Patagonia Stories

There's a story behind each skintrack that hints at the creator's motivations and approach to the mountains. If you see enough skintracks, you'll notice shared styles begin to emerge until, eventually, you begin to think of the track-setters as artists and the mountains as a canvas, with a whole range of strokes scrawled across the snowy landscape. These are some of those artists.     “Art of the Skintrack” read and written by Leah Evans.This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Runner Rio Lakeshore explores how the trails beneath our feet can help us belong.   “Home Is an Open Place” read and written by Rio Lakeshore.   This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It took Nico Favresse, Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll and Siebe Vanhee 18 days in some of the gnarliest conditions they'd ever climbed in to put up the first free ascent of Riders on the Storm, one of the most famous big-wall climbs in Torres del Paine, Chile.   “Riding Out the Storm” read by Kyle Sparks and written by Nico Favresse.   This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Did You Ever Think?” read and written by Kim Strom. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Cochamó Por Siempre” read by Mailee Hung and written by Daniel Seeliger & Rodrigo Condeza. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The Quest to Save 100 Waves in Peru” read by Shiva Minovi and written by Bruno Monteferri. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A near death experience puts things into perspective on a remote climbing expedition in Alaska. “A Partial Ascent of Mantok 0” read by Nathan Blackmon and written by Jack Cramer. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet three Patagonia testers who will spare no suffering in pursuit of the very best gear. “Field Notes from a Gear Tester” read and written by Jenny Abegg. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The summer of 2024 was the hottest on record for Phoenix, Arizona, with a daily average temperature of 100 degrees for more than 100 days and 61 days with highs of at least 110 degrees. In such conditions, getting out on the trails isn't just uncomfortable; it can be downright deadly. Mountain bikers, however, tend to be a foolishly tenacious crowd. Faced with such searing conditions, many local riders have taken a cue from the wildlife and gone fully nocturnal to escape the heat. “Down here, it's the only time that's safe and tolerable to ride," says Arizona rider Kurt Refsnider. "You can only spend so much time by the pool, and not everyone has a pool." “Riders of the Night” read and written by Sakeus Bankson. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In northern Chile, a stretch of Atacama Desert has become known as the fashion industry's biggest dumpster. Discarded clothing enters the country in bales through the tax-free zone in Iquique. What can't be sold by merchants gets transported to neighboring Alto Hospicio and illegally dumped into its surrounding dunes. These illegal landfills come with a host of environmental and human-health issues, including greenhouse gas emissions and fires that spew toxic fumes. Most stories about this region are filled with bleakness. But a community of activists, educators and artists are turning the fashion industry's trash into seeds for change and building the foundation for a different narrative. “Built from Scrap” read by Alex Perry and written by Franco Calderón. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada spent most of her childhood outside. Then, at 7 years old, she emigrated from Colombia to the US and found herself far from the mountains and forests that had once been like an extension of home. She spent decades chasing access and acceptance in Western outdoors culture, only to realize that she had much more to learn from the mountains—and mountain community—of her youth. “Running Led Me Home” read and written by Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grappling with her aging trail dog's declining health, a mountain biker decides to give her furry best friend one last dose of singletrack. “Roscoe's Last Ride”read and written by Lacy Kemp. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't protect our home planet if we lose our basic rights to defend it, says longtime climate advocate Annie Leonard. “Protecting the Right to Protest” read and written by Annie Leonard. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jane Fonda has been angry at politicians for as long as she's been an activist. Here's why she still votes. “Our Power” read and written by Jane Fonda. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 9, Nalleli Cobo set out to shut down an oil well next to her South Los Angeles home that was making her community sick. What unfolded would change history. “Free to Breathe” read and written by Nalleli Cobo. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All dams are dirty. The Round Butte Dam and its reservoir has been spewing methane, polluting Oregon's Deschutes River and blocking its iconic salmon and steelhead since 1964. In his piece, “The Wrong Green,” writer Steven Hawley shows how efforts to mitigate this destruction are only making things worse. “What Is the Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World?” read by Steve Duda and written by Steven Hawley. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eastern Washington is known for apple trees, hops and college basketball, not verdant forests or loam-lined singletrack. But each spring, when the still-damp soil meets the full brunt of Spokane sunshine, there is no better place to ride a bike. “For the Love of Dirt” read and written by Sakeus Bankson. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"On the Theft of Dreams," 17-year-old writer Maya Rose's winning essay from the youth writing contest we held in April 2024 with Write the World, is an artful experimentation full of scenes from her beloved Arizona desert that linger with dizzying effect. “On the Theft of Dreams” read and written by Maya Broeks. