The Daily - January 29, 2020 - 24

The Pulse

F U T U R E

E P I C
For rock climber Aaron
Mike, connecting with the
land has deeper meaning.

Climbing guide and advocate Aaron Mike
believes that outdoor recreation can be an
important economic driver for the Navajo
Nation-and he's caught the backcountry
skiing bug. By Doug Schnitzspahn
FOLLOW AARON MIKE ON SOCIAL

media and you see the usual
shots of outdoor glory-but
you also gain a deeper perspective on lands that most
climbers and skiers see only
as a playground. Mike is a
Diné (Navajo) rock climbing
athlete, guide, and advocate
based in Flagstaff, Arizona,
and his outdoor objectives
often celebrate indigenous

24

connection to the land. When
he climbs, he calls sacred
peaks by their native names.
The dormant stratovolcano
in northwest New Mexico
named for President Zachary Taylor in 1849, for one,
is "Tsoodził," meaning "blue
bead" or "turquoise mountain." As the native lands coordinator for the Access Fund
and a brand ambassador for

/ OUTDOOR + SNOW SHOW 2020

What big project are you
preparing for now?
The project that I am most
excited about is also the longterm goal of my advocacy

work-introducing sustainable
rock climbing practices to
the Navajo Nation. Although
it is a very internally complex
proposition, I believe that the
positive effects of rock climbing as a tourism driver and
social health stimulator can
be very lucrative.
What is the piece of gear that
you are most hoping to find
at the Outdoor + Snow Show?
I'm excited to see the selection
of ski boots and avy packs.
I've recently been on a mission
to develop [my] snow-travel
[skills] to combine with my
rock climbing skills in order to
move through big mountains
and objectives. This is my second season skiing, and I have
about a dozen double black
diamonds under my belt. And
I'm learning to travel in backcountry conditions.
Why is it important for you
to be at the Show?
I believe that indigenous representation is very important
at events like this. Conservation and preservation are
shared goals among every
group that calls the outdoors
home. Combining the traditional knowledge of the
original stewards of the land,
indigenous tribes, and public
land managers/stakeholders
is an obvious partnership that
must be further developed in
order to protect our lands for
future generations.

CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION ARE
SHARED GOALS AMONG EVERY GROUP THAT
CALLS THE OUTDOORS HOME.

G A B E E L L I S O N -S N OWC R O F T

Rock Solid

Native Outdoors, his work
includes combining traditional
indigenous knowledge with
best practices in rock climbing
to ensure sustainability and
promote access for indigenous youth.
In September, Mike lobbied
for public lands and climate
action as part of Climb the
Hill with the Access Fund and
the American Alpine Club.
"Regarding public lands,
tribes need to have a seat at
the planning table in matters
discussing public land management," he wrote in a statement on social media after
the event. "After all, the lands
upon which we all recreate
and thrive in the United States
were once home to tribes
and still remain sacred. An
opportunity to achieve this
goal is working with outdoor
industry groups with shared
visions to push for protection
of public and sacred lands.
This strategy is mutually
beneficial, naturally allied, and
effectively elevates the overlooked voice of tribes." Currently, Mike is working with
multiple tribal and outdoor
recreation organizations to
collaborate on inclusive and
climate sensitive public land
management plans.
The Daily - January 29, 2020

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