Episode #35- Felipe Proaño

The Climbing Advocate

Our guest for today’s episode is Felipe Proaño. Felipe is a professional climber based in Quito, Ecuador and is the founder and former president of Fondo de Acceso Andino — the equivalent of Access Fund in Ecuador. Fondo de Acceso Andino is a community-focused organization that works with members of rural communities in Ecuador to discuss opportunities for climbing development and how it can support the community and its people. Felipe has led collaborative efforts to help diversify these communities’ economies to include tourism and has found ways to ensure that climbing development can benefit everyone. He is dedicated to showing just how impactful climbing can be in helping to alleviate the challenges rural communities face and providing resources that they might lack. Follow along as Felipe shares some of the trials, tribulations and success stories in advocating for a sustainable future for climbing in Ecuador. 5:29- Banter 7:20- Felipe’s intro 13:00- Columns of Tangan & the E35 Area 16:33- Advocacy in Ecuador 20:06- The Towers of Simiatug 27:07- The health and economic challenges in rural communities 32:41- Reinvesting capital in the communities 35:00- Finding a leadership role 42:39- Land management in Ecuador 53:11- Felipe's favorite place to climb in the U.S. 57:44- Fondo de Acceso Andino 1:05:20- Promoting climbing & guidebooking 1:10:47- Similarities in access & advocacy 1:16:36- Felipe's definition of advocacy Felipe’s Instagram: @feli.proclimer Felipe’s website: https://www.feli-pro.com/ Fondo de Acceso Andino: http://fondoaccesoandino.org 2020 Climbing Advocacy Conference Workshop: https://accessfund-workshops.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/main/home