What Scares the Woman Who Skis the World’s Hairiest Lines, with Christina Lustenberger

Paddy: What are you feeling physically, emotionally, spiritually when your ski tips are just about to drop in to one of these straight up and down lines?

Lusti: there's this kind of friction always between courage and fear can drop into a line and feel a lot of fear, but I'm still going to engage with it. I'm still gonna find that movement that drops me into the next turn or the next, series of movements to get me down this thing.

And then other times the, courage is like finding it more space and there's, there's more freedom to feel light and, enjoy that movement, even though like the terrain could equally have the same risk or consequence. it's not something I can really explain like how some days you. Don't feel fear, and some days you do, like, I think it's just this emotional interaction with life.

But those two things are like kind of always at battle you're rationalizing a series of calculated decisions by doing that you're [00:01:00] removing. Uncertainty, which I think also kind of like pushes fear to the corner and allows you to, kind of set, that courage free.

Paddy: Where else have you felt that? Or is it only available on top of the scariest mountains in the world?

Lusti: Um, I mean, maybe asking a boy out,

Paddy: MUSIC

PADDYO VO:

Ever notice that, when you’re camping, you tend to set your tent and chairs up in a way that backs up to something solid while facing out toward an expanse? It turns out, your brain’s wired to do that, and not just because it’s looking for the best framing of your next Instagram post. Evolutionary psychologists call this “prospect and refuge,” and it’s rooted in our hunter gatherer past, when bedding down required both the security of a natural structure and the ability to have a clear view of [00:02:00] potential food and potential threats.

Most of our hunting and gathering might take place in grocery stores these days, but we’re still drawn to the freedom and adventure of the wilderness. And, when we’re out there, our understanding of how to stay safe is innate.

Of course, there’s a whole population of outdoor super heroes who are drawn to those expanses, seemingly without the corresponding need for security. The people who climb the most dangerous peaks and descend them in the most thrilling ways aren’t crazy; they have skills sets and experiences that recalibrate what’s dangerous and what’s safe outside.

But, sometimes, they’re taking risks of an entirely different kind without realizing it. Allow ski alpinist Christina Lustenberger to explain.

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Known to most as Lusti, Lustenberger started skiing when she was still in diapers. Her parents ran a ski shop at Panorama Mountain Resort in British Columbia, and [00:03:00] she started racing early. By 11, she was representing Canada internationally; at 21, she was ranked among the top 30 giant slalom racers on the World Cup. And in 2006, she competed in the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

Knee injuries nudged Lusti down a common path for British Columbia racers, away from competition and into the backcountry, where she began guiding and mountaineering. The transition was gradual at first, but over the past few years, Lusti’s list of accomplishments has accelerated. Two years ago, she completed a descent of Pakistan’s Great Trango Tower, a 7,000 foot rock spire that tops out above 20,000 feet. She and her new expedition partner, Gee Pierrel, followed that up with a first descent on New Zealand’s Mount Cook. The two then followed that up with a first descent on the South Face of Mount Robson, Canada’s tallest peak.

Lusti’s comfort with climbing [00:04:00] routes few have ever tried, and pairing them with descents that look more like ice climbs than ski lines, has earned her a reputation as one of the boldest mountaineers in skiing. As an athlete, she is all “prospect” and no “refuge,” and she has the accolades to prove it.

She also has the scars. Lusti will be the first to tell you that these expeditions have allowed her to avoid the real risk in her life—the emotional ones necessary in our most important relationships. For Lusti, the highwire act has less to do with skiing over exposure that would turn the rest of us into quivering piles of jello and more to do with learning when her time outdoors stops being a refuge and starts being a hiding place. And the greatest success is understanding what to do about it.

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First things first, burnt Toast. What is your last humbling [00:05:00] and or hilarious moment outside?

Lusti: Well, the most humbling moment outside I had was when I shit my pants in Pakistan

three times, actually. Uh, so rule number one, never trust a fart in Pakistan

and, and you laugh, but like grown people shit their pants all the time

Paddy: It's

Lusti: Um,

Paddy: Lusti,

can I tell you , if this is where things are starting? I'm so excited for this chat.

Lusti: Mic drop.

