Bronwyn is a professional rock climber and guide, based out of Squamish, Canada. Originally from rural Ontario, she grew up canoeing, hiking and skiing with her family. She started climbing at university and immediately fell in love with the sport.
Bronwyn has climbed 14a sport and 13d trad, as well as many adventurous routes in Europe, northern Africa and North America. In November 2018 she became the first Canadian female to free climb El Capitan in Yosemite, CA, with her ascent of Freerider (13a) over five days. That was her fourth attempt in as many years, and a huge personal goal. Three years later she became the third women in the world to free climb Golden Gate also on El Cap.
She has also lead remote big wall expeditions, including a summer on Baffin Island in 2019 with her husband Jacob and two of her childhood adventure buddies, Thor and Zack. On the trip, the team climbed some big mountain faces including Mount Asgard (three times!) and Mount Thor, and accessed the mountains by packraft making the trip self-propelled from the Inuit community of Pangnirtung. In 2022 Bronwyn and Jacob and four other friends traveled to Greenland, where they established new big routes on sea cliffs which they accessed by sea kayaking 400km of Arctic coastline!
Bronwyn is also an ACMG Rock Guide, guiding and instructing seasonally around Squamish, BC.
Join professional climber, guide, and filmmaker Bronwyn Hodgins for an inspiring and visually stunning presentation tracing her evolution from remote big wall expeditions to high-end sport climbing. Based in Squamish, BC, Bronwyn made history in 2018 as the first Canadian woman to free climb El Capitan, and has since pushed her limits on trad, sport, and big walls around the globe—from Baffin Island to Patagonia to a 65-day kayak and climbing expedition along the coast of Greenland.
In this candid and compelling talk, Bronwyn shares the behind-the-scenes journey of her recent climb of La Rubia(5.14c), one of the hardest routes ever climbed by a Canadian woman, and the subject of her new film created by an all-female production team. She’ll reflect on how her identity as an athlete has evolved—embracing both the joy of adventure and the pursuit of performance—while also advocating for more inclusive and representative spaces in the climbing world.
Expect powerful storytelling, striking imagery, and honest reflections from one of Canada’s most versatile and driven climbers. Whether you’re drawn to remote adventure, elite performance, or the future of climbing culture, Bronwyn’s presentation offers something for everyone.
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