Thomas Bukowski

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA


“I’ve always been curious about what I’ll see from the top.”


All Thomas could see from his childhood bedroom in Hong Kong were the rooms of other apartments. Longing for more expansive views, Bukowski moved to Norway where he attended high school and where a professor taught him to scale rocks to gain a new view. This simple idea had a huge impact on Thomas, who continued to seek new views when he moved to the U.S., first to New Hampshire and then San Francisco. He was fascinated by climbing, but before he could even think about placing a cam on a big wall, he had to negotiate other obstacles like learning how to drive and camp.


Climbing is a dynamic sport—the weather, the pitch, and the holds all vary. Half-German, half-Chinese, non-binary, BIPOC, gay, immigrant—the diversity of Thomas’s lived experience matches the terrain he climbs. From sitting on a frozen ledge in Patagonia, to a multi-day running adventure through the high Sierra, to hosting an LGBTQ+ trad climbing course—Thomas embraces a broader vision of what a climber can be.


With two hundred miles of running behind him on the fabled John Muir Trail, Thomas fell into a state of complete euphoria and wonder. He was nearing the finish of a journey that typically takes three weeks. For Thomas, it would only take four and a half days. Overwhelmed by the beauty of the trails and his place in the world, Thomas felt a deep gratitude for what he could achieve by putting one foot (or one hand) in front of the other. Running a bit farther. Climbing a bit higher. His relentless drive to keep moving forward in all aspects of his life has resulted in a long list of classic climbs, first ascents, and a growing impact on the climbing community.


Career Highlights:

  • El Corazón, 6c/7b A3 M, Cerro Chaltén/Fitz Roy, Argentina (2023)
  • Eslovaca, 6c, Cerro Chaltén/Fitz Roy, Argentina (2024)
  • First Ascent of Journey through the Castle of Providence, V M5 AI4 5.10, Mt. Providence, Alaska Range (2024)
  • First Ascent (with three others) of Stop Talking, IV 5.12, Naisa Brakk, Charakusa Valley, Pakistani Karakoram (2023)
  • Yosemite Double Link-Up-Enchainment of The Nose on El Cap, 5.9 C2 VI, 31 pitches and the Regular NW Face Half Dome, 5.9 C1 VI, 23 pitches (2022)
  • John Muir Trail Run, 211miles/47,000 ft elevation change, 4.5 days (2024)
  • Co-author on a comprehensive climbing guide to Tuolumne Meadows, CA


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