Paddy: Yeah, totally. You're on the mantle of burnt toast now. I think you might've

just won Burnt toast with that,

Lusti: Oh my God. Okay, let's get into it.

Paddy: PAUSE PAUSE PAUSE PAUSE

what's really interesting here is like, most folks go outside for some level of stress relief. Like, sure, we like to. Challenge ourselves and push our limits. But like day to day [00:06:00] adventuring for most outdoorsy folks is like, you know, the, lunch loop, trail run or bike ride or like, quick strike mission back country ski or something like that.

Compared to you, like you, your outside time seems mostly stressful to me, like really high stress moments or entire experiences in high stress terrain. So like, what do you do to chill out? , Do you get home from an expedition and you're just like, I'm gonna spend a month in a bubble bath listening to Enya on repeat.

Lusti: When you come home from an expedition, I think your mind and body has been like, exerted to a high level, and you do come back feeling burnt out and tired. and you, do get, uh, fatigue from putting yourself in these risky situations and feeling like under pressure. And I think that your adrenals run flat.

So there is, you know, the time to like come back and chill and reset. and for me, I spend a lot of time, I have a off grid [00:07:00] cabin in the middle of the forest and to go there, unplug from the world and just. wake up, have no agenda, nowhere to go, nowhere to be, and just float and drift and spend time outside.

Running and climbing and finding different mediums ways to move my body, and that just feels like a way to like relax and enjoy movement in a very different landscape.

Paddy: Would you describe your time, though, in the mountains during winter as peak stress, but also fun at the same time?

Lusti: Yeah. And I think, you know, I often think of just like mastery in all aspects and like how people master their skill. So a surfer and artist, musician and it's like. To be at that level doesn't, you don't just come off the couch and do that. There's this long life and dedication to that.

And so in some ways, you normalize performance, , and it becomes second nature. And I'm not like sitting at home playing a piano to a high level like I do [00:08:00] insert myself into risky situations, but I, I have like grown accustomed to it, and I don't go to these lines, carelessly, I, I have a process that I think is as calculated as it can be.

And I trust my intuition, my skill, my decision making process. those things are, I hope are things that relieve stress allow me to trust myself

Paddy: the comparison to artistry there is intriguing to me because you started your career as a ski racer, which is a discipline that took you to, the 2006 Olympics, and ski racing to me seems, you know, like this very regulated thing, whereas. What you do now seems a little bit like coloring outside the lines, if that makes sense.

Do you feel like your career path from ski racing to guide to ski mountaineering to ski alpinism feels as much as a creative pursuit as a physical and mental one?

Lusti: Yeah, I mean, I learned a lot from ski [00:09:00] racing.

because I had that, drive and, focus inserted into me as a young age that has like. Kind of pushed me or led me in this pursuit of like constantly adding layers to my skiing.

from skiing piste to backcountry skiing, to ski mountaineering, to ski alpinism

by adding these different skill sets and opening new terrain, it keeps me motivated and inspired. And I think that's like probably why I'm still pursuing these wild lines around the world because it captivates my imagination

Paddy: you know, especially when you are establishing a new ski descent, it's like your signature on a blank canvas. And I think that is very similar to like how an artist would paint, they look at something and they create, and it's the same when you look at the mountains, it's like, well, that's never been done before, but I see a line or.

Lusti: You know, I think you could repel here and that would connect this piece of terrain. And so it becomes this like very creative canvas of using your skill, your [00:10:00] imagination, and, and then just creating an experience from that.

I do think that the mountains are an extremely creative place, I've just been fortunate to somehow fall into a career of it. I mean, now here I am, however many years down the road and this is a full-time job for me to travel around the world, skiing weird things and yeah.

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Paddy: Well, because you enjoy skiing such weird things. You know, things that look like frozen elevator shafts. A lot of the time. You've done a lot of ice climbing. And I would like to poke fun at ice climbing right now because I have never done it. I have done regular old climbing, but my understanding of ice climbing is that it's exactly the same as regular old climbing.

it's still exhausting, it's still tiring, it's still lacking, uh, in capital F uh, fun. But it's just now that you're super frigging cold and there's pointy stabby things around all the time, am I missing [00:11:00] something or is that an accurate statement?

Lusti: No, that's, yeah, that's about it.

Paddy: So,

Lusti: Emphasize the cold.

