Kelly Halpin on the Get Stoked Girls Podcast
- Rhianna Walzer
- Oct 1
- 14 min read
A conversation about artful movement—blending artistry, adventure, and deep connection to nature while pursuing some of the most demanding mountain routes.
Meet Kelly Halpin—professional illustrator, mountain runner for Black Diamond and La Sportiva, and passionate Nature Nerd.
We met in Jackson, Wyoming, Kelly’s hometown, with the Tetons towering behind us. Kelly reflects on how growing up in the mountains shaped her approach to movement, training, and mindset. She shares insights on style, solo unsupported adventures, and execution, walking us through her experiences on the Wind River High Route, the Barkley Marathons, and most recently, the Big Belly Traverse, a route she envisioned in the Gros Ventre Range and completed after years of planning and multiple attempts.
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Growing Up in the Mountains
Rhi: How did growing up in Jackson, Wyoming shape you as an athlete and a person?
Kelly: I’ve always loved the outdoors. My sister and I would be outside from sunrise until the stars were out. I grew up very comfortable being outdoors alone, riding my horse through the Gros Ventre Range, starting fires, navigating, and learning the local plants and animals. That early experience made solo, unsupported adventures in the mountains feel natural. I never feel truly alone out there.
Playing in the forests and mountains of Jackson alone as a young kid deeply shaped how I move and explore today.
Rhi: Did your family teach you the backcountry skills you use today, or did you learn them through your own exploration as a kid, or a bit of both?
Kelly: Some of it came from my family, but mostly it was self-discovery. I spent most of my time on my horse or on foot, just exploring. Even as a kid, I was drawn to survival skills. My parents let me carry a pocket knife, which I don’t think many kids would have today. It felt empowering to carve marshmallow sticks or start a campfire on my own. I learned a lot simply from spending so much time outside by myself.
Rhi: Was there a first adventure or objective that felt like a turning point for you, where you realized, ‘This is what I’m meant to do’ or ‘This is what I’m good at’?
Kelly: My friend David Gonzalez started the Grand Teton Picnic, a classic mountain triathlon where you bike from the town square to Jenny Lake, swim across, climb the Grand, and then reverse it all. I was invited to join the first group, but at the time I thought, ‘No way, I’m not swimming.’ Over the winter, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I just had to do it, so I asked my good friend Tristan Gresko if he wanted to try an unsupported version, which hadn’t been done yet.
We went slow, dragging our gear across the lake and figuring it out as we went, but completing the whole thing unsupported was incredible fun. Before that, I’d never done anything over 15 hours in the mountains. That adventure was a turning point. I did a few more picnic-style challenges, started racing, tried other ridgeline linkups, and eventually it all snowballed into a career as a professional mountain runner.
Artful Movement
Rhi: You’re an artist too. Has art always been part of your life?
Kelly: Art has always been part of my life. My mom is an artist, my sister is an artist, and my dad loves the arts, so I grew up surrounded by it. As a kid, I dreamed of becoming an artist. I actually pursued filmmaking for a while, but during film school, I realized I preferred illustration, especially editorial work. It was perfect because I could still tell stories through art without needing a film crew, permits, or all the logistics that come with filmmaking. I still love film and photography, but I have been working as a professional illustrator basically since college.
Rhi: How does creativity connect with movement in the mountains for you?
Kelly: I love aesthetic lines in the mountains, routes that feel flowy, logical, and natural. I am not drawn to anything that feels overly contrived, unless the contrived element is intentional, like the Picnic, which is meant to be a bit ridiculous. When I create routes, I visualize them, and if they look beautiful in my mind, I am excited to go do them. Style is really important to me too. Just like in art, the way I move in the mountains matters. I prefer unsupported or minimally supported routes because how you do something is just as important as what you do.
Style and intention are everything.
Coaching, Sponsors, Training
Rhi: As a Black Diamond and La Sportiva athlete, how do you balance the expectations of being a pro with your own personal style of moving in the mountains?
