For the fourth editorial focus, we delve into the personal story and friendship between two legends of the women’s climbing scene, Sarah Hueniken and Ines Papert, which have been able to recount their evolution and, at the same time, that of the entire climbing movement, on the threshold of turning 50.

‘Fifty-fifty’, is both a climb documentary and manifesto: a candid, light-footed yet lucid exploration of what it means to keep pushing when the numbers on your ID say you should be slowing down. From frozen pillars to late night talks, the film follows the two climbers as they negotiate risk, friendship, aging and ambition with the same precision they reserve for thin ice and small edges. 

Between shared belays, vertical approaches and everyday commitments off the wall, their story becomes a wider reflection on how women inhabit the mountains today—far beyond the classic clichés. It is here, in this tension between performance and care, heritage, the present and the future, that our last stop on the Arc’teryx winter tour finds its grip.

For those who might not know you yet, how would you each introduce yourselves?

Sarah Hueniken: “I’m an ACMG Alpine guide living in Canmore Alberta, Canada, and have been pursuing climbing for most of my life.”

Ines Papert: “I would describe myself as an all-rounder, as I am an incredibly curious person and would love to be able to perform all mountain sports at a high level. This has probably led to me feeling most at home in alpinism. Many people may know me as an ice climber.  But alpine mountaineering combines all the elements, and climbing large, difficult walls is what makes me happiest.” 

Do you remember a specific moment when the mountains stopped being just “scenery” and became central to your lives? And when did you realize that this could become not only a passion, but a profession?

Sarah Hueniken: “When I drove out to the mountains the first time, I got quite emotional and I didn’t even know why. At the time I knew very little about climbing outside of a bit of gym climbing and a road trip, but I was super keen to learn and explore. I understood pretty quickly that if I wasn’t climbing I was generally in a bad mood and so I took my paddling and transferred it to becoming a rock guide here in theRockies. At that point, I knew guiding and being in the mountains everyday would become my lifestyle.” 

Ines Papert: “My enthusiasm for the mountains began with hiking in summer and ski touring in winter. One day, when I saw climbers on the wall above me, I knew that this was my path. Why take the unnecessary trail around when it’s possible to go straight up? That was when I was around 20 years old. Shortly afterwards, I became a multiple world champion in ice climbing, and that’s how my professional career began. I never actively decided to do it, but rather the other way around. It was meant to be.” 

If you think back to your very first seasons on ice and mixed routes, what kind of people were you then compared to now?

Sarah Hueniken: “I was a lot more naive to the hazards I think, but I also was not overly ambitious. I think I stayed within my ability level. Now I likely have much greater capacity but I am still quite conservative in what risks I choose. More based on knowledge and experience than on naivety.”

Ines Papert: “I have always been the same person, full of curiosity and enthusiasm. Back then, my first day on the ice ended with a bloody nose and frozen hands and feet. But I wanted to try again, and it’s the same today. Giving up was never an option for me, and constantly developing myself has become part of my life.” 

Can you each walk us through your path into climbing – what pulled you in and what made you stay together?

Ines Papert: “Climbing with other women seemed like a good idea to me from very early on. We feel more responsible towards each other, which is the only way I could learn to find the route, make decisions, and dare to lead. This has continued to this day. In Sarah, I have found a friend who lives by similar values and is also an equal climbing partner.

I enjoy spending time with people like her, who don’t take themselves too seriously but at the same time know what they can do and what they want.”

How has your relationship with the mountains evolved from your twenties and thirties to today? Has your definition of “risk” changed over time? 

Sarah Hueniken: “I spent most of those years working as a guide. I wish looking back I had put more time and energy into some personal climbing but I really did enjoy sharing the mountain with others. I ran a lot of women’s camps and really enjoyed that. I’ve always been quite risk adverse but probably more so with age.”

Ines Papert: “Time has certainly taught me a lot, both good and not so good. Climbing has always been the best teacher for life, enabling me to make important decisions and face defeat with courage. In the past, I found it very difficult to abandon a route. Today, I tend to feel proud when I make a sound assessment and no longer see retreating as a loss but as a gain. My intuition has grown with experience, and I therefore trust it more today than I did in the past.”

Do you feel more attached to the physical challenge, the exploration, the partnership, or the storytelling side of climbing now?

Sarah Hueniken: “I’ve always probably enjoyed the physical challenge a ton and still do. I like to push myself in safe places versus roll the dice in hazards I can’t control. I like leaving the curiosity of “if I can do something” versus “I hope we can get away with this”. I also always enjoy the partnership. I would probably never be inspired to solo, because being out there with a good partner is more than half of the experience. I feel as invested in the belay as I do the climb.”

Ines Papert: “I find both interesting, as I have learned over the years that women often do not recognize their abilities. It gives me great pleasure to encourage them with my ambitions, perspectives, and experiences. Today, I enjoy sharing my knowledge even more by accompanying young people into the mountains and, as a climbing guide, teaching women’s groups in targeted workshops to find the courage to lead and grow.” 

How have you seen each other change over the years, as climbers and as people? And what have you learned about yourself by climbing together?

