198: "Buried"-A Story of Healing After A High Risk Adventure Goes Bad

In this episode, we hear from Ken Wylie, author, speaker, facilitator, and former professional backcountry ski guide and mountaineer. Ken’s book "Buried" is a profound memoir about a 2003 tragedy where an avalanche killed seven backcountry skiers in Canada when Ken was a ski guide. The book explores the mountaineering community's intricate relationships and the personal decisions that led to a tragic event. It serves as a testament to the peace from accepting responsibility and personal growth from understanding, promoting introspection on accountability, and inspiring hope for life's challenges. It chronicles the mental health impacts of a tragic high-risk adventure expedition and how recovery can happen.

Ken shares his journey of writing and sharing “Buried” and how he became involved in high-risk adventuring at a young age. He dives into how adventure can amplify what we bring out into the field and how one can heal through experiences of adventure and stillness.  He introduces Archetypal, his revolutionary training program aimed at managing human hazards, reflecting his dedication to fostering personal growth and stronger connections.

Ken's journey is a testament to the transformative power of understanding and responsibility. Tune in and let his inspiring narrative provoke thought, kindle hope, and inspire you to navigate your own life's adventures.

Ken's Bio from Archetypal:  Ken has been a life long adventurer. He has climbed high and difficult terrain, and has witnessed profound consequence. These experiences underpin his nuanced perspective on human hazard management. His adventures compelled him to go deeper inside, to face his own frailty and find his greatest strengths. He has come to understand that heroes don’t just do amazing things, they allow their experiences to change them so that they come home and better serve others. He has facilitated journeys of transformation through exposure to risk for himself and others for thirty nine years. Ardently walking the path himself, and helping those he leads. He recognizes that adventure is critical in today’s society because it is real and has authentic consequence. This is a stage for us to learn to be authentic in order to manage the situations in which we find ourselves. This process builds better people, communities and a better society.