For nine years, National Geographic has combed the globe to find the Adventurers of the Year, each selected for his or her extraordinary achievement in exploration, adventure sports, conservation, and humanitarianism. This year, we picked people who embody the spirit of adventure in diverse ways—a sky runner reinventing the rules; a skier reimagining his backyard; a climber seeking the hardest routes; a solo woman walking across the globe; a pair of veterans creating community where it's needed most; and five more incredible feats.



Get to know them in photos and interviews. Then vote every day for the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year.