Janelle Smiley
JANELLE SMILEY is a mountaineering guide with Salt Mountaineering, a company she started with her husband, Mark, in Crested Butte, Colorado. A 5.11 traditional multi-pitch lead climber, Janelle has been all over the world guiding, exploring, climbing and skiing.
Janelle and Mark are about to begin an endeavor to climb more than 164,000 vertical feet on a road trip that will cover over 20,000 miles. The feat: to be the first people ever to climb all fifty of the climbs in the 1979 book, Fifty Classic Climbs Of North America. The two will set out with a film crew in April 2010 to capture high-definition footage of the climbing and the back-story of the experience behind each climb for a public television miniseries and the internet.
Janelle came to her current love for mountaineering and climbing through an athletic youth. Growing up with her brothers, her mother would constantly challenge them to see how fast they could complete a task (like picking up the toys or bringing in the groceries) and she encouraged them to see life as an adventure. Janelle has maintained this spirit in everything she’s done, including crew and Nordic skiing in college.
Her true love, however, is climbing because “it is a beautiful sport that requires diligence, strength and grace. It reminds me what it feels like to be alive.” She finds a clarity and calmness of mind with each gear placement and each move, forcing her to be the best she can be. Climbing has brought her to the belief that the only true competition any of us has is with ourselves.
JANELLE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Montana Grizzly Marathon – 3rd woman overall
- Randonee racing overall winner for the woman’s telemark division COSMIC Series
- Elk Mountain Grand Traverse (40 mile extreme backcountry Nordic race from Crested Butte to Aspen, Colorado) – 2nd woman
- Notable ascents: Cloud Tower (7-pitch 5.11d) in Red Rocks, NV; The Diamond (9-pitch 5.10) in Longs Peak, CO; Scenic Cruise (13-pitch 5.10+) in Black Canyon, CO.
2010 GOALS:
- Be the first ever to climb all fifty routes in the 1979 book, Fifty Classic Climbs Of North America — that’s 50 goals in one!
FAVORITE SPOT ON EARTH: The top of Half Dome in Yosemite
BEST THING SHE’S EVER SEEN FROM THE TOP: An engagement ring. Her husband asked her to marry him from the top of a rock spire 1100 feet off the ground.
PERSONAL MANTRA: Life is a gift.
WEBSITES:
What a challenge!! We want you to know we’ll be praying for you during the entire trip.
God bless you guys! Love Howard and Marnie
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Janelle is not only one of the most amazing women athletes I have ever met, but she is is also one of the most inspiring and humble! I know you guys will be so successful! Can’t wait to see where the winds take you!
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What an inspiration Janelle! I’m 42 and have recently discovered my love of hiking and am preparing for my first Half Dome (Janelle’s fav spot on earth!) experience this summer.
Thanks for sharing and can’t wait for your miniseries!
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Watching this video was a-m-a-z-i-n-g, really! Both Janelle and her husband made their climb look effortless amidst the challenge and adventure of it all. It got me thinking: wanting to train my body for an expedition in the near future…hmmm. I’ll be looking for the miniseries too. :) Way to go!! Very inspirational and thank you both.
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Is that Amy Ostergaard comment from my friend Amy from SW High in Minneapolis? The age is right – no one seems to know where you are, so if this is you, please say hello, it would be nice to say hello again after all these years!
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