Maureen Beck was lucky to grow up in the Maine woods scrambling and playing in the dirt. She roped up for the first time at age 12 and hasn’t stopped since…
MO BECK
"Because two hands is too easy." — Mo Beck
One of the first professional paraclimbers in the world, Mo Beck has been climbing since she was 12 which, at this point, feels like her entire life. Mo started climbing before the internet was a thing, so for almost a decade she thought she was the only disabled person who climbed. Happy to be wrong about that, she started competing in paraclimbing in 2021 and has since won 10 National Championships, 2 World Championships, and several world cup and world champ medals. With paraclimbing recently being added to the Paralympic schedule for the first time, she’s going to chase some alpine big mountain dreams before buckling down to attempt to make the 2028 US Paralympic team.
Never one to lose sight of her outdoor roots, Mo has turned to the big mountains and was awarded National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year after an expedition to the Cirque of the Unclimbables in northern Canada. She continues to grow her skills in the big alpine peaks of North and South America, including this summer's first unassisted all adaptive ascent of the legendary Becky Chouinard in remote British Columbia.
An event with Mo will feel more like storytelling around a cozy campfire than a presentation. Her gripping tales will inspire you to start your own adventure while taking risks and breaking wild new trails along the way. With her trademark wit and humor, you’ll learn what it takes to build a community in a space that didn’t exist before, taking inspiration from the strength of the people and world around you.
Off the rock, Mo stays busy as the Education Director for the Adaptive Climbers Festival and sits on the boards of USA Climbing and the American Alpine Club. On her rest days you’ll find her on a raft, rod in hand, sipping a whiskey.
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Athletics • Inspiration • Ingenuity • Overcoming Obstacles • Adaptive Rock Climbing
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Keynote Workshop Interview Breakout Panel
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Improbable Ascent - Mo, the 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year will chronicle her journey as one of the foremost leaders in the sport of paraclimbing.
Media
TESTIMONIALS
“What an amazing woman. Thank you for booking her. Terrific Q&A, too.”
“Nice presentation with adventure, humor and great pictures and video. National Geographic speakers are always pretty interesting!”
“Very inspiring talk, my daughter was talking about planning her first expedition in the car on the way home!”