Vertical Wings Project strives to involve a diverse collection of creators to take part in our project to enhance the connection between people and our planet. Science, art, and extreme sports have a lot in common - the work they produce is often difficult to interpret or seemingly inaccessible, leaving non-experts feeling like they’re on the outside looking in.
Our scientists aim to research relevant subjects that reflect our relationship to the natural world and share the results, contributing to an ever-growing database of data driven solutions. We work with internationally renowned researchers, institutions and citizen science projects.
Our international team of artists will share inspirational works to fan the flame of connection, adventure and access to the world’s cultures and ecosystems. Along with physical works, we will be sharing these stories through film and photography.
Global athletes; Basejumpers, highliners, rock climbers, surfers, freedivers, skiers, paragliders, and more; join our mission to come together to show nature as playground.
We are here to lift the voices of those we meet. We hope to make the world more accessible through communicating science, inspiring through adventure and creating art. Together, we will share stories detailing the unequivocal importance of all ways of life. We are changing the status quo. Why not include the world as we explore it?
We are all charting the path of our lives.
“what is essential is invisible to the eye”
The crew is ever-evolving.
Here are some of the people involved in the next 5 months.
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Paula Wild
Captain
Paula is a yoga therapist, teacher of teachers, outdoor educator and non-profit admin wiz. She brings over a decade of experience in the healing arts and a deep commitment to inclusion.
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John Verb
Captain
John studied physics and psychology, is a wingsuit BASE jumper, semi-professional rock climber and all around mountain man. Also a skilled carpenter and electrician, he has all the know-how to fix anything, and capably lead his crew into the unknown.
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Taylor Bratton
Marine Scientist, Crew, Adventurer
Taylor is a marine scientist specializing in the human components of marine research. Her social approach to conservation focuses on advocating for small scale fisheries and vulnerable coastal communities. She holds a masters degree in marine science and has helped establish marine protected areas around the world. In her free time, she enjoys climbing, surfing, diving and highlining.
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Crystal Davis-Robbins
Climber, Crew, Musician, Mother
Crystal grew up in Durango, Colorado, where she started to climb with her mom at age five. She first traveled to Patagonia in 2005, while in her early twenties, returning many times. She fell in love with Argentina, embracing the culture, studying music in Mendoza, and eventually settling in Bariloche, northern Patagonia.
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Caro North
Climber, Crew
Caro is an Alpinist and Mountain Guide comfortable in rock, ice and mixed terrain. At age 16 she nearly stood at the top of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America, aged 24 she did the first female free ascent of Cerro Torre together with Christina Huber.
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Whitney Clark
Climber, Crew
Whitney grew up in the Pacific Northwest and learned to climb in the rugged, alpine wonderland of the Cascades. While her passion started with mountaineering, it quickly shifted for a desire to pursue more difficult and technical climbing. Over the years, she's honed her skills across the globe: steep granite mountains in the Bugaboos, the wind swept peaks of El Chalten, big walls of Yosemite Valley, and the notoriously difficult crag of Index, WA. Early on, she learned to be “comfortable while uncomfortable” by hiking seemingly endless miles to the base of a climb and spending multiple days on routes. She has been on many expeditions to India, Alaska, Canada and Patagonia and loves exploring this vast and fascinating world.
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Taylor Shafer
Photographer, Crew
Taylor’s imagery blends the raw human spirit with beautiful unforgiving environments. His bold and unique perspectives have allowed Taylor’s work to stand out over other young artists. Taylor has been on photography expeditions around the world and worked with many influential athletes.
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Chris Jordan
Artist, Photographer, Crew
Chris Jordan is a photographic artist, filmmaker, cultural activist, and art educator. His paradigm-breaking film Albatross (2017) continues to reach audiences around the world with a heart-opening story of birds on a remote island in the Pacific whose bodies are filled with plastic.
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Pat Walker
Wingsuiter, Crew
Human flight specialists.
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Heather Falenski
Editor, Filmmaker
Heather Falenski is a filmmaker based in Boulder, Colorado. She is the owner of One World Media, a full service production company specializing in documentary and adventure film. Before transitioning to adventure film, her early work focused on displaced populations in post-conflict areas on the African continent.