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost no one runs an ultramarathon alone. Behind every race bib, there is a pacer (or two or three). Pacers accompany their runner for portions of the race to help keep the motivation high, the legs moving and the calories flowing (in, hopefully not out). They can be the difference between dropping and finishing. But for Lisa Jhung, pacing is about much more than just helping her friends so they'll return the favor. It's given her a new outlook on the sport she loves. In “Keeping Pace,” she reflects on lessons learned and how helping friends reach their goals is more of a gift than she ever expected. “Keeping Pace” read and written by Lisa Jhung. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Healthy meadows are wet, spongy and teeming with diversity; but too many lack that swampy hospitality due to the eradication of beavers. Now, crews are recreating beaver dams to encourage complex, healthy meadows. With luck, a passing beaver might see the dams and the pooling water they love and think, "This is nice … but I could do better." The hope is they'll stick around. “Leave it to Beavers” read by Kirstie Carrizales and written by Amanda Monthei. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Would you attempt to take a 1,300-mile bite out of the Pacific Crest Trail with your three kids, all under age 5? We found a family who did. Their experience might help you decide to give something like it a go. "1,300 Miles" read and written by Marketa Zlatuskova. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll reflects on the positive force of failure during his latest climbing–sailing expedition to Greenland. “The Wall as a Mirror” read by Jane Sievert and written by Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flyfishing guide and writer Cameron Keller Scott shares his poem that gives voice to a river outside of human naming and language. As he writes in his author's note: "In my search for hope, I've deepened my experience of the natural world, as many of us have, from one of reverence and recreation to humility, advocacy and the idea that the natural world has a voice and rights equal to the human-built world." “A River's Own Name” read and written by Cameron Keller Scott. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While enduring the effects of pollution firsthand, Roishetta Ozane, a two-time Louisiana hurricane survivor and single mom of six, helped lead a historic campaign to pause new US liquefied natural gas permit applications, potentially preventing the single largest expansion of fossil fuels on earth. But her vision of activism, rooted in mutual aid, doesn't end there. Read “Strength for the Next Disaster” on Patagonia Stories. “Strength for the Next Disaster” read and written by Zina Rodriguez. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a series about the Fitzroy Skyline, climber Timmy O'Neill reflects on a first ascent, and the way landscapes change with time.  “Perched On A Wild Border” read and written by Timmy O'Neill. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a historic refuge near Chamonix, France, Sarah Cartier and her two kids (ages 3 and 10 months) demonstrate the joys and possibility of raising a family in the mountains. “The Charpoua Way” read by Linden Mallory and written by Floran Tomei. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somira Sao and her husband knew they didn't want to stop traveling after they had a family. So they took their sailboat and their three kids out on the seas. An unexpected stranding near the southern tip of Southern Chile was just a reminder that when raising kids in wild places it helps to be flexible. “Taking the Kids to Point Nemo” read by Molly Baker and written by Somira Sao. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Wieners, Patagonia's editorial director, writes about the Patagonia shirt that's had his back over the years. A shirt that continues to bring memories, thanks in large part to the Patagonia repair team, and the way they've been able to mend a beloved garment for more memories to be made. “Stich in Time” read and written by Brad Wieners. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climber and photographer Mikey Schaefer reflects on a lifetime of climbing, and the risks, and rewards that come with it. “Calculating Risk” read by Justin Roth and written by Mikey Schaefer. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every February in Utah, a community gathers to run laps up Grandeur Peak while raising money for the organizations fighting Salt Lake City's notorious air pollution. Running Up For Air (RUFA) is technically a race, but anyone will tell you that word doesn't paint a complete picture. "Breaking Trail for Clean Air” read and written by Ariella Carpenter. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when salmon take the witness stand? In a recent lawsuit, the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe sued the city of Seattle on behalf of Skagit River salmon, seeking acknowledgement that the city's three hydropower dams on the river infringed upon the fish's “inherent rights to exist, flourish, regenerate … and the right of access to their ancestral waters.” “Suing for Survival” read by Dylan Tomine and written by Jann Eberharter. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our latest in technical innovation is a hyper-specific sailing kit for big water and foul weather. In fact, that's its name, the Big Water Foul Weather kit. In this conversation with Linden Mallory and Meaghen Brown, hear how it came to life over a decade of collaboration between the crew from the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the expertise of our in-house product innovation team.  This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aimee Eaton wants her kids to grow up to take risks and stand up for what's right. It starts with exposing them what she values, through time outside, mucking around. "Be Brave, Be Kind, Go Get 'Em" read and written by Aimee Eaton. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A trip to Amami Ōshima, Japan, transports Gerry Lopez to a familiar feeling and place in a distant land. “In a way, life is a little like Dad's car … it takes us down the road, and at some point, a stop at the service station is needed to keep going." Listen to Gerry on the necessities of surfing, friends, family and exploration. “Living on Easy” read and written by Gerry Lopez. