Kit DesLauriers in Ski Hall of Fame
“When Kit DesLauriers successfully skied from the summit of 29,035-ft. Mt. Everest on Oct. 18, 2006, she became the first person to ski from the summit of the highest peak on each continent, aka the Seven Summits. She has the distinction of being the first person to make a ski descent of the Polish Glacier on Aconcagua and the first female to make a complete ski descent of Vinson Massif in Antarctica. The skiing exploits of the unassuming resident of Teton Village, Wyoming, include winning the Women’s 2004 and 2005 U.S. Freeskiing World Tour Title and 2005 U.S. Freeskiing Nationals. Off the skis, the multi-dimensional DesLauriers is a member of The North Face Global Athlete Team, a mountain climber, an accomplished stonemason and the mother of two daughters.
for the
w w w. j h s k i e r. n e t
In 2010 she journeyed to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and made a first ski descent of the highest mountain in the Brooks Range of Alaska. A ski mountaineer extraordinaire, DesLauriers knows about achievements.” Of the recognition, DesLauriers stated, “I have always loved to be outside in the natural world. Moving through it on skis is simply my medium for experiencing life. I first met my husband, Rob, on a ski expedition to Siberia in 1999. When I moved to Jackson to be with him and first saw the Grand Teton in winter, I knew I wanted to feel what it was like to be up there experiencing it on skis. The same desire to see the rest of the world was the largest draw for me to complete my project to ski the Seven Summits. Now, the honor of being inducted into the Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame makes me feel such gratitude for the kind words and efforts of those who made it happen. In my heart, I know I never pursued any of my ski accomplishments for anything other than the personal experience of it.” — Jackson Hole Skier
Kit DesLauriers skis Mount Everest.
Ski Guides Photo: Greg Collins
Jimmy Chin photos
Teton Village resident Kit DesLauriers was inducted into the International Ski Hall of Fame on September 22, 2011, in Park City, Utah. As reported by Brandon Zimmerman in the Jackson Hole News and Guide, DesLauriers is the sixth person with Jackson Hole ties to be inducted into the Hall. The others are Neil Rafferty, Paul McCollister, Bill Briggs, Pepi Stiegler, and Pete Karns. DesLauriers was nominated three years ago by Jim Sullivan, longtime Snow King ski area manager. Sullivan had read a story about her achievements in the 2007-08 winter edition of Jackson Hole Magazine. Having learned of her accomplishments, Sullivan nominated DesLauriers for the Intermountain Hall of Fame, and was determined to see it through, Zimmerman reported. After three years of lobbying by Sullivan, DesLauriers was finally selected, one of four nominees who were pulled this year from a field of 35. The plaque honoring DesLauriers in the Will and Jean Pickett Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame at the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Utah Olympic Park, reads:
Backcountry Experience
Avalanche Education Ski Mountaineering Backcountry Skiing Ice Climbing
www.jhmg.com 800-239-7642 307-733-4979
Jackson Hole Mountain Guides & Climbing School
JHMG is an authorized concessioner of Grand Teton National Park and is permitted by the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests.
2 0 1 2 J AC KS O N H O L E S K I E R
65