Wesley Trimble
Hi there. I’m
Waypoints of My Journey
Defining Moments & Orienting Principles
Within
Weakness
A Short Film
Cerebral palsy hinders my strength and coordination on my body’s right side, but it hasn’t thwarted my goal to climb all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. Along the way, I’ve discovered great strength within weakness, though tragedy taught me these adventures could cost me everything.
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American Hiking
Fusing my design background with my extensive hiking and conservation experience, I work to advance American Hiking Society’s mission of empowering all to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience. Giving back to the wild places I love by cultivating outdoor stewards and advocates among the 44 million hikers in the US fires me up.
Entering a Larger Narrative
I yearn for a good story. I used to think camping on the summit of a 14,000-foot peak in the dead of winter, scaling frozen waterfalls, running ultramarathons through snowstorms, or trekking hundreds or even thousands of miles solo through the mountains in a single push characterized epic adventures. I’ve learned these experiences make captivating scenes but are merely casual adventures. Motivated by love, epic adventures draw us into a larger narrative that is bigger than any one person and must be shared to impact the world.
Visual Storytelling
In 2012, I set an ambitious goal to hike and climb 300,000 vertical feet for the year. I collected snapshots along the way, but I realized these snapshots didn’t do justice in capturing my adventures and the iconic landscapes I traversed. After purchasing my first high definition action cam, I devoted myself to visual storytelling. I began honing my videography and photography skills in hopes the quality of my craft would live up to my adventures.
The Common Thread of Design
Through every season of life, the joy of creativity and design has remained a constant. My multidisciplinary professional experiences intersect to form a unique tapestry of design skills. I’ve developed websites, databases, architecture concepts, manufacturing processes, and a wide range of visual communications.
My Undivided Attention
In an ever-accelerating world, I value carving out distraction-free time for work, family, play, and rest. Though the endless to-do list and the allure of the screen steal more attention than I’d like to admit, I’m at my best when I slow down and direct my focus to what matters most.
Living Lightly
As a long-distance hiker and mountaineer, I’ve discovered my fears manifest as extra items in my pack for those “just in case” moments. Likewise, it’s easy to collect unrealistic expectations and regrets on life’s journey which crush the soul. Attracted to simplicity, I seek to live freely and lightly.
CP and the PCT
Countless moments of joy and pain saturated my 139-day thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Cerebral palsy may have slowed me down, but I persevered. With the support of my friends, family, and fellow hikers, I beat the odds to complete the journey from Mexico to Canada. The short film from the experience helped launch my career in the outdoor industry.
Watch the Short Film
Shot and produced as a solo passion project—CP and the PCT—condenses my 2,600-mile journey into a three-minute, award-winning short film.
A Heart for Outdoor Service
After my freshman year of college, I signed on with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. I sought a summer job and an outdoor adventure, but I received more than I could have imagined.
It’s no exaggeration to say the experience changed my life; the transformative experience reoriented my view of the outdoors. I discovered a critical role in conserving the trails and outdoor spaces I cherish. For four summers, I found deep fulfillment in building and improving trails to last beyond my lifetime.
Environmental Design
Developing creative ideas to address complex challenges and (more importantly) communicating viable concepts comprised the cornerstone of my Bachelor's of Environmental Design. Equipped with an arsenal of cutting-edge and tried-and-true design skills, I discovered the joy of unearthing pragmatic solutions within a project’s constraints.
In My Element
At age nine, I set out with my family to climb my first Colorado Fourteener. The climb up Mount Princeton was both invigorating and challenging, but I also shed tears on the arduous descent. Looking back on that first climb, I think Mount Princeton taught me the best things in life require perseverance and sacrifice—an invaluable lesson for a kid with CP.
A couple of years later, I found my stride in a high alpine boulder field on my second fourteener climb. To this day, I feel most alive and “in my element” above treeline.
Charting My Trajectory
As a toddler, my parents carried me to the top of one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. On top of Mount Yale, I like to think that as I inhaled the thin, crisp, Rocky Mountain air, I also filled my lungs with the spirit of adventure. Perhaps that mountain top experience charted the trajectory of my life.
Where I’m From
My unique take and adaptation of the original poem by George Ella Lyons
I'm from split pine
and the wood-burning stove.
I'm from three-stories
nestled gently in the Ponderosa,
with thick bark and a hint of vanilla.
I'm from Oh beautiful, for spacious skies.
I’m from the sweat-of-your-brow
and a jack-of-all-trades,
from the quarter-sawn oak table,
crafted with dreams in mind.
I’m from Sunday pot roasts
and Taco Fridays.
I’m from Rocky Mountain High
and “ready for anything”
I’m from the cluttered corners,
filled with unfinished projects
and scratchy Pendleton blankets.
I’m from 4 am departures
and highways stretching to the horizon
from “he’s on my side”
and canvas wall tents.
I’m from golden-brown marshmallows
and Coleman lanterns.
I’m from surely goodness and mercy
and “meet me on the other side”.
I’m from the hallway of frames,
of new beginnings and deep commitments,
from muted tones and fading hues.
I’m from deep roots
and boughs splintering
from the weight of love and grace.