Enormocast 267: Michael Gardner – Beyond the Legacy

Photos: Alex Schofield, Drew Smith, and Sam Hennessy 











On the Episode 267 of the Enormocast, I sit down with alpinist and Exum guide, Mike Gardner. Mike was born to the mountains and a life in guiding with early summers in the Tetons and tagging along on expeditions with his father, George Gardner. But when George was killed in a climbing accident when Mike was 16 years old, Mike’s view of climbing was decidedly shattered. He found therapy in free-skiing for some time and being a “lawless” teenager, but he finally returned to climbing and guiding with encouragement from the wise guides of Exum. In the last few years, Mike and a crew of like-minded and young Alaska climbers have been getting serious about fast and light approaches to big objectives. With a comradery based on joy and having “fun”, they have been blazing up routes like the Slovak Direct in Denali in record times and ideal style.







Mike on Instagram







Up Close: Mike Gardner