Jenny Abegg is a 40-year-old mountain athlete, writer, and business co-founder who has built her life around spending extended time in the mountains. (@jabegg)

Jenny describes how she went from a religious upbringing that emphasized self-denial and sacrifice to a life fully dedicated to climbing. She recalls the moment she left the church, the deep personal transformation that followed, and how moving into her van and chasing vertical adventure became her form of self-discovery.

We discuss her evolution from mountaineering, to climbing, to her current obsession: long, technical mountain linkups in running shoes, where she combines her climbing background with ultra-distance endurance. Jenny reflects on why she’s more anxious in eve ...