Bronwyn Hodgins

You never quite know what to expect, that’s part of the fun! We spent the better part of a year planning and preparing for the big trip to Greenland. Jacob researched the ares extensively and compiled a PDF guide book of every route established (which was not many!) that he could find. 

In December 2021, Canadian climbers Bronwyn Hodgins and Kelsey Watts made the first female ascent of El Gavilan (300m, 13a) in Mexico. This was the final step in Bronwyn’s multi-season effort to re-bolt the original 1990s Jeff Jackson line, making the route safe and accessible for future climbers.

Canadian climber Bronwyn Hodgins became the third woman to free Golden Gate in Yosemite, California. Read part two, here.

In May 2021, Canadian Rab athlete Bronwyn Hodgins became the third woman to free Golden Gate in Yosemite, California. Read her story here.

Jacob Cook and Bronwyn Hodgins went on an epic 40-day trip to Baffin Island. Their tale is one of adventure, new routing, and pink flamingos...

It was the start of January 2019. The world had no idea what was about to hit it. It was only weeks later that the World Health Organization would declare the outbreak as a global health emergency, and a few months later that the virus would hit the Americas. All eight of us sat on the big bed, gossiping about boys, relationships, menstrual cycles, tinder dates… the whole deal. We took turns sharing stories while the rest listened curiously, giggling like little girls at a sleepover. This was nothing like any climbing trip I’d ever been on.

We charge downstream in our little red packraft. The water is churning, pumping! I’m in the stern; Jacob kneels in my bow. It’s tough to see the line as we race along, dodging rocks and waves. Focus.

This summer Jacob, Thor, Zack and myself spent six weeks on Baffin Island, in the far northeast corner of Canada and about 200 miles across the Bay from Greenland. While out there we managed to climb some big mountain faces - some new lines and some old - and accessed these mountains by paddling the ocean fjord and glacier-fed river in packrafts. How do I sum up six weeks of adventure in an article? I’ve put together a series of moments to share:

On November 8th 2018, I stood on the summit of El Capitan in Yosemite, California, after free climbing the route Freerider over 5 days. With Jacob supporting me, I led the crux pitches and weighted the rope only three times over the 3000ft of climbing, lowering down and sending each pitch after. It almost felt easy! But really it wasn’t easy. It was a battle, a 4-year epic battle…