Big Wall Climbing and Ultrarunning with Thomas Bukowski

About this episode

Thomas Bukowski shares his journey as a queer athlete in climbing and ultrarunning, discussing his experiences and challenges.

In 2022, Thomas Bukowski took a risk that felt personal and professional by applying to The North Face athlete development program and pitching himself as a climber worth betting on. As a queer athlete from Hong Kong who found climbing later than most, he has long carried the feeling of being an outsider, then watched that narrative shift when he earned a place on The North Face climbing team. Since then, he has chased fear into major climbs in Argentina, Alaska, and Pakistan, and in 2024 he pushed into trail running by running the 211 mile John Muir Trail in four days.

People in this episode

Guest: Thomas Bukowski

Topics covered

• climbing
• ultrarunning
• queer athletes
• personal growth
• adventure sports

Keywords

• climbing
• ultrarunning
• queer athlete
• The North Face
• John Muir Trail
• adventure
• personal story

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The North Face

Places: Hong Kong, Argentina, Alaska, Pakistan

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