Choose Outdoors Org
- Connecting Americans to Public Land through Outdoor Recreation
Flashback Friday: The Climb
The familiar sound of the Skype ringtone fills the stillness of the room; a far cry from the sounds of the outdoors that permeates my memory. I click the green answer icon at the bottom of the screen. The screen flickers and eventually lights up. On the other side of the screen are two smiling faces: Connie Self and Jeff Lowe. They introduce themselves, but they don’t need to; I know them as leaders of the outdoor industry, climbers, and pioneers of the field. I gather my notebook – nervous – and let my eyes fall to the first question: What is your earliest memory of the outdoors?
Most people can remember little moments that changed them. Experiences that left them changed, and different from before. It’s easy to look back at these moments and recognize them as defining points of our lives, the moment that helps realize who we are. For Connie and Jeff, these moments both took place in the outdoors.
The pair, who now reside in Lafayette, Colorado, are a wonderful team. They balance each other effortlessly and it is impossible not to catch the spirit of adventure that they embody within their stories. Limited now by a rare illness which debilitates his ability to talk and confines him to a wheelchair, Jeff demonstrates his love for the outdoors by the beautiful stories he shares with Connie’s assistance.
The power duo does not let the day-to-day struggles and Jeff’s physical restrictions rain on their parade, and have made time to produce a movie recounting the trials and triumphs of Jeff’s climbing days and the current challenges of his life. The award winning documentary film, Jeff Lowe’s Metanoia, is narrated by New York Times best selling author Jon Krakauer. Krakauer recounts Jeff’s solo winter climb up the Eiger’s north face and Jeff’s grace filled dance of life in a wheelchair. The film has been widely successful within the outdoor community and far beyond, winning 17 major awards at Film Festivals around the world. Connie displays her attitude best with a mantra she revisits daily, “Do the best you can, with what you’ve got, from where you are, right now.”
Early Beginnings
Connie explains early memories of weekend camping trips, followed by afternoons spent outside traversing the woods near her house. She is a gifted storyteller and captures the attention of all around. With genuine enthusiasm, she tells me stories of her earliest memories: Her father building a homemade canoe transporter made out of a wagon and her mother facing a bear head-on in a Minnesota campground. The independence and bravery that the outdoors helped instill at a young age helped cultivate values and a lifestyle that continued on as Connie grew from a child to a young adult.
For Jeff, it was those early memories of hiking up into the mountains near his house in Ogden, Utah, and learning climbing techniques from his father, Ralph Lowe, a seasoned climber himself and one of Jeff’s most influential mentors. The Lowe family also had a soft spot for animals and some of Jeff’s childhood pets included a bear named Bruno and a pair of wolves.
At just seven years old, Jeff was the youngest person to reach the top of Grand Teton with his Dad and brother Greg. On the descent, Jeff fell and bumped his head on a rock. His father helped him right away, but by the time the group made it back to the trailhead, Jeff had lost interest in climbing. He spent the next two years making excuses and finding ways to avoid climbing trips. “It wasn’t until his desire to go climbing overcame his fear of the challenge,” said Connie. After two years out of the sport Jeff was ready to jump back in.
No stranger to challenge, Jeff sought out beautiful unclimbed rock and ice faces, mountaintops, trails and adventures, completely unfathomable. Purely for love of the sport, Jeff watched professional climbers and studied techniques. In the summer of 1964, Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, taught a climbing clinic in Ogden, UT. Shortly after the lesson, Jeff followed Chouinard in hopes of watching the pro in action, but got to climb with him as well. Jeff went on to become and expert himself, doing first ascents all over the world, many which have still never been repeated. He designed clothing and equipment, brought the first climbing competitions to the USA from Europe and created special events such as the very successful Ouray Ice Festival.
After working for Outward Bound in her early twenties, Connie knew there was something about the industry that truly meant something to her. “The kids we brought out from the California Coast always went home changed after a week on an Outward Bound type course. For most, it was the first time they had been completely self-sufficient. You could tell in their smiles that after a week in the woods, they were proud of themselves,” said Connie.
