Summits & Soulmates – Episode 246

This week on Your Best Day Yet, we’re AMP’d to welcome Cris back to the podcast! This time, he’s joined by his wife, Viv, the other half of the inspiring duo behind Train to Summit! Joined by Caleb and Sarah Kolb, the couples dive into what it means to chase adventure together, face fear head-on, and grow stronger through every climb. From lightning storms to love stories, this conversation explores how mountains test and transform both heart and home. Get ready for laughter, courage, and a fresh reminder that the best views, and the best relationships, come from the hardest climbs.

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Takeaways:

Climb Together, Not Alone: For Viv and Cris, adventure has never been a solo pursuit. What began as Cris’s personal dream to climb the Seven Summits evolved into a shared mission, not just to reach the top of mountains, but to grow together in the process. Viv admits she wasn’t a climber at all when they met. The snowline terrified her, the risk felt reckless. But love has a way of rewriting our limits. When she finally joined Cris on a climb in the Italian Alps, she discovered something unexpected: facing fear side by side created a deeper bond than comfort ever could. “It was so therapeutic,” she reflects. .

Fear is a Compass: Viv’s story reminds us that the things we fear most often point to where we’ll grow most. Instead of letting anxiety hold her hostage, she turned it into fuel for courage. That choice, to move toward fear rather than away from it, became a turning point not just in her mountaineering journey, but in her life. Together, Viv and Cris learned that fear isn’t a sign to stop. It’s a signal that something meaningful is on the other side.

Conflict Builds Connection: Their adventures haven’t been without chaos. From lightning storms to near-hypothermia in the Georgian mountains, they’ve faced moments that tested their relationship and patience. “The higher the stress, the easier it is to snap,” Cris laughs. But through every trial, they’ve learned to communicate better, to listen deeper, and to see each other’s fear not as weakness but humanity. What once caused tension now creates trust. Their story proves that pressure can either break you or bind you, depending on how you respond.

Kindness is Universal: Across their travels, one theme keeps emerging: the smaller the place, the kinder the people. From strangers helping Cris cross rivers in Chile to locals in Argentina paying for their groceries, they’ve found generosity in every corner of the world. Their experiences are living proof that compassion transcends culture. When we show up with open hearts, the world has a way of meeting us with kindness.

Mountains Mirror Life: Climbing mountains has taught Viv and Cris that every challenge, on or off the trail, requires endurance, humility, and faith. When you’re freezing, exhausted, or scared, you have two choices: stop, or keep stepping. The same is true in relationships, careers, and personal growth. As Viv puts it, “When you know you can do hard things out there, you realize you can do hard things anywhere.”

Community Creates Courage: Through their growing Train to Summit community, Viv and Cris have discovered that sharing their story gives others the courage to begin their own. Every comment, every “I needed this today,” is a reminder that vulnerability multiplies strength. Their videos aren’t about showcasing perfection, but inspiring perseverance. They’re building not just an audience, but a movement. A moment that celebrates courage, connection, and choosing adventure over fear.

In the end, Viv and Cris’s journey isn’t just about mountaineering. It’s about what happens when two people decide to face the unknown together, in faith, in love, and in relentless pursuit of becoming their best selves. Whether your summit is a mountain, a marriage, or a moment of self-doubt, their story reminds us that we all have the strength to keep climbing. Your best day yet might just be waiting above the clouds.

Links:

Get AMP’d with us – https://centerforvictory.kartra.com/page/9Gn85

Make this your BEST DAY YET! Learn more at resources.CenterForVictory.com.

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