If you were to have told me 6 years ago that I would be a well-versed 5.11 climber, and adventurer to boot, I would say I have no idea what you are saying AND that you are crazy. I started rock climbing in a gym mostly, until I took a trip that changed the coarse of my entire life. Jake and I went to Canada in the summer of 2003 to a place called the Bugaboos. Our goal was to hike into a pretty isolated spot, and survive for 3 weeks on only what we could pack with us.  Oh and by the way, this spot was high in the mountains, scattered with vast crevasses, avalanche potential, and wildlife to the likes I’ve only seen in the local Zoo.

Our adventure did not turn out the way we had planned, but it lead down several amazing different eye-opening paths. One of which was a detour to Salt Lake City, Utah. At this time, Utah was not as vastly overpopulated with commercial real estate, and there was still a wide array of open land and beautiful, peaceful places. It was here that I first experienced rock climbing outside in its purest form. Jake was a traditional climber, thus that is the way that I learned how to climb.  There are several different types of climbing from trad (traditional), to sport, to mixed, to ice, to bouldering, to indoor climbing.  I was aware of all of these different types, but had only had experience with indoor at this point. Trad climbing is considered to be the purest form of climbing, where you place different shaped wedges of “gear” into the rock as you climb up, to protect you if you fall during your climb.  It leaves the smallest impact on nature, and is often seen as the most respectful form of climbing, as well as the most difficult.

Fast – forward 6 years and here I am a 5.11 climber actually considering training on some easy to moderate 5.12 routes. For some climbing is a fun activity to do on weekends. For others it is a lifestyle. I think that I fall somewhere in the middle, but definitely closer to the lifestyle end. The upcoming trip will be an attempt to really engross myself into the climber lifestyle. I know that it will be challenging and exhilarating but most importantly, will allow me to see what I am truly made of. It is “up the hill” that I find the most clarity within my soul, and the biggest struggle as well.  I may have forgotten to mention that I am terrified of heights, and must deal with that every single time I make the choice to climb a rock. The thing that I love most about climbing is that the ordinary troubles of “everyday life” seem increasingly less important.