BARABOO, Wisconsin – The outdoor recreation community is grieving an immeasurable loss this week following the tragic death of Audrie Lorraine Pelosi, known affectionately to thousands as “Mrs. TheFox,” who passed away on May 30, 2026, at the age of 30 following a climbing accident. Audrie, a woman whose life was defined by adventure, authenticity, and an unwavering love for the mountains, died doing what she loved most — pursuing the vertical world that had given her so much joy.
Born on February 19, 1996, in the Duluth, Minnesota area, Audrie grew up with Lake Superior as her backyard and the rugged North Shore as her playground. From an early age, she exhibited a fearlessness and curiosity that would come to define her. Whether she was scaling frozen waterfalls in the winter, snowboarding down steep couloirs, cycling scenic trails in the Driftless Region, or exploring new horizons across the American West, she embraced every opportunity to experience life to its fullest.
Her death has sent shockwaves through multiple interconnected communities: the snowboarding scene at Welch Village, the climbing gyms of the Midwest, the ski shops of Duluth and Chicago, and the tight-knit downtown business community of Baraboo, Wisconsin, where she had made her home. Friends, family, and strangers alike have flooded social media with tributes, photographs, and stories — each one a testament to a woman who lived more in 30 years than most do in 80.
A Love Story Born on the Slopes: Audrie and Jimmy “The Fox” Robinson
Audrie’s passion for outdoor recreation shaped not only her career but also her heart. While working at Ski Hut in Duluth — a legendary North Shore retailer — she attended a snowboard event at Welch Village, Minnesota. It was there that she met the love of her life, Jimmy “The Fox” Robinson, a charismatic snowboarder and outdoor enthusiast whose own nickname reflected his cunning, playful energy. Their connection was immediate and profound.
“It was like watching two magnets find each other,” recalled close friend and fellow climber Megan O’Brien. “They finished each other’s sentences. They challenged each other on the mountain. They were absolutely inseparable. You never saw one without the other, and you never wanted to.”
Friends and family often described their relationship as a true love story — not the sanitized version found in movies, but the real, messy, beautiful kind built on shared sunrises, frozen fingers, failed climbing attempts, and the kind of laughter that echoes across valleys.
On February 22, 2023, at precisely 2:22 p.m. — a time chosen for its numerical symmetry and personal significance — the couple exchanged vows atop Mount Bohemia in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Surrounded by snow, pine trees, and a small gathering of loved ones, they promised themselves to each other on the mountain landscape they cherished above almost all others. Jimmy wore his favorite snowboard jacket; Audrie wore a white alpine-inspired dress and her climbing shoes. Photographs from the wedding show her beaming, her cheeks flushed with cold and joy.
“Mount Bohemia was their church,” said Audrie’s mother, Heather Schweiger. “It was only right that they got married there. She loved Jimmy more than anything in this world except maybe Chili Dog. And that’s saying something.”
A Life of Work and Purpose: From Ski Hut to Apex Adventure Alliance
Audrie’s professional life was a reflection of her passions. She moved seamlessly between roles that connected people to the outdoors, building a career that never felt like work because it was simply an extension of who she was.
She worked at Ski Hut of Duluth, where she first learned the retail side of outdoor gear and where her reputation for honest, knowledgeable customer service began to grow. She later joined Viking Ski Shop of Chicago, bringing her Midwestern warmth to the bustling city. But it was in Baraboo, Wisconsin — a small city nestled in the Baraboo Range near Devil’s Lake State Park — that she truly found her community.
In Baraboo, Audrie became a beloved figure through her work with Wildside Action Sports, a local shop catering to climbers, snowboarders, and cyclists. She also collaborated with Downtown Baraboo Inc. , helping to organize events that brought the community together. She could be found behind the counter at Bella Vita Coffee, pulling espresso shots and remembering every regular’s name and order. And through her work with Apex Adventure Alliance, she helped introduce young people to the joys of climbing, mentorship, and outdoor stewardship.
“Audrie didn’t just work at these places — she made them better,” said Wildside owner Tom Reilly. “She knew more about climbing gear than anyone I’ve ever met. But more importantly, she knew how to talk to a scared first-time climber, how to encourage a kid who was afraid of heights, how to make someone feel like they belonged. That’s a gift you can’t teach.”
The Accident: A Community in Shock
Details surrounding the climbing accident that claimed Audrie’s life have not been publicly released by authorities at the request of her family. However, sources close to the family have confirmed that the incident occurred on the afternoon of May 30, 2026, at a climbing area in southwestern Wisconsin — possibly Devil’s Lake State Park or a nearby bluff — where Audrie was leading a route she had climbed many times before.
