University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Janet L. Reynolds 1978 - Cross Country, Skiing
This former UVM skiing MVP and fall cross-country runner has since earned her fame as the world's premier women's high altitude ski climber and adventurer. A 1990 Hall of Fame inductee, she has expanded her skiing interest into the field of mountain climbing and is known as one of today's most imaginative and successful mountain adventurers.
In 1980, Reynolds set the high altitude skiing record for women when she skied/climbed China's 25,000 foot Mount Muztagata. As a result of that accomplishment and the publicity surrounding it, Janet and her climbing partner, Ned Gillette, were able to entice corporate sponsorship of their next major adventure, the first circumnavigation of Mount Everest. Reynolds and Gillette successfully completed this ski/climb in 1981, which took them through Himalaya, Nepal and Tibet and included the first winter ascent of Mount Pumori.
Janet stayed in competition skiing as a member of the U.S. Biathlon team, which competed in the World Championships in 1983-84. She is also a three-time champion (1983-85) of the Mountain Man Triathlon in Colorado. She also set a high altitude hot air balloon record I an attempt to balloon over Everest in 1985.
Janet has been featured in many newspapers, including the New York Times, Boston Globe and Christian Science Monitor and her exploits have been chronicled in the National Geographic and Esquire. She has also spoken on behalf of adventurers on ABC, NBC and Public television and has worked as a contributing writer for National Geographic and various outdoor and ski magazines.
When Janet is not competing or climbing, she has worked as the Ski School Director at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe and for wilderness canoe expeditions in Wanipitee, Ontario.
