Freja Shannon
Lead Guide
Find me on: Instagram
Freja is a Swedish-Irish alpinist, climber and IFMGA qualified Guide, known for bold ascents, technical precision, and a calm, grounded approach to moving through the mountains. She split her childhood between the west coast of Ireland and Sweden, and first came to Chamonix at 19 for a season of snowboarding — it was the following spring, when she tried climbing for the first time, that everything changed.
Since then, Freja has built an impressive track record across alpine climbing, multi-pitch rock and ski mountaineering — from the Mont Blanc massif and Norway’s Lyngen Alps to the granite of Chamonix and the sea cliffs of Ailladie back home in Ireland, including headpointing E8 trad routes and establishing new alpine lines on the remote Norwegian island of Senja. A serious fall in the Alps in 2023 left her with a broken back, and marked a real turning point in how she approaches risk in the mountains — a shift that has only deepened the calm, deliberate style she now brings to guiding.
She joins Outlier Ascents bringing that same blend of technical skill, empathy and quiet confidence to every client, whether it’s a first alpine route or a long-held dream objective.
Who is Freja…
Why the mountains?
Freja found climbing almost by accident — she moved to Chamonix at 19 for a season of snowboarding, and it was the following spring, trying climbing for the first time, that it all clicked. She’s spoken about how quickly she became consumed by it, throwing herself into alpine climbing across Chamonix, her family’s other home in Sweden, and the sea cliffs of Ailladie in Ireland, just a few miles from where she grew up.
What’s the biggest challenge you face with the mountains?
A serious fall in the Alps in 2023 left Freja with a broken back, and forced a real reckoning with risk. In interviews since, she’s described how the accident changed her relationship with fear and performance in climbing — and how learning to manage that has become just as important to her as any technical skill.
What’s your most epic experience to date?
Alongside fellow alpinist Fay Manners, Freja made the first ascent of a bold new mixed route on the north face of Grytetippen, on the remote Norwegian island of Senja — climbing through spindrift, near-zero visibility and temperatures as low as -19°C to find a line up unfamiliar terrain.
What does life outside of Outlier Ascents look like for you?
Freja splits her time between Ireland, Sweden and the Chamonix valley. She’s spoken about her early years scraping together odd jobs — babysitting, bar work, even a stint at a cemetery and a nursing home — just to fund the next climbing trip. These days, alongside guiding, she’s deep into her own mountain guide training.
