Kelsey Wellington

• Title: Contributing Writer
• Email:kelsey.wellington@gmail.com
• Location: Missoula, MT
• Social Media Links: LinkedIn, @kelswellington

Expertise

• Topics of Expertise: Rock climbing, alpine climbing, trail running, mountain biking, bikepacking, skiing (downhill, backcountry, Nordic), camping, backpacking, hiking, women’s-specific gear, dog mom-ing
• Years in This Expertise: 20+
• Number Of Products & Number Of Hours Expert Has Tested: 500+ product, 1000+ hours

Experience:

Originally from a small New York City-adjacent town, Kelsey was first exposed to the outdoors during family skiing and camping trips upstate. Her love for outdoor activities grew at the University of New Hampshire, where many of her classes took place outside and where she became a trip leader for the school’s Outdoor Club. Upon graduating, Kelsey worked as a wildlife field technician for five years, living in eight states and three countries in that time. This field time gave her intimate knowledge of a wide variety of outdoor equipment–if you really want to test a piece of gear, there’s no better trial than subjecting it to the whims and tribulations of fieldwork.

In 2016, Kelsey’s professional aspirations as a wildlife biologist took her to Montana, where she enrolled in graduate school at the University of Montana. While in school, she spent most of her free time climbing and running in the Bitterroot Mountains, finding her community among fellow mountain athletes and honing her skills. Eventually, she left her graduate program to work in outdoor education, moving to Jackson and working as a wildlife guide in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

Kelsey’s time in Jackson solidified her love of big mountain adventures, and she is now a self-described “typical mountain gal,” in love with climbing, trail running, mountain biking, skiing, and backpacking…and her dog, a husky mutt (fittingly) named Talus. Kelsey has scaled numerous peaks in the Teton and Wind River Ranges, the latter being her favorite spot for trad climbing, and has climbed all over Montana, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Multipitch climbing is the only time she is without Talus.

While working as a guide, she began to pursue her writing hobby more seriously, eventually earning her MFA in Creative Writing. Today, her writing focuses on her relationship to the outdoors, navigating injuries as a mountain athlete, adventuring with dogs, and carving out space as a woman in the outdoors.

In late 2022, Kelsey returned to her beloved Montana, where she writes and adventures full-time.

Career Highlights

• Leading every pitch on the East Ridge of Wolf’s Head, Wind River Range; trad, alpine, 5.6, 10 pitches
• Swinging leads on the South Buttress of Pingora, Wind River Range; trad, alpine, 5.8, 4 pitches
• Swinging leads on the Full Exum Ridge of the Grand Teton, Grand Teton National Park; trad, alpine, 5.7, 12 pitches
• Running the Teton Crest Trail in a day; 40 miles, 9,700 ft, 13 hours
• Backpacking the O-Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile (with Mom!); 74 miles, 8 days
• Competing in the Tushars Mountain Marathon; 26.2 miles, 7,500 ft, 8 hours

Education & Certifications

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology, University of New Hampshire (2013); Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Lindenwood University (2022)
• Years of Writing: 6
• Certifications: AIARE Level 1, AMGA Climbing Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, Certified Outdoor Guide (University of Wyoming)
• Club or Association Memberships: American Alpine Club
• Awards or Recognitions: First Place in Deep Wild Journal’s Graduate Student Essay Contest (2022), Women in the Tetons “Go Your Own Way” scholarship recipient (2023)
• Previous Publications: Writers on the Range, Adventure Journal, Mountain Journal, Deep Wild Journal, The Outdoor Journal, Trails Magazine

A Word From Kelsey Wellington

Spending time outside allowed me to shed my identity as a shy, fragile kid. The outdoors brought me out of my shell and introduced me to my strength, grit, and passion. In trying new and daunting sports like rock climbing and mountain biking, I learned how to be brave and how to trust myself, and I found an incredible and supportive community. Through my writing, I aim to help others connect with these lessons and find meaning in their own experiences.

I have also struggled through numerous injuries (11 broken bones and 4 surgeries) and have written at length about the grief that comes with being an injured mountain athlete. I, for one, have found great solace in reading about other athletes navigating grief and injury.

Lastly, I write about loss and finding healing in outside spaces. Above all, I write to find connection among others, inspire readers to push themselves beyond their comfort zones, and remind people that they are not alone in their grief.