Sherry McConkey, Forward Motion, and the Kind of Legacy That Keeps Giving

Some people carry legacy like a weight.

Others carry it like a flame.

Sherry McConkey has always done the latter—and writing about her in Four Women and a Mountain remains one of the greatest privileges of my life.

Sherry’s incredibleness isn’t loud or self-congratulatory. It lives in motion. In follow-through. In the way she continues to build, advocate, and imagine forward—not just for herself, but for others. She is deeply rooted in the mountains, yet always looking ahead.

In recent years, that forward motion has found powerful expression through her work with the Eco Challenge—a global endurance event that champions teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and environmental stewardship. It’s a natural extension of who Sherry is: someone who believes that challenge is not about domination, but connection. To each other. To the land. To purpose.

What strikes me most is how intentional she is about the future. Sherry isn’t resting on what has been accomplished or what could easily define her forever. She’s choosing to invest her energy in meaningful work that invites others—especially younger generations—into a deeper relationship with the outdoors, with teamwork, and with possibility.

December 30th also marked Shane McConkey’s birthday—a day that always carries both joy and tenderness for so many who loved him, admired him, and were changed by his spirit. Shane’s legacy is indelible in the ski world and beyond, but what feels especially present now is how that legacy continues to evolve through Sherry’s work.

There is something profoundly moving about honoring the past by building the future.

Writing about Sherry allowed me to witness that truth up close. Her story is not frozen in time. It is alive. It is active. It is generous. And it reminds us that legacy is not just what we leave behind—it’s what we choose to carry forward with intention, humility, and heart.

I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to tell her story. To reflect her strength, her grace, and her unwavering commitment to purpose. The mountains are richer for her presence. And so are the people who get to move through this world alongside her.

Some lives inspire awe.

Others inspire action.

Sherry McConkey inspires both.