Graham Zimmerman spends a lot of time on glaciers—climbing them, mapping routes through them and protecting them. Zimmerman, age 36, is an alpinist known for establishing dozens of new routes and first ascents up the world’s highest peaks, from Alaska to Patagonia and Pakistan.
Combining ice climbing, rock climbing and glacial traversing to reach remote mountain summits, alpinists climb lighter, faster and closer to the elements. Compared to traditional mountaineering, an alpinist carries minimal gear and pushes to the summit in days rather than weeks. The planning is intense, the weather unpredictable, and the risks significant. For Zimmerman, there’s no better way to experience the majesty of the mountains.
When he moved to Bend in 2015, the outdoor access and community made it the perfect basecamp for Zimmerman and his wife, Shannon McDowell. He describes McDowell as his best partner, coach, motivator, and the reason he’s determined to return home safely from every climb. “There’s a harmony between my climbing, marriage and creative work. When I get better at one part, it all grows stronger,” he said. That harmony has driven his growth as an alpinist, filmmaker, climate advocate and author.
Searching for Balance
As Zimmerman explains in his new memoir titled A Fine Line: Searching for Balance Among Mountains, climbing brings him freedom and challenge unlike anything else in his life. “It’s more than a checklist of ascents and summits. Climbing has become my life’s work, with a deeper purpose. I’ve learned to take on big, audacious challenges and problem-solve strategically,” said Zimmerman. Along the way, he has developed close friendships with mentors and climbing partners. Many of those climbers lost their lives in the mountains they loved, and Zimmerman feels driven to keep their legacy alive.
In A Fine Line, Zimmerman honors these friends by sharing their stories, personalities and achievements, and weaving the wisdom of his mentors through his own lessons learned. These lessons range from managing fear—a critical part of alpining—to cultivating trust between partners, and leveraging his platform for good.
Witnessing Glacial Change
As his alpine expeditions grew more complex, Zimmerman witnessed measurable changes in the size and quality of glacial fields. His filmmaking allows viewers to experience these extreme environments with him, and witness the impact of a warming climate on both the landscape and the local people. To expand the scope of this work, he joined forces with Protect Our Winters (POW), a nonprofit organization working to influence climate policy and nudge society closer to carbon neutrality. “I’m an imperfect advocate—I’ve struggled with the fact that travel increases my own carbon footprint. But through climbing I can show what’s actually happening, and I can speak for those who don’t have a voice or a vote,” said Zimmerman.
First Ascent
In 2019, Zimmerman was part of the four-climber team that completed the first ascent of Link Sar, a 7041-meter mountain in the Karakoram range of Pakistan. For that achievement, the team was awarded the Piolet d’Or, the highest award given in the climbing world. His film Link Sar: The Last Great Unclimbed Mountain captures the challenges of that ascent–and the staggering beauty of a landscape at risk.
The Greater Goal
Zimmerman’s next climb targets a remote Alaskan range, but this year’s priorities will keep him closer to home. “POW has created a massive engine for building coalitions to work directly with policymakers; continuing that work is my top concern. 2024 is a critical year for keeping the momentum going.”
Despite the overwhelming nature of the problem, Zimmerman remains positive about turning the tide of climate change. “I have a lot of hope that we can fix this,” he said, “but it will take gumption and innovation. Anyone who spends time outdoors has a story, and stories are potent tools for driving positive change. Everyone can play a role in this conversation.” Learn more at grahamzimmerman.com.
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