Kelly: Black Diamond and La Sportiva understand what I do and the way I like to move. When I signed with Black Diamond, I asked if they were okay with the fact that I rarely race and usually focus on FKTs, ridgeline linkups, and route creations. They said absolutely, that is exactly why they wanted me on the team. I am really grateful for their support, because it allows me to approach mountain running in a more creative and personal way rather than following a traditional racing path.
Rhi: What about training? Do you follow a structured plan, or is it more intuitive?
Kelly: My friend Gabe Joyes is also my coach, and I love having a structured plan to follow each week. I train year-round, even through long, snowy winters, to stay ready for spring and winter races. Having him guide me keeps me progressing no matter the conditions.
Rhi: Speaking of winter training! This past winter you took on a 24-hour challenge on Mount Glory. What was that like?
Kelly: I live on Teton Pass, and Mount Glory in the winter is basically a boot pack with easy access to different routes. A lot of people commuting from Idaho will go up there for a quick ski before heading to work. A few years ago, I needed a way to start winter training for races and realized this was the easiest way to get vertical from my house. Instead of snowboarding down, I started running up and down it.
Last winter, I did a 12-hour effort where I completed 11 laps on Glory. After that, I wanted to push it further and attempt a 24-hour effort, essentially an 'Everest' on Glory, running up and down the mountain. It might sound silly since you could snowboard or ski down, but for me it only counts if I run the whole way. I ended up completing 17 and a half laps and stopped once I hit the Everest vertical. I probably could have done 18 and a half laps, and I was aiming for 20, but I got some stomach issues during the night. Maybe next winter I’ll go for it again. It was a very silly challenge, but incredibly fun.
Going It Alone
Rhi: What is it about long, solo, unsupported efforts that draws you in and keeps you pursuing them?
Kelly: I want to see how far I can push myself in the mountains or on a given route. When I have external support, it starts to feel more like a team effort rather than a measure of what I can do with my own knowledge and body. Style is also key. To me, this is the purest form of doing something, even if it means moving slower or facing higher risks.
The higher the personal buy-in, the more I get out of it.
Rhi: When you are out solo, what goes through your mind? Is it quiet or loud?
Kelly: Usually my headspace is pretty calm, but of course, I have ups and downs. Dusk is always challenging because when the sun goes down, that instinctual fear to find shelter or get off the route kicks in, and it can be tough. I rely on affirmations to keep myself going and focus on what I have already accomplished rather than how much farther I have to go.
Rhi: How do you manage nerves the night before and get yourself to step off in the morning?
Kelly: I like to watch a movie the night before to get inspired or just to take my mind off things. Sometimes it is something super inspirational, like The Dawn Wall or Diana Nyad’s story. Other times it has nothing to do with what I am doing. For example, before a solo effort in Death Valley, I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It was a nice way to relax and distract myself before heading out.
Rhi: What do you learn about yourself through solo efforts?
Kelly: I think people can push themselves much harder than they realize. You don’t just experience a second wind, but third, fourth, and even fifth winds. Sleep deprivation can make it rough for a night, but then the next day you find new energy and clarity.
One of the biggest things I get from solo efforts is a deeper understanding of myself as a human and a stronger connection to the terrain I am in. There is something amazing about studying a route on a map for so long and finally being out there, moving through it, and becoming a part of it.
Exploring the highs and lows of yourself is deeply rewarding.
Rhi: How do your solo efforts shape the way you live outside the mountains?
Kelly: I love the contrast. After doing hard efforts, I can really slow down and appreciate other parts of my life. My husband and I enjoy foraging for berries or mushrooms, and it feels good to just take it easy. I also really love the simple comfort of my bed after days of moving through the night without much sleep. Those big efforts make me appreciate the small things even more. The higher the buy-in, the more you get out of it, both in the mountains and in life. Pushing yourself can be hard, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
Risk Management
Rhi: How do you assess risk when there is little or no beta, exploring unknown terrain for the first time?
