Yvon Chouinard

Nov 09, 1938 (87 years old) in Lewiston, Maine, USA

Yvon Chouinard, born November 9, 1938, in Lewiston, Maine, USA, is an American climber, mountaineer, and entrepreneur of French-Canadian descent. From childhood, after moving to California, he discovered nature and developed an early taste for adventure, first through falconry and then quickly through rock climbing. In the 1950s and 1960s, he regularly frequented the walls of Yosemite, building a reputation as a fearless climber, willing to do anything to break new ground, often in precarious conditions and with very little means.

Realizing that the climbing equipment of the time was not durable enough, he began hand-forging his own pitons and carabiners in his family's Burbank workshop, then selling them to finance his adventures. In 1968, he made mountaineering history during an expedition to Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, where he contributed to one of the most remarkable ascents of the time. He discovered the negative impact pitons had on rock, which led him to innovate with more environmentally friendly equipment, such as removable cams.

His innovative spirit and environmental commitment extend far beyond mountaineering. In 1973, he founded the Patagonia brand, dedicated to manufacturing strong and durable technical clothing for mountain lovers. An atypical businessman, he developed the company around strong values: respect for nature, responsible manufacturing, and sustainability. Over the years, Patagonia has become a global icon of sustainable development in the outdoor industry, thanks to its innovative stance on environmental protection.

After a long career in activism and entrepreneurship, Yvon Chouinard made a resounding gesture in 2022 by selling all of Patagonia to planet conservation organizations, thus realizing his desire to place ecology at the heart of his life's actions. Deeply introverted and passionate, this "Jack Kerouac of climbing" rejects consumerism, preferring to devote himself to nature, the mountains and the transmission of ethical values through his exceptional career.