The North Face - Athletes

Heidi Wirtz

Ambush Basin, WY. Photo: Andrew McGarry

Bio:

Heidi’s love for adventure and exploration has been the driving force behind her climbing accomplishments. She enjoys all types of climbing, finding herself high on giant rock walls and frozen waterfalls throughout the world. She has been climbing in the U.S. as well as parts of Canada, Baja, Great Britain, South America, and India over the past twelve years and doesn’t plan to ease up on her globe-trotting any time soon, with plans to climb in Europe, Tazmania, and Greenland in the near future. While continually raising the bar for her personal performance and for women’s climbing in general, Heidi envisions a broader view for her role in the sport in the years ahead, hoping to do more work with people in need around the world and create opportunities to “give back, help and inspire.”

Birthdate:

1/8/1971

Nickname:

Heidi Almighty

Favorite Destination:

Patagonia or Thailand

Favorite The North Face Product:

The Red Point Hoodie. I always use this jacket. From around town to high up on a mountain, it is the perfect piece: lightweight, hooded synthetic jacket.

Proudest Moment:

Standing on the top of the S. Howser Minarette with Lizzy Scully after completing its first free ascent.

Cause(s):

International women's education, climbing access

Words To Live By:

You can never succeed if you don’t try.

Most Humbling Moment:

Walking the streets of New Delhi and bowing at the feet of yoga guruPatabi Jois.

Ambition:

Climb and surf in Australia.

Three Things People Should Know About Me

I have lots of energy, I love doing yoga and I need it, and surfing is my other passion.

Dream Vacation:

Surfing in Morocco with my mom, climbing in Majorca with my Monkey family.

Three Things I Always Pack:

Tea, my journal, too much.

Career Highlights:

"The Evictor," El Dorado Canyon, Boulder, CO (I 5.12+ R)
"Pufigu," new route in Kupol, Siberia (IV 5.11 A1)
"The Wasp," Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (5.13a, trad)
"Bad Hair Day" (FA/FFA of South Howser Minaret), Bugaboos, B.C., Canada (V 5.12-)
"Qui Lombo" (FA) on San Rafael in Patagonia, Argentina (IV 5.11+ A1)
"Sharp at Both Ends" (FA) on Chasm View in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (III 5.11+)
"Positron," Gogarth, North Wales (E5 6a)
"The Nose," El Capitan, Yosemite, CA; women’s speed record
"Lurking Fear," El Capitan, Yosemite, CA; one-day ascent
"Regular Route," Half Dome, Yosemite, CA; women’s speed record
"Stetners Ledges," (winter ascent) Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
"Bird Brain Boulevard," Ouray, CO (IV WI6 M5)
"Elingwood Arete," (winter ascent) Crestone Needle, CO
North Face of Hapless Peak, Alaska (IV AI4 M3)
"Ariana," Longs Peak, CO (IV 5.12a)
"Off the Road," Alaska Highway, BC (IV WI6-)
"Veterans with Vertigo," (second ascent) Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (IV 5.11++R)
"Gold Dog Special," (FFA team) Black Canyon of the Gunnison, CO (V 5.13a)
"The High Life," (third ascent) Yosemite, CA (IV 5.11+ R)
"Shiboomy," El Dorado Canyon, CO (II 5.12b)

Films/Media Hightlights:

Sports Illustrated, picture and gear article, March 2004
Climbing, a full-page picture and article, Zion National Park, Utah, February 2004
Climbing, Photo Edition 2004: full-page photo, Indian Creek, Utah
Los Angeles Times, article by Charles Duhigg with photo, November 11, 2003
www.planetfear.com: High Mountain Info report, July 2003
Gripped, December 2002
Rock and Ice, half-page table of contents photo, "Queens of the Road" by Lizzy Scully, feature and several pictures, July 2002
"Front Range Freaks," video by Peter Mortimer: featured climber
Alpinist No. 1: report
Alpinist No. 2: article by Lizzy Scully and photos
Alpinist No. 5: full-page photo, "Wasp"
She Sends No. 1: "Home Improvements," by Heidi Wirtz, with photos
She Sends No. 4: full-page picture
She Sends No. 5: "The Gentlemen's Club," by Heidi Wirtz
www.alpinist.com: "Climbing Notes" report
www.go-mountain.com: gomountain.procons.net report
www.ontheedge.com: On the Edge Report
www.chockstone.org: Chockstone review and photo