Paddy: Yeah.

I mean, do you enjoy that part of your gig, or are you like, this is just a really crappy part of my job that I have to deal with?

It's like, compared to, you know, normal folks, it would be like email triage or something like that. It's just like, this is the crappy part, the fun part's waiting after this.

Lusti: Yeah, well, I would say with ice climbing, it was this way to open up more terrain, another skill to move through the mountains. and then it also just became this incredibly engaging mental, medium a new sport. I was able to like enter something that I hadn't done my whole life that was extremely hard, uncomfortable, scary,

there was no room for other thoughts. So in some ways, It's kind of this like, you know, like climbing to love hate. But, um,

Paddy: Well away from the [00:12:00] mountain. Does it make you like a more critical thinker? Does it make you better at solving everyday problems or puzzles?

Lusti: no, but it, it does, uh, make me maybe more used to just like standing still in the cold than like, 'cause with, with ski touring, you know, you're like, you're always moving. and with ice climbing, like sometimes you stand belaying your partner for like an hour just standing there hoping the rope will come tight at some point and you'll get to climb.

So it's just like, I don't know,

Paddy: affirming every fear I've had

Lusti: there's no way to sell it. Um, other than like,

Paddy: Yeah, other than it's really great when it stops.

Lusti: Yeah,

Paddy: Well, there's also a thing, a phenomenon I know in ice climbing, known as the screaming barfies. Can you please define this for the folks listening?

Lusti: well, the screaming bar fees are basically like when you're ice climbing, you have your hands often above your head, and so they [00:13:00] get really cold, and when you start to warm them up again, the blood rushes and creates this feeling of like complete. pain, throbbing, nausea. And so it makes you wanna scream and barf at the same time until that feeling resides.

And then you're like, oh, my hands are warm, I'm ready to go again. Um, but I love that maybe this is the most fun thing about ice climbing is filming your friend going through the screaming bar fees.

Paddy: I have a series of questions about the screaming barfies, and one of them is, what do you do if your partner is beset with the barf-a-tude and you're doing okay? Like, do you offer words of encouragement? Do you pet their head and give them compliments till they feel better? Or, it sounds like what you do is you film them so you

could put 'em on social media and make fun of them.

Lusti: Yeah, I've got like, I don't know, maybe five to 10 videos of friends and, and partners, like going through that process. And it's so funny because they're [00:14:00] like grown men that are essentially wanting to cry

Paddy: well, can you explain how you enjoy a sport that your body is so obviously violently rejecting

Lusti: no, I cannot explain that.

what do they say? If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough.

Paddy: Oh, I love that phrase. Yes,

Lusti: Yeah. That's, yeah. Essentially what ice climbers and silly skiers are

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Paddy: you and your partner gee, teamed up just a couple years ago, right

Lusti: Well we met last summer, so we've known each other just over a year now. and we met Alpine climbing in Chamonix. Yeah.

Paddy: So that is not a lot of time. And since you guys have met, you've tackled more than a few intense descents together. What made you realize so quickly that the two of you would be good? Mountain Partners? Expedition partners.

Lusti: we created this matrix. it's off the crazy hot matrix, which is the scientific tool to find [00:15:00] the perfect girl, but it's. The crazy skill matrix. And so basically the line between being crazy and having skill and meeting that partner at the perfect time when they are also aligned with your skills and objectives.

And I think when G and I met, you know, we both were inspired by each other's way of approaching the mountains. And there was just this like instant trust. And appreciation for me, I felt extremely pushed by him, the way he moves through the mountains and, I think that's how we were able to pull off the stuff we did in New Zealand and Robson

Paddy: He's works as a mountain guide. He was very interested in steep skiing all over the world. He had a high level of skill. And when we were in the mountains together, like our egos often clash.

Lusti: We get in these arguments. But when we connect and we're in this flow, what we were able to do in the mountains was incredible. I have these crazy wild dreams. This like regarding Robson, it, I had been thinking about that for 10 [00:16:00] years and for whatever reason it always just kind of got like pushed to the side.

