Faith Dickey, owner of Elevate Outdoors Guiding, has been recognized as the Southern Entrepreneur of the Year by the Women’s Business Center of Utah at the recent Exploring Possibilities Conference in Cedar City. The award honors her innovative approach to making highlining—the sport of walking on narrow webbing stretched between high points—accessible to people of all abilities in the Moab area.
Dickey’s approach to outdoor guiding reflects her commitment to inclusion in adventure sports. In addition to standard climbing and canyoneering guides, Elevate Outdoors provides beginner highlining courses where Dickey sets up safety systems to make the sport accessible for newcomers.
For people curious about trying this unique outdoor activity, Dickey’s beginner-friendly courses offer highlining instruction using a top rope system that supports the walker and prevents them from falling beneath the tightrope if they lose their balance.
Not only does this make highlining accessible to the inexperienced, it also can accommodate people with physical disabilities.
“Faith…has been setting records, starring in TV and film productions, and establishing highlining on a global scale since 2008,” said Sarah Barstow, Women’s Business Center of Utah business advisor. “She is an inspiration to both women in this sport and to anyone who has witnessed her passion for coaching people through fear.”
“Starting a business is challenging, especially overcoming obstacles like imposter syndrome or self doubt, but having an organization like the Women’s Business Center of Utah to provide free business classes and a local advisor really helped me build confidence as I launched my guiding company Elevate Outdoors,” Dickey said. “I’m honored to accept the award for southern Entrepreneur of the year, and hope to see even more women step into business ownership in Moab!”
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