Our Name
An avalanche rumbles down Foraker's 10,000-foot Eastern face
Foraker Design takes its name from Mt. Foraker (17,400 feet), in Alaska. Stirling Olson, President and founder of Foraker Design, first became acquainted with the mountain in 1996 while climbing its neighbor Mt. McKinley (or Denali in Athabascan). Though not as tall as Mt. McKinley, Mt. Foraker (or Sultana) is known among climbers for its frequent avalanches, relative isolation, and steep routes.
Though seemingly disparate, climbing a technical pitch and developing computer applications are similar in many respects. “Getting from one place to another in the mountains can be a lot like navigating today's business technology landscape,” says Stirling.
“The demands on your reasoning skills and stamina are high, and sometimes a surprising solution will present itself to those with experience and an open mind. I find that the focus and sense of purpose inherent in mountaineering carry over quite readily to the work we do for our clients.”