2017 Headline Presenters: Mark and Janelle Smiley

It is with great excitement that we announce this years headlining presenters: Sponsored athletes and guides Mark and Janelle Smiley!

Mark and Janelle are a husband and wife couple who for the past several years have been working on being the first couple to complete “50 Classic Climbs of North America”, a series of climbs made popular by the book of North America’s best climbs  by authors Allen Steck and Steve Roper.

This goal has taken Mark and Janelle throughout North America in pursuit of climbing these big objectives in a clean style. To date, Mark and Janelle have completed 48 of the 50 classic climbs! A very proud achievement and no small feat.

Both Mark and Janelle have been working in the outdoor industry and guiding/instructing for years; they have a strong passion for sharing their experiences with others. Mark is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and has worked throughout North America and organized and led several International Expeditions.

Janelle is a skier though a climber at heart and has found her niche in the Ski-Mountaineering realm competing and winning several national championships. Janelle has been guiding for many years and finds value in of sharing the sport with others as, “it is a beautiful sport that requires diligence, strength and grace. It reminds me what it feels like to be alive.” she says.

Both Mark and Janelle will be guest guiding Saturday and Sunday during the Smuggs Ice Bash in addition to their presentation on Saturday Night.

Make sure you plan to attend Saturday Nights evening festivities at The Barn at Smugglers’ Notch for their multi-media presentation about climbing some of the hardest of the 50 classics to date with what they have learned from their experience.

They will also be premiering their film about climbing and skiing Mt. St Elias  , one of the classic climbs and the second highest peak in both Canada and the United States.

Do you plan on attending? Purchase tickets in advance below, otherwise check-out one of our favorite films they put together from their climbing adventures; the Cassin Ridge on Denali! You can also check out all their other videos from their attempt at 50 Classic Climbs on their website here: Films of Mark and Janelle 

Want to keep the dream alive and help them with completing their goal? Check out some of the amazing photos and purchase one, or a dozen, to support the dream!

We hope to see you attend and are stoked to have this amazing couple as our Headlining Presenters this year!!!