Meet Laura M Clark | Author and Mountaineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura M Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura M, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Heading to the mountains always carries with it risk, as the mountains don’t discriminate, and they don’t care how much experience you have or if you’re having an off day. Since I’m usually solo, there are times I’ve needed to give myself a pep-talk and remind myself to trust my equipment and my skills. You wouldn’t know it by looking at my accomplishments, but I’m rather risk averse. I do a lot of pre-planning before heading to the mountains to avoid a failed attempt, including researching topographic maps, potential routes, and weather patterns. Sometimes I get surprised however. I’ve turned around dozens of times when I didn’t think I had the right skill level for the terrain in front of me, or when I felt there had to be a safer way to make it to the summit than the route I’d put together. When this happens I go back home and do more research, and if necessary, practice the climbing skills needed to go back and achieve a safe and successful summit. Turning back is a very difficult decision to make, but it’s always the correct choice, because the mountain will always be there. It also makes summiting a mountain I’ve had to turn back on that much more meaningful.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a mountaineer, and an author. I’m the first woman to solo climb Colorado’s 100 highest peaks (including all of the 14ers), and have solo’d over 600 peaks above 13,000′. It’s not only my goal to summit a peak, but to find the safest route. When I get back from a climb, I put together detailed trip reports with step-by-step instructions and pictures, and post them to my website (www.wildwanderertripreports.com) so other people can summit them safely as well. After summiting Colorado’s 200 highest peaks I wrote a book about my adventures and lessons learned along the way, from falling into frozen alpine lakes to getting caught in thunderstorms above treeline and wild animal encounters.

I have learned that mountaineering is typically a man’s sport, and most information out there is written by men. Men tend to be taller and have more upper body strength than women, both of which come into play when climbing. Sometimes climbers post information to go up and over obstacles, when there are bettter and safer ways around them. I’ve been on routes where there just aren’t any hand/footholds for someone of my (smaller) size, and need to get creative to either avoid or climb up these obstacles. The information I provide helps to keep climbers safe. All the information I provide is free to users.

When my kids were little I became a single mom, without a job and with a lot of bills. I worked very hard to support our family, finish my education, and to be an involved parent. I was still able to find time to enjoy my passion of hiking, which is deatiled in my book (Wild Wanderer: Soloing Colorado’s 200 Highest Peaks).

I want people to know it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. I started mountaineering when I was 37 years old, which is relatively late to begin the sport. I also want the world to know mountaineering doesn’t have to be difficult. We have hundreds of peaks in Colorado that even beginning hikers can climb.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend isn’t much of a hiker, but if she were to come to Colorado I’d definately take her to see our beautiful state. I’d start with an easy hike at Mueller State Park, then a visit to Garden of the Gods. Downtown Colorado Springs has a great restaurant, The Rabbit Hole, which can be difficult to find as it’s subterranean, which we would go to for cocktails and dinner. Colorado Springs also has an amazing and interactive zoo, which is great for adults and kids alike. I especially love their penguin exhibit. Of course we’d have to visit Maroon Bells and Rocky Mountain National Park to see the wildlife, and if time permitted, we’d take the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to take a trip back in time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Growing up, I watched my mom deal with numerous hardships being a single mother. Her motto was always “If there’s a will, there’s a way.” Somehow, she always made life work for my brother and I, and supported us through our own hardships without judgement. When I started hiking solo she was concerned with my safety, and let me know how much it bothered her. She tempered this with her trust in my abilities, and is my biggest cheerleader. Her love and support means the world to me.

I’ve been a Girl Scout for over 35 years as both a scout and leader, and truly owe who I am as a person to this amazing organization. I developed my love for the outdoors through Girl Scouting, specifically at Girl Scout camp (which my mom always made possible for me to attend, even if she had to get a summer job or use her days off to volunteer with the camp).. Girl Scouting has come to mean more to me now than it did when I was a young girl. As an adult volunteer, Girl Scouting has taught me how to stay positive in a difficult situation, leadership during adversity, teamwork, business skills, survival skills, courage, confidence, and character.

Website: www.wildwanderertripreports.com

Instagram: @laura_m_clark

Youtube: @LeaderLaura

Image Credits
Laura M Clark