Like I wasn't ready, I didn't have the right partner. I got sidetracked by other lines and I kind of got to this point where the list isn't getting smaller, but a lot of things were behind me and I, after Trango, I was looking for the next thing to sink in on and, and then all of a sudden I had this partner who is equally um, motivated.

so that really was this moment to like, okay, now I have this, really wild partner that I think would. elevate myself and the opportunity to go and try and do this thing. And so, yeah, he got this like handwritten formal invitation for him to come and join me on Robson and, uh, he accept, he RSVP'd.

Um,

Paddy: well of ski partnership. You once said that to meet someone who has that same passion and fire and drive for adventure, who you see eye to eye with and click so perfectly, it's almost like that [00:17:00] feeling when you meet the person you fall in love with. This was in reference to the mentorship that Hilaree Nelson provided to you, and I'm hoping that you can elaborate on this super powerful quote.

Lusti: I think that in the outdoor community, we're fortunate to meet. Incredible people all over the world doing incredible things and these meaningful interactions, hold a lot of value in our life story.

I think It's this deep admiration for that person. And I think that, you know, when you share these wild experiences with people, there's a real deep friendship, curated from going through that stuff. And with g these people that you let in, they become family . When you go to the mountains and you try super hard in a way you like sometimes feel like you go to battle and then you come back and there's the, a strong bond from, from those experiences.

But I, I would say the [00:18:00] underlying word for a strong mountain partner, it, it has to be admiration. Like you have to, and trust, like you have to look at that person and admire what they bring and, who they are and, and to trust them, and the, the person that they show up to be for you and with you.

Paddy: In regard to your adventure partnerships past and present, what have they taught you about other relationships in your life? are there things that you've learned through navigating these mountain lines that are harrowing with your expedition partner that are brought to bear in your relationships off the mountain?

Lusti: One of the key things is obviously communication in all aspects of life. so to be able to have hard conversations and Looking in to seeing what you bring to these trips or to life, I mean, if the mountains have taught me one thing, it's to shed the ego. And, and that's hard, like, because, To be successful at anything, [00:19:00] you need to have some sort of ego that's gonna like, drive you and push you.

But, to learn and to understand that like the mountains. Don't really give a fuck and you just have to learn to show up gracefully and trust your process and decision making.

Paddy: Do you think that by learning how to show up with grace and trust in the mountains, has that allowed you to show up with grace and trust in familial relationships, friendships, intimate relationships?

Lusti: uh, I mean I probably show up to the mountains as a better person than I honestly feel like my foot's been on the gas the last two, three years. And that like, I've kind of been pushing myself to a different level where my skiing and my passion and my time has become a commodity to the industry.

I'm realizing that I would like to do less and have more time for myself so that I am a more [00:20:00] calm and relaxed person. And just to not give someone just the corner of my desk when I show up to like, engage with friends and family and to be completely present because, I mean, maybe it's more than three years, but I do think that I have like shown up as a shell of a person, outside of the mountains because I'm so tired or I'm so fatigued, or I'm so distracted by what's coming up next.

A lot of, Yeah, myself has, been poured into a physical pursuit of doing these things in the mountains. And I'm at this point in my life where I'm like, Hmm, I need to like really cherish the time that I have outside of the mountains and show up fully.

Paddy: What's the plan to do that then? And how do you also continue to pursue your goals and your career?

Lusti: The frequency that I've been doing these things I don't think is sustainable. One for like exposing myself to the immediate risks that the mountains inflict on you, but also [00:21:00] just allowing your mind to rest and reset. And when you do engage you're fully there. You're not coming at like 70% or 50%. But It's hard because, my passion has become a commodity and there's a lot of opportunities which are hard to say no to.

Paddy: It sounds like we're catching you at a time when you're feeling perhaps that your, passion and your career path has been wonderful and allowed you to achieve these great goals, but that may be at the expense of your personal life.

Lusti: for sure. Yeah. There's like certain times in my life where my personal life, I would have just considered it to be in the mountains. Like there wasn't really anything other than that. It was. all or nothing. the time outside of the mountains was just resting, recovering, and getting ready to go again.

, I think I'm just at this place of like, you know, when you have series of success or have achieved some things that you've put a lot of energy into, [00:22:00] there's this time to reflect okay, like, what's next? Where do I want to put my energy? And, I'm really excited about mountain pursuits moving forward.

