- Merrick Johnston
- From: Alaska, USA.
- Ambassador since: 2017
- Outdoor activities: Skiing, Mountaineering, Climbing
Achievements:
- Youngest to summit Denali (Mt McKinley) at 12 yo at the time
- Started guiding for mom’s company Alaska Gourmet Adventures at 14
- Assistant guide on Denali at 18
- Member of US junior Snowboard team (16-18) and placed 3rd overall for Jr. Worlds in Sapada, Italy
- Lots of accidental first ascents/descents in Alaska/ Northern Norway. One recent on that I am most proud of here in Tromsø was first female winter decent of the north face of Store Blåmann with good friend, Kjersti Hervik
- Qualified for Nortind opptakk 2016
- Switched to SkiVegleder 2019 and now in same group with Asbjørn
- Ski guding company Tromsø Ski Guides AS with Lena Dahl
Merrick Johnston is a professional ski guide, mountaineer, and athlete originally from Alaska, now based in Tromsø, Norway. Known for her lifelong connection to the mountains, she has been a prominent figure in the alpine community since she was a child.
Where did you grow up?
Alaska.
Where do you currently call home?
Tromsø.
Activity
Backcountry skiing, mountaineering, rock/ice climbing.
What year did you join the Norrøna family?
2017.
What current items on norrona.com are some of your go-to favorites?
lyngen Gore-Tex jacket, falketind flex1 Pants, Norrøna loose shorts.
What do you actively do to cut back on your carbon footprint?
Switched carreer paths from a petroleum engineer to a project leader in a privately own waste management company in Northern Norway working towards waste-to-resource solutions. See attached INNoV letter
Was there someone or some event that inspired you to get involved in your sport/activity?
Did a long trip with my mom from age 10 to 22 every year. My mom was the expedition manager for Norman Vaughn who climbed a namesake mountain in Antarctica at age 88. He was on the first American trip to Antarctica with Admiral Byrd. He was my surrogate grandpa and had a huge impact. There is a children’s book in Alaska by Shelly Gill that outlines our relationship and my Denali trip at 12 & his Antarctica at 88.
What advice would you give your 10-year-old self?
Slow down and smell the flowers.
If you were stranded alone in the wilderness, name 3 things you would want to have with you.
- My family with proper outdoor clothes
- A knife
- 80m 8mm static rope
What hobbies do you enjoy participating in?
Gymnastics, long boarding, surfing.
What would be the theme song describing your life?
Don’t be lame, be true to the game.
If you could have dinner with 3 people (living or deceased) who would they be and why?
The parents to my mom: to understand her childhood better, or Niko and Sigrid at our new house so we can all play music together.
What is/are your hidden talent(s)?
The alien, a stomach trick.
If you could choose a superpower, what would it be and why?
To magically transport between Alaska and Norway. Both are home with family/friends and connection with its nature. Wish I could easily go back and forth.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Energetic, positive, empathetic.
What is a skill that everyone should master and why?
Sharing is caring. The outdoors are for everyone so to enjoy sharing your passions with others that would benefit from the outdoor experience.
Merrick Johnston in action
