Shining Mountains | Q & A
Athletes Mike Foote and Jenn Lichter answer questions about their expedition to document Glacier National Park's lesser-known glaciers and share a place they love.
Can you introduce yourself?
Mike Foote: I’m a runner, skier, dad, husband, business owner, climate advocate, event organizer, conservationist, and generally over-committed human being living in Missoula, Montana. I grew up in Ohio but fell in love with the mountains of Western Montana and specifically the area around Glacier National Park, known as the Crown of the Continent.
Jenn Lichter: I’m a professional trail runner for The North Face. I love coffee, naps and long days out in the mountains!
What was your favorite moment of the trip?
MF: Just beginning this trip was arguably my favorite part. I’ve been wanting to do this for many years and the planning, permitting, logistics and scheduling made it feel like it may never happen. When the pieces finally fell into place, I was so eager to begin.
JL: I don’t have a specific favorite moment of the trip. Every day I felt so grateful to be out in the mountains learning, appreciating, and connecting to the landscape on a deeper level.
What was your lowest point on the trip and how did you stay motivated through that?
MF: Realizing that we would have to abandon our original itinerary and visit fewer glaciers was mentally tough. Due to the weather and Jenn’s knee pain, we were forced to adjust on the fly. While it was hard to let go of certain expectations, the silver lining was that it allowed us to be fully present with the glaciers we were able to visit.
JL: My lowest point on the trip was probably when my knee began hurting on the 3rd day. I realized that this trip meant more to me that I wanted to admit.
What were the conditions like?
MF: We had rain, snow, sleet, heat, cold, wind, calm, and more. Each day was dynamic and the terrain we covered was the same. We were constantly navigating steep snow, rock, and sometimes ice to get to a spot for a photo or to access the glacier to collect water samples.
JL: It ranged from sunny, to cloudy, to straight-up rain for three days. Glacier (National Park) was getting ready for winter, so the weather was kind of unpredictable! As far as terrain, it was definitely technical when we weren’t on designated trails. The off-trail travel was slow with lots of side-hilling. Sometimes we hit snow which made it sketchier and the days longer. We had to be especially careful when planning our route so that we all ended up safe.
Can you talk about the importance of having each other on this trip?
MF: Jenn brought a lightheartedness and goofiness to the journey that was much appreciated. More than anything, all three of us (including photographer Steven Gnam) have a deep connection to the place and came of age in these mountains. That mutual reverence and respect for the land was the connecting thread for us all.
JL: This was the first off-trail, route-finding-sort-of-trip that I’d ever done, so having experts like Mike and (photographer) Steven (Gnam) was really important for me. Their guidance helped me tremendously... especially through the toughest terrain.
What would you want people to take away from this content you created with The North Face?
MF: I want people to care. I want people to follow their curiosity. I want people to dig deeper into the stories of the places they love. I want their hope to turn into action. I want this story to empower others to effect change in a positive way.
JL: I think sometimes we forget the beauty of a place, thinking it will be there forever. I want people to realize the sacredness of being out in nature. I do believe we become a better version of ourselves through being outside and learning from what is around us. There is so much beauty in simplicity, and nothing is simpler that being a small human out in nature, existing.