I have some really cool ideas with people that I admire and want to spend time with in the mountains. And then there's, other pursuits that are more creative, in a non-risk inflicting manner.

, I'd love to write a book. I'd love to create artwork yeah, find a place that I can call home, build things with my hands, spend time at my cabin. I mean,

Paddy: not. Shove your feet into cold frozen ski boots and get the screaming bar fees.

Lusti: Yeah, when you have that desire to have screaming barfies and put your feet in cold boots, you know that you've, you've rested well, like,

Paddy: you're like, I've

done enough painting. I've done enough writing.

Lusti: Yeah,

Paddy: to scream, cry, and barf. Thank you

Lusti: exactly.

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PADDYO VO:

More from ski alpinist Christina Lusti Lustenberger after the break.

[00:23:00] MIDROLL MIDROLL MIDROLL MIDROLL MIDROLL

Paddy: One of the interesting things of your, recent, accomplishments in the mountains, you know, I'm talking specifically of Trango and of Robson, is that you said that you just want to feel the void up there when asked why you ski these big, spooky, very scary lines. Now you're the second person we've had on the podcast recently who has mentioned the pull of the void, which I find very interesting and also very curious. What void are you referring to and why do you want to feel it?

Lusti: I mean, I think there's kind of two parallels that come from that statement, and one is, I, I love the exposure, I love engaging with exposure, like physical, \. Cliffs or wild steepness below me. and then I also think the void is the question. It's like, can it be done? Can we successfully climb and ski this thing that hasn't been done before?

And so the void of just [00:24:00] that unknown and working through that, and those two things coexisting together wildly, um, captivating for me.

Paddy: What are you feeling physically, emotionally, spiritually when your ski tips are just about to drop in to one of these straight up and down lines?

Lusti: there's this kind of friction always between courage and fear can drop into a line and feel a lot of fear, but I'm still going to engage with it. I'm still gonna find that movement that drops me into the next turn or the next, series of movements to get me down this thing.

And then other times the, courage is like finding it more space and there's, there's more freedom to feel light and, enjoy that movement, even though like the terrain could equally have the same risk or consequence. it's not something I can really explain like how some days you. Don't feel fear, and some days you do, like, I think it's just this emotional interaction with life.

But [00:25:00] those two things are like kind of always at battle you're rationalizing a series of calculated decisions by doing that you're removing. Uncertainty, which I think also kind of like pushes fear to the corner and allows you to, kind of set, that courage free.

Paddy: Where else have you felt that? Or is it only available on top of the scariest mountains in the world?

Lusti: Um, I mean, maybe asking a boy out,

like courage and fear,

Paddy: Yeah. Yeah. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.

Lusti: Fuck it, I'm dropping.

Paddy: Yeah. Okay. I like it. I like it.

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I have two great fears. One has always been public speaking, which is something that I avoided, like at all costs my whole career. And then I finally started engaging with it and found that it wasn't super scary and that I actually enjoy [00:26:00] storytelling and, um, having that personal interaction with people.

Lusti: Um, and the second is snakes, like, and I haven't gotten over that fear,

And my reaction to a little like gardener snake that isn't gonna harm me at all is. Extreme fear, like more fear than I would feel on any mountain. And so it's, it's not rational, but it's just, yeah.

Paddy: seems wild.

Lusti: So if there were snakes on Trago, I would not have gone

Paddy: yeah,

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Your fear management ability in the mountains, acknowledging it and then moving with it. That to me seems like a superpower. Being able to perform physically at the absolute highest level while simultaneously holding chaotic emotions at bay is otherworldly to me. Has this strength in the mountains ever transformed though into a negative away from the mountains?

Lusti: Oh yeah. I mean, I'm [00:27:00] sure it has. Um, gee, I don't know how to really answer that question,

Paddy: I guess I could put it to you like this. Like you seem to be able to compartmentalize. Hefty emotions in the mountains and get the objective done in an otherwise terrifying situation. Has that ability to compartmentalize your emotions ever not served you well?

Lusti: well, I like the way you're putting that because. You're saying I'm compartmentalizing, but I would put it also as another way of just like burying it, pushing it down, which I think for the, first portion of my life, I was doing that in a lot of ways too. My emotional intelligence, was bur it, you know, move forward with physical pursuits and, the emotional stuff just put behind me and, just keep running on the hamster wheel.

