Sonnie Trotter is a world-renowned rock climber, father, husband, writer, and the author of the new book Uplifted: The Evolution of a Climbing Life. For the past three decades, Sonnie has built a career as one of the most accomplished climbers of his generation— pushing standards, putting up first ascents, and bringing a sense of creativity, humility, and grit to every project he tackles. His new book, Uplifted, is part memoir, part meditation on movement and meaning, and it’s one of the most thoughtful and grounded climbing books I’ve read in a long time.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Sonnie and I talk about the unexpected ways writing has shaped his life, how his approach to climbing has evolved over the years, and what it’s been like to move from living out of a van to raising a family in the mountains of Canada. We also discuss how he’s stayed grounded throughout his career, his relationship with sponsors like Patagonia, and why gratitude—not rage or ego—has been the driving force behind his decades of commitment to climbing.
Sonnie also opens up about how parenting has shifted his perspective on adventure, freedom, and ambition—and how he and his wife are raising their kids in a way that emphasizes curiosity, effort, and joy. Whether you’re a climber, a writer, a parent, or just someone trying to live a meaningful life, there’s a ton of wisdom in this one.
Sonnie’s new book Uplifted is out now, and I highly recommend picking up a copy—you’ll find a link in the episode notes, along with links to everything else we discussed. Hope you enjoy both this conversation and the book. Thanks for listening.
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Photos courtesy of Patagonia: Header by Ben Moon, Family shot by Sonnie Trotter
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RESOURCES:
Topics Discussed:
- 1:55 – Intro, how Sonnie got into writing
- 4:58 – Influences
- 8:30 – Why write this book now
- 12:40 – Stumbling into the climbing world
- 17:45 – Into the unknown
- 20:27 – Origins of drive
- 25:07 – Climbing’s darkness
- 27:11 – The road to Patagonia
- 32:23 – Parent perspectives
- 36:54 – Becoming a parent
- 42:35 – Getting kids active (a jiu jitsu segway)
- 48:13 – Training, nutrition, and getting older
- 52:47 – Race to 9A
- 56:31 – Book recs
- 59:29 – Final words of wisdom — get back to work
Information Referenced:
- Sonnie Trotter
- Uplifted: The Evolution of a Climbing Life by Sonnie Trotter
- Sonnie’s writing influences including John Long, Lynn Hill and Matt Samet.
- Race to 9A, an accountability challenge for some of America’s top climbers as they age.
- My Side of the Mountain, a Sonnie and Ed top-shelf pick.
- Sonnie’s top three reading recommendations: The Power of One, The Old Man and the Sea and My Side of the Mountain from above.
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these too:
- Rick Ridgeway – Purpose-Driven Adventurer
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- Pete McBride Returns – Exploring & Documenting His Backyard River
- Joe Schobert – From NFL Pro Bowler to Western Conservation Advocate
- George Hodgin Returns – On Risk-Taking, Leadership, and the Future of Cannabis
- Elliot Ross: Where Landscape, Justice, and Storytelling Meet
- Chris Burkard, Part 2 – Seeking Beauty Through Adventure
- Jesse Griffiths – Humility, Curiosity, and Creative Cuisine
Visit the podcast page for a full, searchable list of episodes
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