Hello ALL IN Adventurers,
I hope your 2025 is treating you well. As we move toward the finale of another extraordinary year, I wanted to share a few stories that capture the spirit of what’s possible — when curiosity meets courage, and when we decide to truly Go ALL IN.
These highlights from 2025 represent bold feats of endurance, heart, and human potential. They remind us that growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones — it happens in the wild edges between fear and flow.
The Most Audacious Descent on Earth
When the Impossible Became Skied.
EVEREST. OCTOBER 15, 2025.
They said it couldn’t be done. Then Jim Morrison strapped on his skis and proved otherwise — becoming the first person in history to descend the Hornbein Couloir, one of Everest’s most dangerous and elusive lines.
photo credit: National Geographic / Savannah Cummins
Two Legends, One Mountain
Just three weeks earlier, Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel achieved another world first — climbing and skiing down Everest without bottled oxygen.
No air. No margin for error. Just lungs, grit, and flow.
The Lineage of Boldness
Long before these history-making descents, the seed was planted.
In 2003, Grand Dynamics speaker and team member Stephen Koch, alongside Jimmy Chin, attempted that same route during the monsoon season — when even base camp feels unthinkable.
Their expedition was cut short by a massive avalanche near 23,000 feet, but their bold attempt paved the way for what would one day be done.
Koch’s pursuit to snowboard the Seven Summits became a legacy of audacity, passed forward to a new generation of explorers.
Learn more in Jimmy Chin’s book, There and Back.
Photo Copyright: Jimmy Chin
Kilian Jornet – States of Elevation
Endurance athlete Kilian Jornet’s States of Elevation pushed human-powered adventure to the limit — linking 72 mountains above 14,000 feet across Colorado, California, and Washington in just 31 days.
That’s 3,198 miles and over 403,000 feet of elevation gain.
Learn about Kilian’s adventure, his training, nutrition strategy, and products on his website. NNormal
Photo Copyright: Kilian Jornet Photograph: Andy Cochrane/The Guardian
Emily Harrington – El Capitan’s Golden Gate
In a display of determination and flow, Emily Harrington became the first woman to free climb El Capitan’s Golden Gate route in under 24 hours.
After multiple failed attempts and a brutal fall, she came back stronger — finishing the climb in just over 21 hours.
Listen to Emily’s story on the Rich Roll Podcast.
Photo Copyright: Jess Glassberg / RedBull Studios
A Somber Reminder: Balin Miller’s Final Climb
In October 2025, the climbing community lost Balin Miller, a 23-year-old from Alaska who rappelled off the end of his rope and fell while soloing El Capitan’s Sea of Dreams route. His story reminds us that adventure is sacred — and that risk is never theoretical. Learn more about Balin.
Every climb, dive, or descent asks for reverence — and awareness of the fine line between mastery and mortality.
Photo Copyright: Dylan Miller/AP
Harvey Lewis and the Big Dog Ultra
In Tennessee’s Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, runners complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour on the hour — until only one remains.
This October, Harvey Lewis once again showed what relentless endurance looks like, pushing beyond the limits of sleep, pain, and possibility.
I first met Harvey at Running Man, after my own 50K — where I created my Mantras for Miles video. His discipline is a reminder that success is rarely about speed; it’s about rhythm, recovery, and relentless resolve. See the results with a 475 mile finish over 5 days! Congratulations Phil Gore for your strategic and well planned and executed victory!
Photo Copyright: Mike Trimpe
EPICLOGUE: GOING ALL IN
What we focus on expands. Scrolling through the phone, taking in the “news,” reading books, listening to podcasts, and the people we invest time with, all have an impact on our mindset and ultimately the actions we take in a bigger context. I enjoy learning about people pushing limits and creating a new frame of reference for what’s possible.
