I recently had the opportunity to interview kelly a young woman with an adventurous spirit and a story full of energy, growth, and exploration.
She shared stories from her climbing adventures and some thoughtful advice…. Below, you’ll find insights that might just inspire you to plan your next trip or start a new sport. you never know where it may lead.
What inspired you to get into climbing
Kelly has always felt a deep connection to nature, so when a friend invited her to try climbing, it felt like a natural fit. Growing up in Penticton, she was familiar with Skaha Bluffs and knew it was a popular climbing spot, but she had never gotten the chance to experience it herself.
After her first climb, she was instantly hooked. Kelly is the kind of person who doesn’t back down from a challenge, once she starts something, she’s determined to finish it. It’s a mindset that many climbers share. For the rest of that summer, she seized every opportunity to get out on the rock, often borrowing gear from friends and learning the ropes from her main coach: YouTube.
What was it starting out like?
When she first started climbing, most of the people around her were tackling much harder routes. While she enjoyed hanging out and watching them climb, she realized she needed a crew that matched her beginner level. So, she bit the bullet and bought her first bit of climbiing gear a rope, shoes, harness, atc and borrowed some quickdraws from a friend (which she “accidentally” never returned).
Determined to learn, she gathered a group of fellow newbies and shared everything she’d picked up from watching YouTube videos. While she wouldn’t necessarily recommend learning to climb that way, it worked for her. From there, she bounced between climbing with her beginner crew and tagging along with her more experienced friends. But, with Kelly’s drive, she leveled up fast.
Yosemite trip
After a 6 month climbing break where Kelly traveled and back packed around the world with her super cool best friend (me). She was ready to hoop back into it as quick as she could, she made a plan to meet up with her good friend Noah who she met in Taghazout, Morocco during her travels. The two spent 2 weeks camping in Yosemite park living off beans, free pizza and climbing daily. Kelly felt truly at home. Kelly encourages all who want to get into climbing to seize every opportunity you can even if your bank account says otherwise.
Ice climbing trip
Over the past few months, Kelly had been crashing on a friend’s couch in Victoria while working at MEC. When she wasn’t on the job, she was training at the indoor climbing gym, focused on improving her skills. She had been eager to get into ice climbing, and when two of her older, more experienced co-workers invited her on a trip to the Rockies, she knew it was the perfect chance to learn.
Determined to be prepared, Kelly spent the next three weeks training, exercising, and reading every ice climbing book she could find. When the day finally came, they made the 12-hour drive to the Rocky Mountains, where they completed multiple climbs and stayed in remote mountain huts between outings.
During the night, Kelly met people from all over the world in the huts. Her conversations often turned toward spirituality and philosophy. Subjects she explores with curiosity and depth. Though she insists she doesn’t take herself too seriously, it’s clear that Kelly is thoughtful, smart and always hungry to learn.
Mentality when climbing
Kelly compares climbing to meditation. When you’re 50 feet off the ground, completely dialed in on your next move, you are truly present. That total presence is one of the main reasons she fell in love with the sport. For anyone with a busy, fast-paced lifestyle, climbing could be the way to disconnect, reset, and de-stress.
Tips for anyone starting out
Kelly’s biggest piece of advice for anyone starting out? Don’t take yourself too seriously. Enjoy the process, laugh at the hard moments, and soak up the time spent outside with friends. And above all, say yes to opportunities……you never know where they might take you!
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