I started gym climbing when I was 17, with one of my best friends from high school. From the beginning, it was always about getting to the next sport grade for us, so our "sessions" would consist of lots of trying and failing on particular routes that were just outside of our ability. Through this mindset, we were able to top some routes in the 5.12+/5.13- range by the time our senior year was over.

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This was enough for me to make the CSU Climbing Team in my freshman and sophomore years, where I continued to work on my strength and technique. As far as the mental side of competitive gym climbing (especially sport), you get to see exactly how much fear can hold you back from your true potential. The perfect attempt at a route is a combination of speed, precision, and trust, and the acceptance of taking falls is the only way to unlock those things.

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Being in Colorado also led me to explore more about climbing outdoors, where I learned a lot more about the responsibility of keeping you and your partner safe. In my dorm room, I taught myself how to manage rope and gear to climb multiple pitches, using towel hooks as a belay station. The fact that it's up to your mind alone, through practice and repetition, to keep you and someone else safe is something that I think is worth experiencing. ​

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