Meet Anna Pfaff

But perhaps that’s one of the reasons why Anna Pfaff is so passionate about big adventures– she didn’t get to experience them until her mid-20s.

When she did, it was love at first sight. Upon moving to Colorado to complete her nursing degree at the University of Colorado Denver in the early 2000s, Anna was invited on a weekend trip to Indian Creek, UT. Which just happens to be one of the premier climbing zones in the world. A few days later, she bought a rack of camelots and her first pair of climbing shoes. And she hasn’t looked back since.

Since her intro to climbing in 2000, Pfaff has made her name through 20+ expeditions across the globe. From Pakistan and the Himalayas to Patagonia and Alaska, she finds her joy in remote areas, putting up formidable first ascents, and getting to know the people and cultures of the places she travels to. Whether it be a monthlong expedition in the Zanskar Range or a 20-hour day of climbing in freezing temperatures, Anna is no stranger to pushing through challenges.

In 2022, a life-changing frostbite injury during an expedition in Alaska caused Anna to lose six of her toes. Unable to walk after the surgery, she faced a choice: give up the things she loved most in life, or work harder than ever to recover, knowing things might never be the same.

She chose the latter and has since returned to put up a first ascent in the same range where her injury occurred. Now, in addition to continuing to push her limits on rock, snow, and ice, Anna speaks on the lessons she’s learned through the highs and lows of her climbing career.