Kelly: I have taken Wilderness First Responder classes and have a solid background in first aid, which I think everyone heading into the backcountry should have. I also understand various survival skills, so I carry a mental toolkit of what I can do if things go wrong. That mindset helps me a lot when assessing risk.
For my own routes, I am always aware of exit points. If I am about to climb something that could cliff out, I make sure I know where I can safely backtrack and get down. I do a lot of research before attempting a route, using topo maps, CalTopo, Gaia, Google Earth, and other resources. I also check old posts on SummitPost and see what others have experienced. Doing this homework helps me plan and assess risk carefully before heading out.
Rhi: When you are out in remote terrain solo, how do you think about and manage risk?
Kelly: When I am soloing, I try never to climb something that I can’t also down climb. It seems simple, but it is a golden rule for me. Most of my fear comes before an effort rather than in the moment. Once I am out there, I tend to stay level-headed. If there is a crevasse on a glacier, I figure out how to go around it. If there is loose rock, I slow down and pick my way carefully. I feel more anxious thinking about the unknown or what could go wrong before I start. Bears are a good example. I worry about them ahead of time, but when I am actually in the forest, I am not actively afraid.
Big Belly Traverse
Rhi: You completed the Big Belly Traverse on August 3, a project you’ve been planning for a couple of years in the Gros Ventre Range. Can you tell us what the past few years of preparation were like and what the day itself felt like?
Kelly: The Gros Ventre Range, whose name means Big Belly, sits between the Wind Rivers and the Tetons and is quieter and more remote than either. Over the past few years, my husband and I explored ridge traverses and established new routes, including the Little Belly Linkup from Josie’s Ridge to Granite Hot Springs.
For the Big Belly Traverse, I wanted to link a longer route from Sheep Mountain to the Green River. Its remote terrain made scouting challenging, so I first completed a 50-mile high route with Black Diamond athlete Aaron Mulkey, weaving through basins and plateaus to map the most aesthetic line and identify cliff sections for planning the traverse.
In 2023, my husband joined me for the first attempt, and we made it to Doubletop Peak, about 30 miles in. With three peaks remaining, no moon, and unfamiliar terrain, I decided it was best to turn back. This year, I tried again with Arcteryx athlete Janelle Smiley, heading west to east along the same line, but storm clouds and lightning forced us to retreat a second time.
Two and a half weeks later, I returned in the opposite direction, east to west, to tackle the first three unknown peaks early. A filmmaker joined me for the first 30 miles, then I completed the final 20 alone, taking roughly 24 to 25 hours. Descending cliffs in reverse required extra care, but finishing was incredible, with views of the Tetons and a closer finish to home rather than the Wind Rivers.
Rhi: Can you describe the experience of crafting a route and then completing it? What is that journey like for you?
Kelly: I’m drawn to ridge lines and areas that haven’t been explored much, without many established routes or fast times. It’s fun to explore and use the creative side of linking different sections together, then testing yourself physically. Instead of following someone else’s plan, you get to design it and see what you can accomplish, which adds a whole layer of creativity and fun.
I try to do as much research as I can to make sure the route hasn’t already been established. I know people do traverse the Gros Ventre Range, but I haven’t found any record of this specific route. If someone has, I’d be happy to change the name or adjust things.
I love linking new ridges and testing what I’m capable of.
Wind River High Route
Rhi: You’ve spent a lot of time crossing Wyoming’s Wind River Range. What have those trips been like for you?
Kelly: I’ve done two versions of the Wind River High Route. The first, in 2017 with Ryan Burke, followed the Dixon and Wilson route as a fast-packing run. I learned about the classic Skurka variation, a 100-mile route through the northern Winds with glaciers and wild terrain, and it stuck with me for years.
By 2020, I felt ready for my first solo unsupported attempt. The route is mostly above 10,000 feet, mostly off-trail, and includes talus, steep passes, and some glacier travel. That first go took 59 hours, with a short, shivery nap at the 24-hour mark. I finished in a hallucinatory state but set the women’s FKT. It was an intense, transformative experience, though I knew I could execute better.