The Sauk County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene, and an investigation is ongoing. First responders reportedly attempted life-saving measures, but Audrie succumbed to her injuries before she could be transported to a hospital. The climbing community has rallied around Jimmy Robinson, who was reportedly not climbing with Audrie at the time of the accident but arrived at the scene shortly afterward.
“Climbing is inherently risky, and everyone who ties in knows that,” wrote the Access Fund, a national climbing advocacy organization, in a statement. “But that knowledge never makes the loss any easier. Our hearts are with Jimmy, with Audrie’s family, and with everyone who loved this remarkable woman.”
Who Was Audrie Pelosi? A Portrait of Adventure and Kindness
To reduce Audrie Lorraine Pelosi to a list of achievements would be to miss the point entirely. She was known for her sharp dry wit — a quality that caught many off guard given her warm, approachable demeanor. She had a habit of looking at you sideways, delivering a perfectly timed deadpan remark, and then bursting into laughter at her own joke. She made people feel seen.
She was also fiercely devoted to her three-legged dog, Chili Dog — a rescue mutt who accompanied her on countless climbing trips, often sitting at the base of a route with his head cocked, watching her ascend. “Chili Dog was her shadow,” Jimmy Robinson said in a brief, tearful interview. “She loved that little tripod more than anything. He’s sleeping on her side of the bed now. He doesn’t understand where she is.”
Beyond her husband and her dog, Audrie’s greatest joy came from being an aunt to her ten nieces and nephews — a group she affectionately called “the little beans.” She sent them postcards from every climbing trip. She taught the older ones how to tie figure-eight knots. She showed up to every birthday party with ridiculous presents and a willingness to get on the floor and play.
“She was the cool aunt,” said her sister Lindsay del Valle. “The one who took them camping, who taught them how to build a fire, who let them stay up late and look at the stars. My kids are devastated. We all are.”
Family and Survivors
Audrie is survived by an enormous, loving family who now face the impossible task of moving forward without her. Her devoted husband, Jimmy Robinson (known to all as Jimmy “The Fox”), has been surrounded by friends and family in Baraboo, with members of the snowboard and climbing communities taking turns bringing meals and sitting with him.
She is also survived by her grandparents: John Schweiger and Joseph A. Pelosi Sr. Her parents: Heather Schweiger and Paul (Penny) Pelosi. Her parents-in-law: James and Dawn Robinson. Her siblings: Lindsay (Nelson) del Valle, Shannon Pelosi, Joseph Pelosi, and Isaac Schweiger. Her step-siblings: Kelsey Rutchasky, Elijah Brant, Hailey Brant, Shaye Brant, and Rayna Arndt. In addition, she leaves behind numerous extended family members and a vast, sprawling community of snowboarders, climbers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who considered her a cherished friend.
“She collected people the way other people collect gear,” said her brother Joseph Pelosi. “She made friends everywhere she went. And she kept them. She sent letters. She remembered your birthday. She showed up when you needed her. That’s who she was.”
Celebrations of Life: Baraboo and Duluth
The family has announced that a Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home in Baraboo, with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. The service is expected to be packed, with overflow seating available. Attendees have been encouraged to wear colorful outdoor attire — flannel, climbing gear, snowboard jackets — in keeping with Audrie’s spirit.
A second celebration honoring Audrie’s life will be held in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, at a later date, likely at Ski Hut or another location significant to her early years. Details will be announced by the family once arrangements are complete.
In lieu of flowers — which Audrie was said to find “a bit sad” — the family has requested that memorial donations be made to one of several organizations that reflected Audrie’s passions: Ruff Rescue (animal welfare), NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), The Access Fund (climbing advocacy and land conservation), Protect Our Winters (climate advocacy for the outdoor community), or another charitable organization reflecting the causes Audrie held dear.
A Legacy Etched in Stone and Snow
Though her life was tragically cut short at just 30 years old, Audrie Lorraine Pelosi leaves behind a legacy that will endure. Every time a young climber nervously ties into a rope at Devil’s Lake, someone will tell the story of the woman who once sent that route in the rain. Every time a snowboarder rides the chairlift at Welch Village, someone will remember “Mrs. TheFox” and her sharp wit. Every time a three-legged dog curls up by a campfire, someone will think of Chili Dog — and of the woman who loved him.
Her adventurous spirit, generous heart, and fierce love for the outdoors will live on in every mountain climbed, every trail explored, and every gathering of friends sharing stories beneath the open sky. She may be gone, but she is not forgotten. And in the communities she helped build — from Duluth to Chicago to Baraboo and beyond — her echo will be heard for generations.
Rest in peace, Audrie Lorraine Pelosi. February 19, 1996 – May 30, 2026. Mrs. TheFox. Wife. Daughter. Aunt. Friend. Climber. Snowboarder. Adventurer. Gone far, far too soon. Forever on the mountain.
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