Meet Felipe Proaño | Athlete and Philanthropist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Felipe Proaño and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Felipe, how do you think about risk?
The mountaineering and climbing lifestyle have taught me some powerful tenets. I understand risk is a part of life and of nature, and I feel privileged to have acquired these skills to analyze risk, embrace it and move forward. These tenets are to be resilient, to have an indefatigable spirit, to be tenacious and above all it has taught me to be compassionate.

Resiliency in the mountains is your only defense against adversity. This is especially true against natural factors which are immensely more powerful than any person. Risk assessment and decision making are crucial, as well as acknowledging that Plan A might not always work. Adventure starts when things go on an unexpected turn, and also endurance starts when you want to stop. A climber’s resiliency is on its own a willingness to change both in the short term and in the long term.

I’ve had many chances to quit the sport of climbing over the years. To say, “Enough”, to stop risking and to change to a different profession and way of life. But my spirit belongs in the mountains and the expeditions and on the unclimbed walls. The mysteries of the mountains and the undiscovered archaeological ruins that the mountains keep secret call me. I have been able to modify circumstances in day to day life but also to never quit and to keep moving forward, while taking into account safety and measured risk. A big component of my motivation to climb in remote locations is due to the fact that I have always been tenacious and determined to do so. I worked very hard for years, just to have one solid try at an objective. This window of opportunity can be very short and brief so preparation is a key component of being audacious enough to make the attempt. When I have had to face adversity and change plans, I have progressed with it for a positive outcome.

From all the values that I’ve learned that help me face and embrace risk, compassion is the most valuable. This acknowledgement of being able to rely on and work with my peers has allowed me to go far and achieve: not only thinking of myself as an independent climber, but also as part of a unified team. Additionally, most places where I’ve put up big climbing routes or found archaeological ruins have people that live off of the land very close to them, especially in the Andes. These people usually have scarce resources. Seeing these rural communities, living with them, and sharing broad cultural traits has led to mutual understanding and friendship. Such friendships are the building blocks for other initiatives I have led, including founding a non-profit organization, hosting fundraising events, and developing rural community economic portfolios to help these remote communities achieve a better future. This has been a balance between increasing the sustainability of these communities in terms of having a future rich in natural beauty and healthy lifestyles, while also understanding the need to preserve and respect their local culture as it has been for centuries. These tenets, amongst others, have helped me face risk, embrace and move forward not only with a sense of purpose but also generating many friendships, and as a collateral I have been absolutely happy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career has been a process similar to planting, and the harvesting. Back in 2013 I landed in Boulder, CO as a tourist and part of an Ecuadorian expedition to climb El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, CA. After many months of training we were successful, for an Ecuadorian citizen that was a huge deal! Now, I am the Bilingual Coordinator Senior of the Junior Rangers program for the city of Boulder. It is impressive to see how climbing and networking 10 years ago has led me to be now an advocate for natural areas that allowed me to grow as a person and have so much fun!

The year 2013 was full of many adventures, including the discovery of the Columns of Tangan and my rock climbing ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. That one year truly taught me the power of exploration and pushing my limits. Through my discovery of the Columns of Tangan, I began to learn about the positive impacts that adventure tourism development can have on local rural communities. This includes economic diversification of rural incomes, providing remote communities with access to activities such as rock climbing and kayaking, and engaging with biologists, ecologists, and archeologists who can study and protect remote areas. This discovery opened my eyes to the cascading positive good that modern athletes can cause. Since then, I have worked hard towards increasing rural economic and social development in rural areas, especially in the Andes, through exploration and the establishment of rock climbing areas.

Additionally that same year, topping out of El Capitan after three days spent on the wall in Yosemite Valley was the culmination of my dream since I was a teenager. However, the exact moment that I reached the top after an exhausting climb, I thought, “What’s next?” I understood that I had developed enough skills and talent to actually perform in this style of climbing and desired to keep pushing my limits. This moment was pivotal for my career as an athlete and led me to do more ascents with a focus on exploration and climbing in the unknown. After setting this high standard as an Ecuadorian, I felt the responsibility to lead by example: The responsibility to demonstrate to future generations of my home country that a regular person can achieve his dreams by dedication and perseverance. Then, any man, indifferent to his origins, can succeed in breaking barriers and accomplishing any goal. After that experience, I felt empowered to begin to tackle my long list of objectives. In every climb since then, I recall all the effort that it took to achieve that first goal and keep moving step by step to tackle more ascents in increasingly remote locations. However, taking into account the effect of exploration in rural areas, I now work hard to develop both climbing and a positive outcome for the people who live around climbing areas.

When I was a teenager I struggled through injury including breaking my ankle in 14 parts part of a climbing accident! During the years of recovery I dreamt to become a professional athlete, for 10 years I was the local The North Face Ambassador for the country of Ecuador, and I am also part of the team of athletes for my main collaborator, The Isopure Company. With this title and representing Isopure, I have found myself the last two years as a VIP athlete for the Go Pro Mountain Games in Vail, an event I dreamt as a teenager to be part of.

I have done years of research in ethnohistory, anthropology and archaeology, and it was a delight to be invited to present to The Explorers Club of New York city in 2023, about my work in the Andes of Ecuador and Peru. This was a highlight and a milestone.

Another important recognition was being the top three participants in the US for Men’s Health: The Ultimate Guy during 2023.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I will definitely explore the Open Spaces and Mountain Parks of Denver and Boulder. Staunton SP and El Dorado Canyon SP. I will also visit at least once the climbing gyms of Denver and surrounding cities, coffee shops and gear stores.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my mother, who has always been there with me no matter what. Specially considering I’m an only child , and she was a single mom 36 years ago. My mom who has taught me ethics, responsibility and how to face adversity.

Website: https://www.feli-pro.com

Instagram: feli.proclimber

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feli.pro/

Image Credits
Nicolas Davalos @n.davalos.m | Peter Domorak | Savannah Cummins