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we made Earth our sole shareholder a year ago, we got some nice feedback, but converting Patagonia's ownership isn't finally about us. It's about helping our environmental partners do big things. Have they ever! Years of effort recently culminated in the protection of 9.3M acres of Alaska's Tongass National Forest; 1.2M acres of Argentina's peatlands in Peninsula Mitre; and Albania's 118-mile Vjosa River. Up in Alaska, we also helped block the construction of the Pebble Mine and secure financial relief for climate refugees in Newtok. Naturally, there is far, far more to do. But we're pleased to share some cool progress during this hot, hot year. "Dear Earth," read by Meaghen Brown. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opting to only take California public transit for a climbing trip from Oakland to Yosemite National Park and back again, narinda heng wonders if relinquishing some road trip romance allows for a deeper intimacy with place. “Trading a Hatchback for a Rolling Duffel” read and written by narinda heng. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As an advanced R&D designer, Eric Noel saw running Sweden's 150 mile Kungsleden as a perfect vacation, and a perfect opportunity to test a new pack. Here's a peak into the world of product development.  “The 150-Mile Test” read and written by Eric Noll. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 30, residents of Gloster, Mississippi, and supporters from throughout the Southeast came together for the Equitable Action Run Towards Health (EARTH run): “A forum for communal movement near the source of the very same extraction that is affecting those who live close by.” "A Matter of Breathing” read and written by Peyton Thomas. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is your brain on shopping: When you see something new-to-you, your brain gives you a small pulse of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine. This reward system was great for the prehistoric era—new berry patch: good; saber-tooth tiger: bad—but today, it's contributing to an overconsumption problem that's deepening our climate crisis. "Why Do We Keep Buying New Stuff?” read and written by Archana Ram. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While teaching his teenage daughter to surf, author Dan Duane rediscovers the pure, unadulterated joy of doing something for the first time. “The Joy of Junky Windslop” read and written by Dan Duane. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years of going fast and pushing hard on Yosemite's big walls, Rhiannon Williams and Alexa Flower attempt a route in Peru, embracing a “no pressure to summit” mentality. "No Pressure" read and written by Alexa Flower. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dixie Fire revealed a whole spectrum of potential uses for the Lost Sierra's trails: a firefighting tool during the blaze, protection against fires in the future, and a means for wildlife to travel between fragmented habitats and escape threats. Hear our story about fire, mountain biking, and resilience. “Remember to Breathe” read by MaiLee Hung and written by Greg Williams. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Field testing guru Kelly Cordes takes us on a journey through the extremes of Patagonia's field testing program and possibly to the brink of hypothermia. We promise, we take this work – if not always ourselves - seriously. “Crash Test Dummy” read by and written by Kelly Cordes. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hidetoshi Matsubara lives a solitary life in the mountains of Tōhoku, Japan, where he is the last remaining tajako, or hawk master, in the area. Now 71 years old, Matsubara has lived in the snow-capped mountains of his home for the past 50 years, walking and hunting in harmony with his hawks.  “The Last Takajo” read by Kosuke Fujikura and written by Hironori Taniyama. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 195 miles and 34 mountain passes, traversed mostly alone, with the exception of a few days spent with photographer Ken Etzel eating mostly fish she caught along the way, Jenn Shelton completed the Sierra High Route. Listen to her story about her Fastest Fish Fourteener Known Time, her FFFKT. “FFFKT (Fastest Fish Fourteener Known Time)” read by Meaghen Brown and written by Jenn Shelton. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Patagonia Ambassador Katie Lamb started climbing and sewing at age seven, she was just mirroring her family. But as she got older, she found surprising common ground between bouldering and mending. “Make it Last” read and and written by Katie Lamb. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After successfully holding back an open pit coal mine expansion for two years, climate activists were forcefully removed from the village of Lützerath. Like many activists before them, their demands weren't met, but it's impossible to know the full consequences of action in the long run, because living out ideals and beliefs can instill hope and courage in others. "In Solidarity with the Future" read and written by Rebecca Solnit. This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

50 years of business unusual has taught us a lot. Vincent Stanley, Patagonia's director of philosophy, and co-author of The Future of the Responsible Company: What We've Learned from Patagonia's First 50 Years, talks with managing editor Archana Ram about the new edition of the book.  This episode of Patagonia Stories was produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate and sustainability journalist, Yessenia Funes, pries open a significant question of our time—is it responsible to have children amidst the climate crisis? In a personal account of the balance between fear and hope, we get a letter to the future and a child Funes hopes is in it. "To My Bebito" read and written by Yessia Funes. This episode of Patagonia Stories is produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think the worldwide decline of aquatic insects isn't a serious issue for fly anglers? Stephen Sautner asked guides, scientists and long-time anglers for their boots-on-the-ground experiences regarding the global “bug apocalypse.” "Dude, Where's My Hatch?" read and written by Stephen Sautner. This episode of Patagonia Stories is produced by Patagonia and Cosmic Standard. See more at https://pat.ag/PataStories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices