Oboz Recognizes Bozeman’s Jo Giese as a Local Hero

May 15, 2024

Giese recognized for her inspiring story and love of the outdoors.

Bozeman, Mont., (May 15, 2024)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Oboz, the True to the Trail footwear brand, has named Jo Giese, of Bozeman, MT, as one of its Local Heroes of the year. Giese, an author, award winning radio journalist, and adventurer, overcame a potentially crippling injury that could have ended her ability to walk, let alone hike.

“Jo has overcome so much to continue to follow her passion for hiking,” said Abigail Cook, Oboz Footwear Brand and ESG. “Her resilience is so inspiring, as are her words.”

In 2018, Giese fell at the bottom of a flight of stairs and tore her Achilles tendon. Following multiple surgeries, not only were doctors unable to reattach her torn tendon, but an infection was introduced into her ankle area. Luckily the infection was controlled, but tissue had died and her Achilles was no longer viable.

Given a less than 1% chance of walking again, Giese spent two and half years in physical therapy, building the strength of the tendons around her Achilles so she could walk again. Giese has long been enamored by waterfall and she recently published a book documenting the various waterfalls she has hiked to in Montana and beyond in Keep Chasing Waterfalls: A Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Defying the Odds.

Late last fall, Oboz put out a call for nominations for Local Heroes. Six nominees were selected and Oboz will announce one every other month throughout the year. Along with being featured on Obozfootwear.com, each Local Hero receives four pairs of Oboz footwear of their choice.

Giese was nominated by her physical therapist Taylor Isaacs. “She showed an unwavering

dedication to a restorative exercise regimen for two and half years,” said Isaacs. “She emerged triumphant, and as a self-described waterfall-junkie, she has returned to hiking to her favorite waterfalls, especially Hyalite, Ouesel, and Big Timber Falls in the Crazies.”

To learn more about Giese, including her interview with the Unlikely Thru-Hiker and Oboz Athlete, Derick Lugo, and the other 2024 Local Heroes visit https://obozfootwear.com/en-us/local-heroes.

Oboz will announce its next Local Hero in July 2024.

About Oboz Footwear

Founded in 2007, Oboz Footwear builds outdoor footwear inspired by the vast 18-million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem surrounding the company’s Bozeman, Montana home. Oboz shoes deliver unmatched fit, unrivaled feel, and exceptional performance on any trail, anywhere. Since its beginning, Oboz has planted a tree for every pair of footwear sold, surpassing 5 million trees to date. Oboz is a certified B Corp and continues its work in bettering our surrounding communities, climate, and product circularity. For more information, visit obozfootwear.com.