Mingo Morvin is a multi-faceted adventurer, rock and ice climber, kayaker, wildlife photographer, author, and animal researcher. Through Bears Unlimited, Mingo has combined his love of the outdoors and animals with his adventurous spirit to form an environmentally and socially conscious organization dedicated to the protecting and preserving the lands and animals that inhabit our planet.

Adventurous Beginnings: Rock and Ice Climbing

In 1972, after a four year tour of duty with the US Marines, Mingo was introduced to rock climbing in the deserts and mountains of California. During this magical journey Mingo has been fortunate to climb with some of the best climbers in the world. Mingo has established more than 20 difficult first ascents in Joshua Tree National Park.

In the High Sierra mountain range in California, he is one of the more prolific climbers in the back country with over 100 first ascents. His hardest technical climbs at altitudes above 11,000 feet exceed 5.11 with many others in the hard 5.10 range. Mingo has established long routes on the tall peaks in the area with some routes following 3,000 foot walls. He also enjoys free soloing with his hardest solo being Legolas, a 5.10c in Joshua Tree National Park. Mingo also taught rock climbing for over 25 years as a guide and climbing school owner.

Mingo started climbing ice and mountains around the same time rock climbing entered his life. Having climbed in Canada, Alaska, California, and Washington, he especially enjoys climbing routes solo and has winter first solo ascents on Glacier Peak in Washington and Mt. Morrison in the Sierras. The two routes he established solo on Morrison were some of his best ice climbing memories, 2,000 foot walls of very hard snow with just an ice axe, crampons, and the snowy face. He said,” the freedom of these conditions frees one to dream expansively and strive for more than just mediocrity.”

The Adventure Moves to the Water: Sea Kayaking

The late 1990’s opened up a new and challenging area of adventure, sea kayaking. Mingo kayaked almost 200 miles on James Bay, Canada in 2000. He is the only person to survive kayaking on the western shore of this formidable bay. A particularly vicious storm almost killed him in a night retreat to a safer place on the bay. “That night it was really sporty kayaking that was a completely wild and awesome experience,” Mingo recalled.

In 2009, Mingo paddled over 500 miles on the Yukon River in Alaska. On this trip he performed research on bear habitat and enjoyed a pleasurable float down one of America’s last remaining large wild rivers. Mingo continues to plan and execute a variety of research expeditions, both large and small, to study bears and wildlife to understand how population growth and environmental changes are affecting their natural habitats.

Activism Enters the Picture

Since the early 1980’s, Mingo has followed animals into the wild to photograph them and to learn from them. Mingo has a particular fondness for bears. During this period, he learned extensively about bear behavior and understands much of their language. Now in the field, he understands their actions and they understand his when he uses their language keys. This takes thousands of hours of observation and study, but it is an area that Mingo loves.

It was because of this love that Mingo decided to start Bears Unlimited, a research and environmental activism organization that focuses on bears and other wild and domestic animals. Through this organization, Mingo, volunteers and supporters perform research, education, and preservation activities to support bears, wildlife, and our environment.

Adventurer Becomes Author

Mingo had toyed with the idea of writing children’s book for many years. It wasn’t until he envisioned Attu, his lovable polar bear traveling partner and storyteller, that Mingo was able to create the ideal forum from which to share his great love of animals and nature. Attu’s Adventures is a series of books based on the Natural Parks, Preserves, and other historical areas within the United States. As told by Attu, this series brings to life the fascinating facts and vibrant images each area has to offer.

Through this series, Mingo seeks to convey his love of nature and vast knowledge of the wilderness with others, especially children who are our future. Mingo’s natural affinity for bears, wildlife, and nature shows in his work and in his relationship with Attu.

Mingo believes “the future is not in our hands but in that of our children. Our legacy must be relating that the stewardship of our land and animals is a sacred trust that must be forwarded to our children. Through educating the young, our mission will prosper and will be carried forth long after we pass from the wilderness that we so desperately love and want to protect.”