As one of the founding members of the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America (ORCA), now known as the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Vice President of Adventure 16 Outdoor and Travel Outfitters, Connie knew that she the industry needed to come together with a big goal of engaging more youth to join initiatives in the outdoors and environmental conservation. “For us, the biggest thing we wanted to do was bring the outdoor industry to more mainstream customers. To make the outdoors more accessible to more people. We wanted to encourage more people to simply get outside,” explained Connie. “It’s not always about pushing yourself to extreme limits, but instead learning to find joy in the process.”
Change
As members of the outdoor industry for nearly 40 years now, the two have seen significant changes within the community. “When we started in the outdoor world, there were not many retailers or suppliers run by experienced businessmen or women,” explained Connie. “Most of the retailers and suppliers were climbers, hikers, and backpackers themselves.” Connie shares a memory of when she found companies that started making athletic clothing for women. “Finally! Something that will actually fit me!” she shared. Businesses started growing in the outdoor industry and professionals from the corporate world began to migrate to the outdoor world, and began implementing business practices. “Everyone got better at the business side of our passion for the outdoors.”
One of the questions Connie’s team at ORCA sought to answer was, “How do we make the industry more mainstream? How do we get more young people involved?” Today, climbing gyms and hybrid gear have helped people from all walks of life and areas to engage in traditional outdoor sport practices. Continued improvements in gear and breathable fabric for athletes have attracted many new people to the outdoor realm. “The exciting thing is seeing the innovation and progress that has been made,” said Connie.
Today, women are more involved than ever before. “There weren’t many women mentors for me growing up in the industry,” explained Connie. “Men used to come into our shop and ask for a man to help him. I often explained that I was one of the most experienced climbers on staff and often the only one that had been to the Himalaya. I would help him myself and I could usually win them over, but it was an issue for many years. Today women have proven themselves many times over, and everyone now knows what women are capable of,” said Connie. “It is wonderful to see so many young women involved as leaders of the outdoor industry today.”
Advice from the experts
As a visionary climber, designer, and innovator, Jeff has inspired so many around the world with his past endeavors. From his early beginnings of climbing the Grand Teton, to his 1991 solo climb of the Eiger’s north face. Today Jeff inspires many more as he constantly adapts to his ever-changing physical challenges (tracheostomy, feeding tube, no longer able to speak or walk). He calls it “Embracing reality” or staying in the present moment - keeping his mind open to new possibilities and consequently Jeff still does things that others say is impossible. On a clipboard next to the desk Jeff has written a couple of notes that Connie reads aloud “You can live your life based in fear, or live your life based in love. Love makes all the difference.” He goes on to say “Don’t climb for money or fame. Love yourself, your tribe, humanity, and the planet. And be respectful of all of those things.” A look is exchanged from Jeff and Connie and the obvious respect for one another and the outdoors is clear. “Jeff wasn’t motivated by money, wasn’t motivated by fame. He did it because he loved it. By doing what he loved, he was able to encourage and motivate so many people.”
Both Connie and Jeff agree that a climber or athlete should never put themselves at risk for fame. “If I could tell a young climber or outdoor enthusiast one thing, it would be to simply enjoy the sport. Don’t do it for money, don’t do it for sponsorships, do it for you.”
It’s a few days after talking with Jeff and Connie that I am at a climbing wall with my sister. My hands have been chalk and blister free for a few years now, but I’m excited to be back. I’m not here for the sport. I’m not here for to prove anything to anyone. I’m here to get back to the place that I love.
A rhythm of words voiced by Connie are stuck in my head and I look up at the pattern of rocks on the wall.
“Do the best you can, with what you’ve got, from where you are, right now.” My left hand reaches for the next groove on the wall, and onward and upward I go.
Quotes:
“There is no success without failure” –Jeff Lowe
“The impossible is only that which has not yet been done” Jeff Lowe
“You do the best you can, with what you have, from where you are right now” – Connie Self
“Talent, combined with passion will change our world” – Connie Self
“If you want to do something, but you are afraid, eventually your desire will overcome your fear.” Connie Self
“Prepare, and envision yourself on the climb or in life.” – Jeff Lowe
“If I could tell a young climber or outdoor enthusiast one thing, it would be to simply enjoy the sport. Don’t do it for money, don’t do it for sponsorships, do it for you.” – Connie Self
To learn more please visit www. JeffLoweClimber.com – the film is currently on tour around the world. Contact Connie to make sure it comes to your community, business, club or organization. Proceeds support Jeff’s 24/7 home care needs.
