Outside Podcast Why Adventure is a Form of Art, With Ski Touring Legend John King
Oct 29, 2025
Join John King, a kinetic artist and veteran backcountry skier, as he recounts his epic 1978 ski traverse across Colorado. His adventure, spanning 490 miles and 65,000 vertical feet, was a remarkable mix of endurance and artistry, inspiring the documentary *Moving Line*. John discusses how outdoor experiences fuel his creativity, and he shares poignant moments from the journey that shaped his belief: exploration is art. Discover the joy of uphill travel, the meditative power of wilderness, and how these insights translate into daily life.
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New Year River Ritual
- John keeps a ritual of plunging into his river on January 1st and speaks to the river while submerged.
- Once the river 'said' don't use the shower, so he humbly returned indoors slowly.
Boundary Waters Vision Quest
- As an Outward Bound instructor John skied alone 100 miles through Boundary Waters at age 20 to seek a harsher, solitary challenge.
- He describes falling through ice at 35 below and surviving as formative to his tolerance for hardship.
Uphill As The Meaningful Movement
- John values ascents and slow travel as a way to move over land and notice the world.
- He sees Nordic skis primarily as efficient cross-country transport rather than downhill joy machines.