Caroline Gleich, pro ski‑mountaineer turned climate advocate, headlines TownLift’s Trailblazers series—spotlighting locals who translate passion into community impact. Photo: Caroline Gleich

PARK CITY, Utah — Caroline Gleich is best known for climbing Mount Everest and skiing Antarctica’s Mount Vinson, but she measures her impact by what happens closer to home: Park City’s renewable‑energy goals, Utah’s public‑lands policy and the affordability of the town she now calls home.

Caroline Gleich navigates an airy ridge in with rescue pup Monty at her side—training miles that double as fieldwork for her public‑lands advocacy. Photo: Caroline Gleich

Why she’s a Trailblazer

Policy wins: In 2016 Gleich helped persuade the Park City Council to commit to 100 percent renewable energy.
Public‑lands defense: “We have a lot more public‑lands fights coming up, and I’m gearing up to help save them,” she said, citing threats to recreation access and wildlife corridors statewide.
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Historic candidacy: Her 2024 U.S. Senate run made her only the third woman in Utah history to reach the statewide ballot.
Community focus: She insists that “access to nature is a basic human right” and pushes to keep outdoor recreation within reach of working families.

How she arrived here

Caroline Gleich carves through untouched Wasatch powder—fuel for her fight to protect the winters that define Park City. Photo: Caroline Gleich

Gleich grew up in Salt Lake City. She shifted her training base to Park City after meeting husband Rob Lea, a local native. “Rob showed me what this community offers athletes and families,” she said. His deep roots, she added, “helped me find mine.”

Spending long days on snow and single‑track also sharpened her sense of duty. “As skiers and outdoors people we feel the changes in our bones,” she said. “That gives us a responsibility to speak up about shrinking snowpack and dirty air.”

Climate and public‑lands work that starts at home

Caroline Gleich stands atop Antarctica’s 16,050‑foot Mount Vinson—capping a climb she used to spotlight women climate scientists and the stakes of a warming planet. Photo: Caroline Gleich

Gleich argues that shrinking snowpack, poor air quality and land‑use pressures demand faster action. Residents can install rooftop solar and cut energy use, she said, but systemic change comes from electing leaders who will decarbonize the grid and defend federal and state public lands.

For those unsure how to engage, she recommends starting with Patagonia Action Works, which sorts grassroots environmental groups by ZIP code. “They’ll tell you when to show up and how to testify,” she said, adding that local nonprofits often train volunteers in public‑comment best practices.

With municipal elections approaching, Gleich urges residents to vet climate records, host meet‑and‑greets and post about “climate champions” on social media. “Every year is an election year,” she said. “Use it.”

Pushing for gender equity

Caroline Gleich celebrates on the windswept summit ridge of Antarctica’s Mount Vinson—an ascent she used to spotlight women in climate science and the urgency of polar ice loss. Photo: Caroline Gleich

Gleich’s 2019 “Climb for Equality” on Everest highlighted the scarcity of women on the world’s highest peaks and in political office. “When women lead, they pass stronger climate policy,” she said.

She also champions cultural change at home. Instead of calling a little girl “cute,” Gleich suggests praise like “strong and intelligent.” The goal, she said, is to move beyond looks and recognize leadership, compassion and courage. “We still undervalue women’s work, especially the invisible labor of scheduling, cooking and caregiving,” she added. “Sharing that load starts in our own households.”

Keeping Park City livable

Housing prices and rising costs top Gleich’s list of local concerns. “We can’t ask people to fight for nature if they’ve never had the chance to enjoy it,” she said. She backs attainable‑housing initiatives, higher wages and a senior center so older residents can remain in the community.

She also advocates for development that preserves access to trails and open space. “Responsible stewardship of where and how we grow is critical,” she said.

What’s next

Gleich plans to stay in the public‑lands arena and continue her athletic career with endurance projects in Utah. As for another run for office, “Utah has never elected a woman to the U.S. Senate.” she said. “I’m still in the arena.”

Between trail runs, policy briefings and what she calls “some backyard projects,” Gleich remains focused on the same principle that drove her Senate bid: “Access to nature shouldn’t be a luxury—it’s a basic human right, and it’s worth protecting with every tool we have.”