The world of climbing – through trad climbing, competitive climbing, mountaineering, alpinism, etc. – is so deeply rooted in the culture that encompasses the Pacific Northwest that it was only a matter of time, growing up in the suburbs of Seattle, before I discovered the magic of the mountains. My infatuation with the mountains first…

Joining the club has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey so far. It’s given me the chance to meet other women, build new friendships, and reconnect with the sense of community I’d been missing. Now, when I walk into the gym, I see familiar faces. It doesn’t feel intimidating, it feels…

The first time I went to Yosemite with them, I had no idea what to wear. I figured I wanted something that protected my legs and could be ruined on the rock. For whatever reason, I chose some old pink sweatpants and a pink t-shirt. I think I looked pretty cute but I took a…

Climbing strangely also seeped into other parts of my life: it helped mitigate my fear of heights, I’ve become more patient with myself and others, and I’ve learned to enjoy fitness. I started weight lifting and one of my dearest friends from WLC…

Climbing has given me a space in which I finally feel safe enough to fail. For the first time in my life, failing is fun because it means I’m challenging myself and I get to grow!

Climbing began as my deepest wound and became my greatest remedy—a journey where the poison and the antidote were the same. Like a lot of the nonmale climbers in my community…

That was the moment I realized what really does matter. It’s not fixating on where my family or society thinks I should be in life personally or financially, it’s moments like this. Climbing has given me the opportunity to be in nature more and absorb all the wonderful gifts our earth has to offer.