®BenchmadeAllTrails  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kelsey Pfendler made history on July 3, 2026, when she became the first American woman to row solo from California to Hawaii, completing the crossing in just 43 days and setting a new speed record. An open ocean rower and longtime Grand Canyon river guide, Kelsey spent two years preparing and funding the expedition herself. Her journey culminated in a record that shattered the previous men's mark by nearly nine days and established one of the fastest solo ocean rows ever completed across the Pacific.Connect with Kelsey: Website InstagramIf you enjoyed this conversation, listen to episodes with Taryn Smith, Tez Steinberg and the LAT 35 team. Listen to REI’s Camp Monsters podcast!Thank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®SmartwoolAllTrails Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sunny Stroeer spent years working as a business consultant before burnout pushed her to rethink what success looked like. She left the corporate world in search of adventure and went on to become one of the most accomplished endurance athletes in the outdoors, setting more than 20 Fastest Known Times across the globe. In 2024, she became the first woman to ski the full Iditarod Trail, a feat that cemented her reputation for taking on ambitious challenges in some of the world's harshest environments.Connect with Sunny: WebsiteInstagramListen to REI's Camp Monsters podcast!Thank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®SmartwoolSalomon  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tyler Mitic is an endurance cyclist and mental health advocate who spent 27 days riding a tandem bike the length of California. Along the way, he convinced more than 40 strangers to hop on the back of his bike, creating opportunities for connection, conversation, and shared adventure. What began as a cycling challenge became an exploration of rejection, friendship, and the power of showing up for people. The project ultimately raised more than $20,000 for Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit focused on mental health awareness and support.Connect with Tyler: Instagram Thank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®SmartwoolSalomon  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kit DesLauriers is a ski mountaineer, two time Freeride World Champion, and the first person to climb and ski down the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent. She completed the historic project in 2006, cementing her place as one of the most accomplished ski mountaineers in the world. A National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, Kit has spent her career pushing the limits of human powered adventure.Connect with Kit: Website Instagram Purchase Kit's book, Higher Love: Climbing and Skiing the Seven SummitsThank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®SmartwoolSalomon  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alison Mariella Désir is a runner, activist, author of Running While Black, and host of the award winning PBS series Out & Back. In 2013, she started a community run club in Harlem with a simple goal: help more Black and Brown people experience the joy and connection of running. That grassroots effort helped launch a career dedicated to building community, expanding access to the outdoors, and empowering others to pursue their own adventures.Connect with Alison: Website InstagramSubstackWatch Out & Back on PBSPurchase Running While BlackThank you to our sponsors:Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard®SmartwoolThe North Face  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.