What motivated you to pursue so many first descents?

My career has been driven by an interest in exploration on skis, and sometimes without, to less-traveled parts of mountain ranges and mountain cultures across the globe. I never searched for records but rather looked for what had not been done to experience the thrill of discovery and the mastery of the unknown. And I didn't always succeed in the traditional sense of achieving a summit, but instead by being rewarded with a rich and full experience of an untrampled wilderness with little to no human presence.

How has it been bringing your family along on adventures? And has that changed the way you approach outdoor pursuits?

Once I had a child, my perspective changed and my focus shifted. Climbing and skiing mountains can be inherently selfish at times and, for me, it has been important to share this path as the next evolution of my career. I love spending time with my husband and daughter in the backcountry and doing fun outdoor pursuits together. While I still love some of the more exciting objectives, I have tempered the need to continually be on the front lines with greater risk—my family is more important to me than any summit or route.

What do you love about ski guiding?

It has been a gift to share what I've learned so that others can see the views from the tops of mountains and feel the sense of accomplishment from getting there on their own two feet. It is incredibly meaningful to share what I love with my clients and see them experience the same joy that I have found through human-powered travel in the backcountry.