BORN IN FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA
ON THE COLORADO PLATEAU

Kahtoola (käh-too-lä) means “directly” in Tibetan. We were founded in 1999 to help people get directly where they want to go.

After a successful summit, they rappelled down and descended a steep gully on foot. Danny stepped on the icy snow and slid 600 feet down the treacherous chute. He narrowly avoided fatal injuries.

This experience left a lasting impression – miraculously unharmed, but severely shaken, he was compelled to address a critical safety gap in the mountain travel.

With tireless dedication and through an iterative process, Danny started to develop a new type of crampon that could be used with regular flexible footwear.

In the '90s, moving around in the mountains meant choosing between stiff, heavy lug-sole boots with crampons, or the running or approach shoes available at the time. There was little in between.

The invention of KTS created its own category–portable, flexible traction that bridged the gap between regular footwear and stiff, heavy mountaineering boots. It allowed more people to move efficiently and safely in the mountains.

While Danny's accident inspired him to create a safety solution, the experience moved him in more profound ways. Beyond simply creating products, he wanted his new company to create an even bigger impact in the world.

Kahtoola was born from this desire: to make people more capable in the outdoors through product innovation, and to build a company that acts as a responsible global entity, striving to make the world better overall.