Janet Wilkinson prefers to live under open skies. After migrating east from Ohio to go to school at University of New Hampshire, she fell in love with the nearby White Mountains, where she discovered the joy of climbing movement clipping bolts at Rumney and bouldering at Pawtuckaway. She’s since made her home in Madison, New Hampshire, where Cathedral Ledge’s traditional climbing and the snow and ice of the Notches provide the playgrounds of choice. Janet occasionally wanders from the Granite State, too. Some of her favorite adventures over the years have been making a coveted ‘Nose In A Day’ ascent in Yosemite Valley, exploring her way up first ascents of mountains in India, and climbing new cliffs on the south coast of Newfoundland. She’s also forged a ‘serious’ career in grant writing and non-profit management, most recently serving as the executive director of the New Hampshire chapter of the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association. Janet’s favorite rest day activities are gardening, yoga, and playing with her husband Freddie and dog Tagger.
Janet began her guiding career in 2004 with Eastern Mountain Sports. She loves guiding in winter especially, she says, “because of the impermanence of the snow and ice, and how that lets you interact with the mountains…. People are often surprised how much fun you can have in the cold!”
Janet’s links and press:
Mountain Hardwear Athlete Page
La Sportiva Athlete Page
Splitterville Blog
Janet’s short film documenting a ladies only adventure to the sea cliffs of Newfoundland: