Liz Daley was the kind of person who lit up every room and every mountain. Born and raised in Tacoma’s North End, she grew up exploring the outdoors with friends and family, always chasing the next adventure. She graduated from Stadium High School and Western Washington University, where her love for the mountains deepened, and her dream of a life spent outside took shape. Those who knew Liz remember her for her warmth, her laugh, and her joy in bringing people together. She had a knack for turning friends into family. “Liz was so vibrant and kind, everyone that met her was drawn to her,” says Krystle Edward, Director of the Liz Rocks Foundation. “She was the one always cheering you on.”
After college, Liz turned her passion for the outdoors into a profession. She became one of the first female professional split boarders and was the first woman to descend multiple challenging peaks across the Pacific Northwest on a split board, including Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Mount Adams, and Mount Rainier. With her outgoingness and confidence in the mountains, Liz stood out in a field with few women at her level. Her skill and spirit earned her sponsorships from Patagonia, Eddie Bauer, and Jones Snowboards. She guided climbs around the world and was working towards becoming an internationally certified mountain guide, determined to help others experience the beauty and challenge of the outdoors.
In 2014, Liz was tragically killed in an avalanche while descending Cerro Vespignani, a 7,000 foot peak in Argentine Patagonia. Her passing sent shockwaves of grief through both the mountaineering community and her hometown of Tacoma. Friends and family were heartbroken but inspired to keep her spirit and legacy alive.
“After Liz passed, we wanted to celebrate her big, adventurous life,” says Krystle. “We decided to raise funds to honor her in a way that reflected her love of climbing and community.”
That effort became the Liz Rocks Foundation, which provides scholarships and programs that introduce underrepresented urban youth to climbing and outdoor adventure. The Foundation’s newest project, in partnership with the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, will bring a two-story climbing wall inspired by Liz’s life to the new Pearl Street Family YMCA.
“The Y shares our mission to help youth reach new peaks,” Krystle says. “This wall is a launch pad for the next generation to Live Like Liz."
Learn more about Liz’s legacy at LizRocks.com