Caroline Gleich, renowned ski mountaineer and endurance athlete, today announced her campaign to represent Utah in the United States Senate. She filed with the lieutenant governor’s office of Utah as a Democrat running for Sen. Mitt Romney’s soon-to-be-empty seat.
Gleich, 38, has summited some of the tallest mountains in the world. She was the first woman to have skied all 90 lines in the Wasatch Mountain’s infamous “Chuting Gallery.” She’s appeared in feature ski films, on covers of ski magazines, and regularly on her podcast, The Caroline Gleich Show.
But Gleich is also an incredibly dedicated activist for the environment and equality. A lot of her physical accomplishments are rooted in activism and awareness.
“I’ve been an underdog my whole life with skeptics questioning my height, strength, and bravery for scaling the world’s tallest mountains,” she wrote in an Instagram post announcing her candidacy. “Yet, I’ve summited Everest and Cho Oyu. I’ve broken records and defied limits. Running for the United States Senate to represent the people of Utah is undoubtedly an uphill climb. But I’m no stranger to overcoming challenges.”
Gleich for Senate
Gleich was born in Minnesota and moved to Utah with her parents when she was 15 years old. She attended the University of Utah where, during her senior year, she enrolled in a course on American national government. That was the true start of her career as a political activist.
Today, she testified before Congress in support of conservation bills like the American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act. She also works closely with the conservation group Protect Our Winters.
Even her summit of Everest/Chomolungma in 2019 was part of an effort to promote gender equality in sports.
Her goal in life, according to her website, “is to inspire people to get outside, live a healthy active lifestyle and protect the places we love to play.”
If successful, her bid for a Utah Senate seat would enable her to accomplish that goal on an even larger scale than her platform as a professional athlete has. She’ll be fighting for conservation and equality from the inside, on Capitol Hill, inspiring people in completely new ways to stand up for what they’re passionate about.
“As I start this climb towards the U.S. Senate, I carry with me the lessons learned from reaching mountain peaks and navigating life’s terrain,” Gleich wrote. “My commitment is unwavering — to empower, to protect, and to advocate for a brighter future.”
Follow Gleich on her campaign Instagram (@carolineforutah) and also at her regular handle (@carolinegleich) to stay up to date as she vies for a seat in the United States Senate.
