Adventurer Advocate Climber
About
Growing up on a farm outside of Seattle, Washington, Andrew’s early years were filled with adventures in the outdoors and being connected to nature. As he grew, he found his career path took him in many directions such as law and politics, fields he thought would be fulfilling. However, over time Andrew came to realize this path toward what society deemed as success, was in fact distancing him from his dreams and person he aspired to be.
Only after facing several unforeseen hardships, where the life Andrew had constructed based on cultural ideas of success began to crumble, did he realize through the rubble a path authentic and his own path. This path led to the mountains where Andrew relearned to turn discomfort and challenge into growth and gratitude.
Andrew continues to be about redefining one’s relationships with discomfort, altering one’s perspectives on achievement, honing one’s hold on humility, and unifying the fragmented aspects of oneself through this process to reach a sense of wholeness. Andrew realizes the peak of success is to seek beyond the summit, to see the entirety of the journey.
Fastest Known Times and Firsts
Andrew continues on a journey exploring the world and its’ highest mountains. He has completed the Seven Summits (highest mountains on each continent) and six of the Seven Volcanic Summits (highest volcanoes on each continent) and is set to complete the rarely realized Explorers’ Grand Slam in April, 2024 – a feat fewer than 75 adventurers have ever achieved – and which would make him the 19th American and 13th British/UK citizen ever to accomplish this endeavor.
In 2020, Andrew also became the fastest and first American man and third person ever to complete the Antarctica Trifecta with his climbing partner Roxanne Vogel by consecutively Skiing the Last Degree to the South Pole and reaching the summits of Mount Vinson (the highest mountain) and Mount Sidley (the highest volcano) in Antarctica. Andrew also holds a Guinness World Record set on Mt Everest in Spring, 2021, and in January, 2024, set a new world record for highest altitude to paddle board on one of the highest bodies of water on Earth found within Chile’s Atacama Desert.
Upcoming adventurers in the works include multiple expeditions in the Himalayas, climbing Mt Kenya – the second highest mountain in Africa – in Summer, 2024, ice climbing adventures in Canada, completing the Three Peaks Challenge, and multiple new Guinness World Record attempts with more details to be announced throughout the year.
more than the mountains
Over the years Andrew’s expeditions have evolved to focus on something that matters more than summits and reaching adventurous ends, that being making meaningful impacts in the world.
Fueled by his commitment to sustainability, conservationism and combatting climate change, he continue to raise awareness and funds for Human Rights Watch’s work on the Environment and Human Rights, creates programs for youth engagement with the outdoors, and seeks to elevate voices of those who are on the frontline of climate change yet often are not given a prominent position to have their voices and views heard.
Aligning and advocating for greater inclusivity and diversity in the outdoors is also fundamental to Andrew’s view of the outdoors based onthe belief that the more chances we can create relationships with our natural world the more empathetic and likely people will be to seekto protect our planet. Additionally, breaking down social and economic barriers to provide greater access to our natural spaces and placesis part of his perpetual purpose beyond the peaks and adventures.
Joining with organizations and companies that are looking to create a more sustainable world and a more inclusive one are a part of the greatest climb of Andrew’s life – reaching the shared summit of a better and more equitable world for all.
Get in touch for chances to join the journey!
“There exists an explorer within us all. Anyone who is willing to seek out the unknown and new knowledge, explore the depths of one’s own life, and push the perceived limitations we place on ourselves is an explorer of “self” taking part in the greatest expedition of all…the living of one’s life.”
– Andrew Hughes