In 2024, I returned, cutting my time by six hours. The focus was on precision and intention. Returning was daunting, but pushing myself to improve my own effort made it incredibly rewarding.
Rhi: Do you feel like in 2024 you were able to execute the way you wanted and really do it better?
Kelly: I felt like I had a much better dance with the mountains. And surprisingly I did not hallucinate this time even though I was moving for 53 hours straight. It was really beautiful and instead of trying to sleep on that second trip I just kept going.
Rhi: What were your hallucinations like on your 2020 trip? Do you expect that when you are doing multi-day efforts? Do you tend to welcome them, or can they feel scary?
Kelly: I was hearing voices singing to me as I moved through the mountains, with different voices in different areas. It was beautiful—ethereal and benevolent, almost spiritual. For me, the danger only comes when you’re truly depleted. My hallucinations have never been bad enough to affect what I’m doing. In fact, I find them kind of fun. It usually takes about 36 hours before they start, and over the years I’ve learned that’s my threshold. I’ve always enjoyed that part of the experience.
Rhi: When you go after FKTs, is it about beating other times, or is it more personal, about proving to yourself that you can do it? What drives you?
Kelly: It is much more about myself. Competition can be motivating, like thinking, maybe I can beat a certain time if I tweak a few things. That can push you, but for me it is mostly about self-exploration rather than trying to beat someone else.
The Barkley
Rhi: You are a two-time Barkley participant. How would you describe the Barkley in your own words?
Kelly: The Barkley is a madman’s torturous practical joke designed to break some of the best runners’ egos and make them cry, but it’s also incredibly fun. It’s absurd and ridiculous, with insane difficulty. For years, people told me I should try it because I love navigation, vertical gain, and doing the utterly ridiculous. I was lucky enough to get in the first year I applied, and it was an unforgettable experience. Watching incredible athletes like Jasmine Paris finish had me bawling—it was awe-inspiring. The course is pure chaos: straight up and down through brambles and logs, navigating, and finding hidden books in the forest. It’s brutal, absurd, and somehow the most fun I’ve had.
Rhi: This year felt even gnarlier than usual. What was your experience like this time?
Kelly: This year was much harder than last, with a late 11AM start, nearly 12 hours of waiting, hot conditions, and more vertical and mileage. The loop I did was probably my hardest effort ever, going straight up and down constantly. I got dehydrated and wasn’t sure I could finish the first loop, but a fellow runner convinced me to keep going. I ended up two minutes off the cut-off, and only nine people carried on to loop two, which is pretty unheard of.
It was disappointing not to continue, but that is the point, you go to get your ass kicked. As a veteran, I guided some virgins of the race. Our navigation and book finding was nearly perfect. I just needed to move slightly faster. Despite being brutal, it was incredibly rewarding to be back, tackle the challenge, and push myself harder than ever.
The secrecy of Barkley keeps it feeling like family. The community is incredible.
What's Next?
Rhi: What’s left for 2025 and what goals do you have for the next few years?
Kelly: I signed up for my first traditional 100 miler in September, the Dark Divide 100 (Kelly won and broke the course record), and I’m excited for that. I also have a few smaller goals in the Tetons before ice sets in, hope to get back into the Winds for a peak or two, and want to fit in a long adventure run. I’d love to do the Grand Traverse here with a friend soon, and I’ll likely take on something in the fall or winter, though I’m not sure what yet.
Looking further ahead, I’d love to do Hardrock someday. I have a long list of goals but don’t plan too far ahead, instead following what feels right for the season. Right now I’m drawn more to racing. I’ll always enjoy creating routes, but the FKT scene has become more hyper-supported and focused on Strava crowns, so I’m stepping back and focusing on racing because it’s fun.
Get Stoked Girls
Rhi: What advice do you have to get girls stoked?
Kelly: Women are told to be careful far more than men, but we are just as capable of taking on hard, long, and burly adventures. Trust yourself, step into the unknown, and don’t be afraid. Take it one step at a time if you need, but believe that you can do it.
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