And You can't run on a hamster wheel your whole life. And, a couple years ago I had some things happen where I like got hucked off the hamster wheel, had to stop, [00:28:00] sit with it. that Was like a huge reflection of how the mountain served me, how I was serving myself.

The people around me and you know, , just this time of when life just hits the fan and, uh, you kind of have to sit with the shit that you were running from for a long time or maybe not even running from, but just weren't aware of like how to deal with it in a mature, emotional way.

Paddy: Do you think since now looking at the things that you were running from, in your personal life, do you think that that has shown up? In a way on the mountains, that's made you better.

Lusti: Well, I think the last two years is a reflection of you know, I think just shit falling apart

I

Paddy: Say shit falling apart, what do you mean?

Lusti: um, a marriage, uh, leaving a town that I lived in for 15 years, just being confronted by a lot of stuff within myself.

and I just leaned into the one thing that didn't shift with this life arrangement that was [00:29:00] moving quickly. And, that was like the mountains and, and skiing. And in some ways I think that it was, a way to, heal from certain things and to let thoughts move through me and to learn.

And then I also think there was this. sense of like escapism because the lines and ice climbing is so mentally engaging that I was able to just remove myself from things that were hard to, to deal with at that time. I would say like I put my foot on the gas, in the mountains, but I also really put my foot on the gas with finding a therapist that I really enjoyed working with.

and that point was like the beginning of my, therapy journey and have found it incredibly, helpful and mind opening to learning about myself, learning about, more emotionally how to like. Become aware So it's, the last two years have been a bit of a, a journey, but it's been, like this [00:30:00] opportunity to kind of like step back, look at everything and, and reevaluate where and how and why I wanted to show up.

Paddy: Do you feel like Tango and Robson were pursuits that were helping you avoid what was going on in your personal life and emotions? Or do you feel like these were examples of times when mountain pursuit was helping you, achieve your goals for your career, but also helping you achieve, the emotional stability that you were looking for.

Lusti: Well, I think the journey of them and just being in the mountains and different cultures and traveling, you know, I think you realize that the world that you can confine yourself to is smaller than you think. And it's not as bad as you think it is.

so there was this like very therapeutic, I think healing that went from just un tethering myself and, and allowing myself just to like live freely in this wild like journey that life was kind of opening up before me.

Paddy: I have a mentor in my life who tells me a [00:31:00] lot of the time because stories I can tell myself in my own brain can get very big and very loud. And he tells me a lot that if you focus on the problem, the problem gets bigger. And I'm wondering in regard to that, if you think focusing on Trangp, focusing on Robson allowed you to like lift your head up away from heavy emotions, heavy things happening in your personal life. And expand your worldview a little bit more, not just of, you know, different cultures or different mountains than you used to, but your worldview of your emotions and kind of right size the issue a little bit.

Lusti: Yeah, I think so for sure. And also just that like at some point, if you're going through a hard time and you've sat in that place of suffering or pain, I think it's, it really is a decision to be like, okay, I've sat with this, I've suffered enough, but now life is ahead of me. And there is that time of like reflection and learning , but you know, you can't [00:32:00] sit at the bus stop forever.

Paddy: Mm

Lusti: and so moving forward was an important thing.

Yeah. Life just is, it's up and down, you know, and I think that that's a really important thing to remember. Everything's impermanent, you know, the good, the bad. And it also makes you appreciate the time and the moment you're in and the people you're there with.

And I feel really happy to be yeah, where I am and, and moving forward. I'm excited. And I think that is, uh, important to, pinpoint at the moment where you're at.

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Five years ago, , I just had this like, you know, insane fire of proving to myself or proving myself. You do that for year after year and maybe it's a, a female thing too, is when I look at other females in sport, they show up and they're constantly proving themselves worthy time and time again.

And I think you kind of like. You get fatigue of it. And I think maybe that's where I'm at. I'm like, oh, I'm just sick of trying to [00:33:00] prove myself or, and so then you kind of feel like, well what's, what's it worth? Or why am I doing this? Like think of Trango because there was the unsuccessful attempt the first year, the successful attempt, the second year.

