JACKSON, Wyo. — Morgan McGlashon was 19 when she first graced the Grand Teton. Eight years later, she is still the youngest woman to ever do so on skis.
Since her first ascent, she’s taken on the mountain peak some 40 times, skiing down it in the winter and climbing up it in the summer. McGlashon, who was born and raised in the Tetons, began a career with Exum Guides at 25. The Jackson Hole-based company is noted as the oldest guiding company in North America.
As a female guide in the outdoor industry, McGlashon explained that she’s found guiding to be a rewarding career, but certainly not one devoid of challenges.
For starters, the industry is full of barriers – access, affordability, physical shape, gender, age and an overall narrative of exclusivity.
“I was both young and female when I started guiding,” said McGlashon. “I think [when you meet people] those are factors that if they are going to judge a book by its cover, it can be hard to overcome.”
But over time, McGlashon found her way over most of those hurdles.
“I’ve found lots of ways of making myself appear competent and capable and gaining people’s trust. I get a little bit better at it each time but that definitely doesn’t mean it’s easy.”
“I was both young and female when I started guiding. I think [when you meet people] those are factors that if they are going to judge a book by its cover, it can be hard to overcome.”
Morgan McGlashon
Speaking to the difficulty of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, McGlashon explained that while it is hard at times, she’s grown into her own.
“[There are ways] in that it’s been beneficial and really helpful. I end up working with a lot of other women and guiding lots of women which I love.”
In general, the process of becoming a guide is “challenging and vague,” she says. Just navigating the process is a difficult task in itself.
But, with the help of mentors, McGlashon felt supported and fueled to pursue a career in the industry.
“I was definitely driven by other women ahead of me and had a lot of really awesome mentors and people who helped me find my way into this place, many of whom are still guiding and still working in the industry. I had quite a bit of leadership and support [from them].”
As McGlashon’s own career was made possible by seeking mentorship from others, she encourages women to do the same. She suggests that for women looking to break into the outdoor space, it’s always a good idea to participate in all-female meet-ups or reach out to someone who could field any questions they may have.
This summer, McGlashon is doing just that as she’s currently organizing an all-female climb of the Grand Teton in late August on the centennial of Eleanor Davis’ ascent. Davis was the first woman who made the feat.
Even when she’s not guiding, you’re most likely to find McGlashon in the alpine. Whether it be teaching avalanche courses, working with the kid’s backcountry program at Coombs’ Outdoors or Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club, McGlashon is constantly passing her own knowledge of the outdoors onto others.
“Where I can, I try to open up those doors to different people, especially women.”
