Emily Harrington

What is your guiding principle?

I try to not be afraid of fear and to embrace discomfort. Those “type 2 fun” experiences are where I feel most alive and learn most about what it is to be human. 

Why do you do what you do?

I am a professional rock climber but tend to branch out into all mountain activities: skiing, ski mountaineering, high altitude climbing, big wall climbing, trail running, etc. My passion is for movement in the mountains, and being the best athlete I can be in the vertical world. My favorite thing about what I do is the satisfaction and I joy I feel after having a huge day in the mountains. I love to confront fear, suffering, and failure. I find that those experiences make life feel fuller and more vivid. They teach me more about who I am and how to be better.