And I felt more empty the second year after the success than the first year. And I think it was because I had this fire in my ass to go back and, do this thing. And there was like this deep drive inside me. I was like, I gotta go pull this thing off. And then we did. And it was like, fuck, now I'm at home and I kind of feel empty.

I don't know what's next. Like what am I gonna do?

Paddy: You're almost like describing like the emotional version of a bottle rocket, right? It makes all this screeching sound on the way up and then it just goes like, know, it doesn't make much of it.

There's not much of a boom, you know?

Lusti: Yeah. And I think for my personality, like I like a to-do list. I like to know an it, you know, like the itinerary, the training program. I mean, I'm not like super anal, but like I wanna get outta [00:34:00] bed and like know what I'm doing. like anyone wants to have this driver purpose. And so to be on the other side of something that was like a big engagement of energy and time and money and resource and all the things that's like, there's just empty space and I think that it can be uncomfortable to sit with.

But I also think that like, why not? You only live once and what's the point of life like, other than just to feel, feel life, feel everything, and be completely inspired and just fucking go for it,

MUSIC IN THE CLEAR FOR A BEAT

Paddy: We lost Lusti Okay, got her phone number. Hey, Lusti, it's patio. Um, I got your number from Marin. Uh, it looks like you dropped off so, uh, gimme a call back. Let's see what we can do here. Okay, Hey. [00:35:00] Not working, Um, what? Okay. I'm gonna do something a little, uh, different. I'm gonna put you on speakerphone and put you up to my microphone and we're gonna finish like that okay. Lusti, are you there? I am here. Okay. So it's now time for the final ramble. One piece of gear you can't live without. And I'm wondering if you're gonna say reliable wifi. Well, yes, that is something that, um, future Tina needs best outdoor snack. Cheese. All cheese. Any kind of cheese. Cheese everywhere. Hot for the queso. What is your hottest outdoor hot take? What's a hot take? So a hot take would be something that goes against the grain of, outdoor culture like. Lift lines are supposed to be enjoyed and not complained about. , If you park incorrectly at the trail head, your car should be impounded and you should lose your driver's license. Something [00:36:00] like that. Don't pee on the skin track. Don't pee on the skin track. That's a really, you know what? I don't know if that's super duper hot. I just think that's really good advice and I totally agree with you. Yes. Hey, uh, thanks for, working through all the tech issues today. I've really enjoyed our conversation. I appreciate you very much. Well, I feel horrible but, um, thank you again and I look forward to having a conversation in person without wifi. Agreed. Agreed. Me too. Me too.

MUSIC IN THE CLEAR FOR A BEAT

PADDYO VO:

Christina Lustenberger, aka Lusti, is a professional skier of hairball mountains, er, I mean a ski alpinist. In fact, she's one of the most accomplished skiers of all time. And you can watch her incredible two-planked feats in her brand new film Robson, which is currently on the festival tour but will be available to the public some time soon so be on the look out. Also, [00:37:00] keep your eyes peeled for the theatrical release of Trango, the film about Lusti's breathtaking and mindboggling first descent of the Trango Tower in Pakistan. You can follow Lusti's ski adventures on Instagram at Christina Lusti, which should get real interesting very soon because Lusti has a secret project in the Canadian Rockies this winter. She says she's happy to be skiing and climbing in her home range with good friends. I bet she's gonna be doing something very bonkers and very incredible.

Also, big news, pals. Have you ever been listening to this pod and thought, "Man, I love this but I wish I could, like, see the words." Well, you're in luck.  We are now on YouTube. Check out video episodes and give your eyes the same treat you've been giving your ears. Just search The Outside Podcast on YouTube.

And, remember that we want to hear from [00:38:00] you. Sooo, email your pod reactions, guest nominations, navel lint ponderings, and whatever else you want to tell and/or ask us to Outside Podcast At Outside Inc Dot Com.

The Outside Podcast is hosted and produced by me, Paddy O'Connell. But you can call me PaddyO. The show is also produced by the storytelling wizard, Micah "smash that subscribe button" Abrams. Music and Sound Design by Robbie Carver. And booking and research by Maren Larsen.

The Outside Podcast is made possible by our Outside Plus members. Learn about all the extra rad benefits and become a member yourself at Outside Online Dot Com Slash Pod Plus.