“ Jo Giese ruptured her left Achilles in a freak accident and lost it after a botched surgery. Her chances of walking and hiking again were slim. For 2.5 years she showed an unwavering dedication to a restorative exercise regimen. Her commitment allowed her to overcome the life-challenging aftermath of her Achilles' tendon dying. ”

- Taylor Isaacs | Jo's Kinesiologist/Restorative Exercise Specialist

Oboz Local Hero Jo Giese at Ousel Falls, in Big Sky, Montana.
Oboz Local Hero Jo Giese on a hike at Ousel Falls, in Big Sky, Montana.
Oboz Local Hero Jo Giese on a hike at Ousel Falls, in Big Sky, Montana.

"Jo experienced a medical miracle and is able to walk and hike again."

Jo Giese is an award-winning radio journalist, author, teacher, community activist, and former TV reporter. As a special correspondent she was part of the Peabody Award-winning team at Marketplace, the most popular business program in America. At Marketplace she did 33 stories in the Breaking the Mold series about women succeeding in male- dominated career fields. These stories were a direct outgrowth of her book A Woman’s Path. For these radio stories she won an EMMA for Exceptional Radio Story from the National Political Women’s Caucus and a GRACIE from the Foundation of Women in Radio.

Her most recent book Never Sit If You Can Dance : Lessons from My Mother launched for Mother’s Day 2019. Her current book Keep Chasing Waterfalls: A Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Defying the Odds is the story of how a freak accident and a botched surgery left Jo non-ambulatory. After 2 ½ years of intense physical therapy she experienced a medical miracle and is able to walk and hike again.

Waterfall-centric, she has hiked to waterfalls all over Montana, and the world, including Salto Chico Falls in Patagonia, and she’s hiked behind the falls at Seljalandsfoss in Iceland. She lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband, retired attorney, Ed Warren.

Women's Bridger Mid Waterproof

Women's Bridger Mid Waterproof

A$289.00

Oboz Local Hero Jo Giese on a hike at Ousel Falls, in Big Sky, Montana.
Oboz Local Hero Jo Giese on a hike at Ousel Falls, in Big Sky, Montana.

Jo's Favorites

Favorite Local Trail System:

Grotto Falls - Hyalite Reservoir | Bozeman, MT

Favorite Local Oboz Dealer:

Schnees | Bozeman, MT

Oboz Local Hero Jo Giese on a hike at Ousel Falls, in Big Sky, Montana.
Oboz Local Hero Jo Giese on a hike at Ousel Falls, in Big Sky, Montana.

Jo's Quick Tip

Be smart about bears

"You cannot be too careful. I always go out with a bear whistle, bear bells, and bear spray. Oh, and my Oboz."

Oboz Athlete, Derick Lugo, at the southern terminus of the CDT.
Oboz Athlete, Derick Lugo, at the southern terminus of the CDT.

Trail Talk

Derick & Jo

Oboz Athlete, Derick Lugo, sat down with Jo Giese to learn more about her time spent on the trail, and love of waterfalls.