I hope these examples serve you as you consider YOUR NEXT BOLD PURSUIT. Visualize, prepare, and take action each day to keep your SOUL FULFILLED as you live ALL IN! If you haven’t read any of the chapters from my book yet… heres the link for your holiday gifts to yourself and others. ALL IN Adventure Stories
Your Next Adventure Awaits
Reading these stories might light a spark… but the real adventure begins when you act on it.
Whether that means joining a retreat, tackling a personal challenge, or mapping your year on a giant wall calendar — your next expedition starts with one decision: to Go ALL IN.
What’s on My 2026 Tick List
My Big A## Calendar just arrived — 365 days on one page — another year to create a value based life filled with big goals, soul-filled experiences, and contribution to friends, family and all the people in my professional work life.
I use it to map out the experiences that will shape my year, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Here are a few of my personal ALL IN soul-filled adventures in the making for 2026.
– Jackson Hole Skiing – Winter 2026: Hometown climb and ski on Snow King, Teton Pass, Glory Bowl and Grand Teton National Park, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort – mountain fitness and endless power lines
– Free Diving and Spearfishing Adventures – January 2026: A destination trip unfolding.
– Tham Luang Cave Exploration and Rock Climbing in Thailand – March 2026: Visit to the famed cave of the Thailand Cave Rescue, cultural exploration and rock climbing on the limestone cliffs above turquois water
– Ultra Running – In the Tetons and Gros Ventre hometown ranges. Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim and Cape Town 100 are a couple of destination runs on my list.
- Adventure Racing: 26 Hour Teton Ogre Adventure Race – July 25-26, 2026 – JOIN ME!!
8 or 26 hours of grit, teamwork, and mental flow in the Tetons. Click HERE to Register!
Mountain Man Invitational – August 1, 2026 – JOIN ME!!
Known as the “Hardest Triathon on earth” 2.6 miles of swimming, 100 mile mountain bike and 26.2 mile run… all above 10,000 feet in famed Leadville, Colorado.
Featured Retreat Recommendations
If you’re looking to design your own reset, these immersive experiences are incredible opportunities to reconnect, recharge, and rediscover what’s possible:
– Neesha Yoga & Pilates Retreats – Tulum, Mexico (January 2026): Recharge your body and mind with yoga, pilates, and the rhythms of the ocean.
– Rejuvination Yoga Retreat: A Nourishing Yoga Retreat with Adi Amar & Neesha Zollinger in Chacala, Mexico April 18 – 25, 2026 at Mar De Jade
– Spiritual Exploration – Ausangate, Peru (November 2025): Guided by TataAnka Osho — an intimate journey at the base of the sacred mountain near the Seven Lakes. SOLD OUT for 2025. Contact us for information about 2026.
GRAND DYNAMICS
I would be remiss not to include my ongoing travel and program delivery for Grand Dynamics! I am so stoked for all our experiences and programs to come in 2026!
A few upcoming programs I am excited about include:
Cave Rescue Experiences – Large group Hotel-Based programs in Arizona and signature multi-day experiences in Nashville.
YPO Events featuring ALL IN Adventure Stories Keynotes, the Art of WOW, 2026 personal Mastery Guide and FIRE AND ICE (Fire Walking + Cold Immersion) programs.
Jackson Hole Multi-Day retreats – our hometown multi-day executive retreats at private ranches with an eclectic mix of adventure experiences, Amazing Races, wellness integration, and team and leadership programming.
A 10-month transformational executive leadership program with 3 off-site retreats and executive coaching.
Contact us today to learn how we can collaborate on your 2026 EPIC Corporate Experience and customized team, leadership, and culture transformation.
2026: GO ALL IN >>> I will guide you in creating your 2026 ALL IN Adventures
2026 is your year to create, live, and learn from your own ALL IN Adventures.
Join our virtual ALL IN program — a new year, virtually guided journey to help you clarify your vision, set bold goals, and bring them to life.
Click here to be added to our interest list and receive the 2026 ALL IN Personal Mastery Guide.
ARNO ILGNER
ASHLEY CHAPMAN