Katie McKinstry
"I grew up in Boise, Idaho riding and eventing horses. When I was 17 I decided to follow my dreams and moved to Yelm Washington to work at Aspen Farms. After losing my horse to unfortunate circumstances, I found climbing through friends at a gym in Olympia. I slowly started to branch out and started to find a new passion outside of horses and my love for the mountains and climbing started to flourish. I stepped away from horses entirely and traveled the world with my partner, and climbed across the country finding my groove in this new and unexpected world. I moved back to Boise, got a job at Urban Ascent (the local climbing gym), and after about a year of working there, they, unfortunately, had to shut down. Needing a new place to go, I decided to look no farther than Bozeman Montana, one of the ice meccas of the lower 48. I was hired on to work at Spire Climbing and Fitness where I worked for three years before taking on a position as the Social Media Coordinator for the Bozeman Ice Fest, where I am currently working.
After some time here in Bozeman, and looking for more direction in my life I decided it was time to go to school (7 years post-high school graduation). Something I had always dabbled in but had never fully pursued because of other passions in my life was art. Knowing that this was a skill I could expand on, and having a strong desire for a profession that would allow me the flexibility and freedom to travel and live where I wanted, it was a no-brainer to go into the art department here at Montana State University in Bozeman Montana. I am in my third year getting a BFA in Graphic Design, with a Certificate in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. While I am going to school I am focusing on getting my business off the ground, and growing and expanding as an artist.
When I am not working, or going to school, you can find me in Hyalite Canyon. My passion in my life right now is ice climbing and dry tooling. To me, there is no better way to spend my day than going out in Hyalite Canyon and finding some beautiful, pristine frozen water to swing some ice tools into. The balance of delicacy, strength and technical ability has always been inspiring to me. If you cant find me in the studio, or on campus, you can be sure to find me up in the canyon. "
