Navajo Solar Sunrise is a story of Indigenous-led climate solutions, energy sovereignty, and the power of community.
Directed by Navajo and Hopi filmmaker Angelo Baca and produced with Emmy-winner Sahar Khadjenoury (@saharspice ), the film follows the delivery of solar kits to Navajo families living without reliable electricity. For both, this story is personal, grounded in lived experience, cultural knowledge, and deep community ties.
This film goes beyond renewable energy. It’s about trust, accountability, and reclaiming the right to light, warmth, and autonomy in the face of climate injustice and extractive industries. “We weren’t trying to do an altruistic, feel-good action or make a movie for ourselves,” says Angelo. “We’re invested in this community. We wanted to tell a story that honored the people who live this reality every day.”
📽️ Watch the film + read our blog interview with Angelo, Sahar, and Kitty at the link in bio.
This project was supported through a POW Advocacy & Adventure Alliance Grant, awarded to POW Alliance Member Kitty Calhoun (@captaincalhoun ).
#protectourwinters
Fulfilling my Christmas gift coupon to run the Thelma and Louise 15k race with my son, Grady.
My strategy for my first race in decades? Start at the back of the pack so then you get to pass people instead of being passed. 😉 And of course, wear SCARPA running shoes and CORE shorts. 🙌
Once again, one of the highlights of my winter is working with Paradox Sports, an adaptive climbing organization. On this trip, I spent a bit of time assisting Norah. She is a 73-year-old medical anthropologist with a focus on child health and chronic disease prevention, particularly in underserved communities in Mexico, drawing on her own experiences with fibromyalgia. As I start to mention that she is an inspiration, I laugh. When I interviewed Paradox climbers years ago, and wrote a story for Patagonia (link in bio), I asked about being an inspiration. Jessica, whose right leg had to be amputated at 4 months old, replied, “I hear that I’m an inspiration quite a bit. It doesn’t mean anything unless it causes you to get off the couch and do something.”
I’m stoked to teach an intro to drytooling clinic for women at the Ouray Ice(less) Fest on Jan. 24!
🧗♀️ Why all-women’s? Research has shown that women learn better in all-women environments because they are less intimidated to ask questions (and that’s how you learn).
🧗♀️Why dry-tooling? Because the skills transfer to rock and ice. A primary skill you bring from drytooling to other forms of climbing is precision. Skills you bring from rock and ice to drytooling are: turning sideways to bring your hips close to the wall and for reach, watching your foot go on the foothold before moving your eyes up to the next hand hold, and relaxing your grip and engaging stronger back, core, and glutes.
Learn more and sign up to join me at ourayicepark.com.
Since 2003, the Golden Pitons have honored bold, technical, and iconic ascents from the most legendary climbers of their generation.
From recognizing the hardest big wall free ascent (The Dawn Wall) to the world’s first V17 (Burden of Dreams), the Golden Pitons are a tradition that elevate climbing performances for their notable style, remarkable difficulty, and lasting impact.
This year, we’ve invited five legendary judges to choose the 2026 Golden Piton winners.
Tap the link in bio to see this year’s judging panel and submit your nominations, or comment “piton” and we’ll send you the link.
I received one of the funniest and most meaningful Christmas gifts this year. My son and daughter-in-law gave me a coupon. Not for a message. Not for a nice restaurant. But for a running race. My son says he will run with me - probably a half marathon this spring. Funny because I had no intentions of entering a race. Thoughtful because they know it will be an experience I will remember. I guess I’ll start training tomorrow. 😊
I was inspired this fall at Indian Creek while climbing with some old friends - Felipe, Suzanne Lourie, and Hilary Lewkowitz as well as some new ones - Alan Winterz, Peggy Oki, and Clay. I’m looking forward to setting new goals next season. 😊
In this clip from the Ageless Athlete Podcast, alpinist Kitty Calhoun reflects on the strange passage of time — how our bodies change even when our spirit doesn’t.
She talks about running with her son, staying consistent, and how gratitude — not perfection — keeps her moving.
🎧 Full episode: Seven Years in a Subaru — From the Deep South to Himalayan Summits
👉 Themes:
Aging with awareness
Movement as gratitude
Longevity through discipline and routine
Mindset shifts for lifelong athletes
What does freedom really look like?
For mountaineer Kitty Calhoun, it meant stripping life down to the essentials — sleeping in a Subaru, living on $3,000 a year, and spending $14 a week on food so she could chase alpine dreams across the West.
In this clip from the Ageless Athlete Podcast, Kitty shares how simplicity became her greatest teacher: how living with less sharpened her focus, built her resilience, and kept her passion alive for decades.
🎧 Full episode: Seven Years in a Subaru — From the Deep South to Himalayan Summits
NEW PODCAST!
Seven years in a Subaru.
Eight days trapped in a Himalayan storm.
And still climbing strong decades later.
Kitty Calhoun’s life is a masterclass in focus, discipline, and the power of simplicity.
She grew up in the Deep South, where women weren’t supposed to chase summits — yet she became the first North American woman to climb Dhaulagiri, and the first woman to scale Makalu’s West Pillar.
Decades later, she’s still redefining what longevity looks like — not through denial or ego, but through deep awareness, grit, and gratitude.
We talked about storms, survival, mentorship, and what it means to keep your fire alive when the world expects you to slow down.
🎧 Episode out now on the Ageless Athlete Podcast
Pic 1: Jay Smith, Pic 2: Chris Noble, Pic 3: Andy Selters, Pic 4: Jay Smith
🙌 Kitty thanks @Patagonia , @scarpana , @pmirope Ropes, @protectourwinters , and @lionenergy — brands that share her commitment to purpose and the planet.
#AgelessAthlete #Longevity #ClimbingLife #Patagonia #Scarpa #PMIRopes #ProtectOurWinters #LionEnergy #WomenWhoClimb #Himalayas #Minimalism #Mindset #ClimbingPodcast #OutdoorAthletes #agingboldly
Today is National Public Lands Day. It’s a great opportunity to recognize the cultural, ecological, recreational, and economic value these landscapes provide, and to rally around efforts to protect them at a time when they are increasingly under threat. Approximately 92% of voters agree that public lands should be preserved for public benefit rather than private exploitation. Head over to Patagonia Action Works to see how you can get involved in protecting our lands and waters: pat.ag/npld/.
One of my favorite public lands areas to rock climb is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. In 2008, KimCzismazia, Julie Faure, and I climbed the Hallucinogen, 5.10 A3R (or 5.13+R). That was before Madeline Sorkin replaced the dangerous and damaged hardware (in 2022). It would’ve been nice if this was done before our ascent, but that is a story for another time...
#NationalPublicLandsDay #NPLD
📸: Jay Smith