Sarah Hueniken: “We really didn’t know each other very well until recently. I have learned though that I likely am more capable then I think after climbing with Ines. Watching her mental strength meet her physical strength is very inspiring to me.”

Ines Papert: “There are very few women in our ‘playing field’, so you just get to know each other at some point. If you then hit it off and become friends, even better. Her willingness to give her all and train hard for it has always inspired me. And I am sure that many people benefit from her skills as a mountain guide. Few people are able to share their enthusiasm with others in this way.” 

How did the idea for FIFTY-FIFTY first come up? And what was the original question the film set out to explore?

Sarah Hueniken: “Ines and I set out to do some trips together, and from there it just evolved. I don’t think there are a ton of women our age still ‘getting after it’, so we hoped that we might inspire others to look at aging a bit differently while also learning about ourselves in the process.”

Ines Papert: “The film project came about quite naturally. At first, we were joking about getting older while climbing, and then this film idea just came about on its own. We didn’t want a heavy film, but rather to approach the subject with a light touch.” 

The film follows you as you both approach or pass 50. How did you feel about putting that number front and centre?

Sarah Hueniken: “At first, the number scared me, but now I see it as a bit of a badge of honor. I’m proud to be out with the 30 year olds and holding my own. I know age will creep up on us as it does on everyone, but I’m excited by my 50’s to see what else is possible.”

Ines Papert: “I think it felt strange for both of us, simply because neither of us feels like we’re 50.”

In the film you say that you are stronger climbers now than you were at 30, how about that?

Sarah Hueniken: “It’s true. I believe if I keep moving and learning and training, I can and am surpassing what I used to be able to climb.”

Ines Papert: “At 30, I had much less experience but the same motivation and desire. Maybe it was meant as a joke, because today I need more rest days than I used to. But climbing was never just a physical challenge, it was mainly mental, and that’s where I feel stronger today than I did back then.” 

What kind of message did you hope the film would send – especially to women in outdoor sports?

Sarah Hueniken: “To live each day to the fullest. Be as present as you can be. Choose things that you want to do now, not that you want to have done. And keep trying…always.”

Ines Papert: “Women should sometimes take themselves more seriously, and it should also be said that there are so many women who are incredibly strong climbers without even knowing it. If our adventures out there empower other women, then we’ve done everything right.”

And beyond climbing, what is FIFTY-FIFTY really about for you on a deeper level?

Sarah Hueniken: “I think it’s about accepting age and not fighting it, being authentic and true to who you are at any age, and not letting a number slow you down.”

You’ve seen several “generations” of climbing come and go. How would you describe the biggest changes in the climbing scene over your careers? How has the rise of social media and constant content creation changed what it means to be a professional climber?

Sarah Hueniken: “I think the idea of FOMO (fear of missing out) is a huge problem.  Everyday you can see what everyone is doing all the time, but you never get the bigger picture. You only get a glimpse and it always feels so isolating. I think social media was meant to feel a connection, but it doesn’t. I do think though it has pushed the sport.  Evolution has happened because everyone knows what everyone is doing and they want to do it too.  Nowadays, a ton of folks are hopping off the couch and climbing grade 6 ice right away…so it seems that a lot more people are getting good at it.”

Ines Papert: “I am very grateful that I grew up in a world without social media. That’s why I know exactly what my values are and why I have my ambitions. Only when they come from the bottom of my heart do I tie myself into the rope and climb up. I’m not sure if many young people today manage to do that.”

Do you think storytelling through films and social media can genuinely change how people relate to nature and climbing?

Sarah Hueniken: “Sure. I think films have always given a glimpse into people’s lives.”

Ines Papert: “Yes, of course. That’s the sunny side of social media.” 

What does it mean to you personally to be supported by a brand like Arc’teryx at this stage of your careers?

Sarah Hueniken: “It’s amazing. Arcteryx has never asked us to do anything we don’t want to do. They always support an athlete’s authenticity and that is very empowering.”

Ines Papert: “I have always been deeply connected to the brand, ever since I started climbing. That explains my appreciation for Arcteryx. As an athlete, I am very proud to be associated with one of the highest quality mountain sports brands. Helping to create the coolest things is quite amazing.”

And how does it show up on the creative side – having your stories told through films, photography and events like the winter tour?

Ines Papert: “I am very pleased that we don’t just tell stories about higher, faster, further. When the stories go deeper, then I am in the right place.”  

Have your priorities outside climbing changed as you’ve gotten older – family, health, creativity, activism? How do you see your relationship with the mountains evolving in the next few years?

Sarah Hueniken: “At this point in life, I am busier than ever. I am a Mom, daughter, wife, dog mom, and then I guide, I run a non-profit, I work as an avalanche ambassador and I try to be an athlete. Finding balance is always the hardest part, but I am trying as hard as I can to stay present in the role I am playing at the time…and not always feel like I should be doing something else. That’s the crux but also the secret to happiness.”

Ines Papert: “I’ve never had long-term plans, but today least of all. When a line on a big wall inspires me, I don’t think about how old I am. What has already changed is my willingness to share. To pass on my knowledge and skills to other women. I have found my base for this purpose in Croatia and Istria. At the rocks above Mountain Lodge Istria, I share my experiences with other women for a few weeks each year. I love it and live for it.”