Finish strong!
2020 was a year of incredible Alchemy. These are some of my highlights.
I interviewed 40+ guests on my podcast — scientists, policymakers, frontline workers, educators, veterans, activists, athletes, and musicians — all folks who have persevered to come out stronger on the other side. As always, my longtime adventure partner Jeff Evans and incredible leader of No Barriers, Dave Shurna, were fantastic co-hosts.
Due to covid, we were forced to pivot our in-person Summit to a virtual experience. It was a bold move but it paid off. Over 1.3M people joined us, giving more folks a No Barriers Summit experience than ever before!
A tremendous debt of gratitude is owed to all of the celebrities and No Barriers Ambassadors who stepped up to make this event a shining success.
I watched my friends Dave and Tom work hard to write a book that has become an Amazon bestseller. I am so proud of them! “What’s Within You” is based on the No Barriers framework and I was honored to be part of this narrative guide.
2020 gave me a chance to focus more time and energy on giving back. In addition to No Barriers, these organizations were also near and dear to my heart this year: dZi Foundation, Access Fund, Colorado Mountain Club, and The Trust for Public Land.
While recovering from finger surgery earlier in the year, I was fortunate to work with DoggyU to train my new guide dog, Zena. Zena has played a critical role in supporting my independence during this pandemic and I could not be more appreciative.
Our No Barriers Stories celebrated Jill Wheatley, a visually-impaired mountain runner living in Nepal; Zhang Hong, a man in China training to be the first blind person from his country to climb Everest; Paralympic horseback rider, Alanna Flax-Clark; and right here in Colorado, my friend Melissa Simpson, who Roped Up with me and a small team to climb a 13,100-foot peak in her GRIT Freedom Chair, raising nearly $8,000 for No Barriers in the process! A documentary following our climb will debut in 2021 and we’re all very excited.
Despite fewer days on the crags, I was still lucky to train and even checked off a few bucket-list adventures. I went canyoneering with my son for his 18th birthday, did some late summer sending on Devils Tower, explored off-width climbing with Pamela Shanti Pack, biked the rugged Kokopelli, and enjoyed sunny days with friends in the Rockies. A special shout out goes to Charley Mace for leading the way on so many climbs, local and otherwise!
I am grateful to all the talented and invaluable individuals who continue to make Touch the Top an impactful organization.
Thank you ALL for being part of my Rope Team in 2020. While it was a difficult year, I found that when we leaned into the storm it was also one filled with unexpected gifts. Keep Reaching into 2021 — and have a Happy New Year!
