Jan Reynolds

Jan Reynolds is a climber, skier, Olympic athlete, author, and photojournalist known for high-altitude expeditions and adventure storytelling. Reynolds gained recognition for fast-and-light, record-setting climbs and ski descents in remote environments, contributing to the growth of backcountry skiing on edged cross-country skis. She was among the first athletes to secure corporate sponsorships in adventure sports, including as a professional skier and adventurer with The North Face.

Reynolds completed a National Geographic–sponsored climb and ski of Mustagata in Western China, where she set the world high-altitude skiing record for women and achieved the highest descent from a summit with her team. She participated in the first expedition to circumnavigate Mount Everest, living at elevations between 20,000 and 25,000 feet for four months in extreme temperatures. Reynolds also piloted a hot air balloon at 29,000 feet over Everest and led the first U.S. women's biathlon team. Her film "Flight of the Windhorse" received top honors at the Telluride Mountain Film Festival and Banff Film Festival.

Reynolds has been recognized by Esquire as Athlete of the Decade and featured in national media, including the Today show, Good Morning America, NPR, and the New York Times. As a journalist and photojournalist, Reynolds documented ski expeditions worldwide, including solo crossings in the Himalayas for National Geographic, and contributed to publications such as Ski, Powder, Outside, Backcountry, and Snow Country. Her expeditions helped establish professional opportunities for climbers and skiers in the United States. Reynolds is a member of the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame and the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

Reynolds chronicled her experiences in the book "The Glass Summit: One Woman's Epic Journey Breaking Through." She is also the author of the "Vanishing Cultures" children's book series, which has received Parent's Choice, Pick of the List, and Environmental Awards. Reynolds lived with and photographed indigenous cultures on each continent, gathering material for books about the Tibetans in the Himalaya, the Tuareg in the Sahara, the Inuit of the Arctic, the Yanomama of the Amazon, Aboriginals in Australia, the Saamis of northern Europe, and the Mongolians. She has written and photographed more than 20 books, primarily focused on documenting vanishing cultures.

Reynolds is a frequent speaker for audiences ranging from students to members of the Explorers Club and corporate organizations. Through her nonprofit, GOOD FUN-D, she continues to travel and write about indigenous cultures, engaging with educators and students through social media. Reynolds remains active in adventure, exploration, and cross-cultural education, contributing to the fields of outdoor sports, cultural documentation, and environmental awareness.