In the fall of 2014, I found my calling: rock climbing. While growing up in Idaho backpacking, hiking, and snowboarding, I never felt a sense of belonging in those communities and didn’t call myself a passionate outdoorswoman. Then my boyfriend at the time invited me to go rock climbing at an area close to my hometown of Ketchum, Idaho. The boyfriend didn’t last, but the feeling of empowerment I felt while climbing did and thus began a lifelong foray into the world of rock cl

Rock climbing can be an intimidating sport. There’s the gear, the secret-code-like language, the ego, and the risk. But with the rise of indoor climbing gyms and a more inclusive and welcoming community, the time is ripe for more people to get involved. I began climbing five years ago when an ex-boyfriend took me to a local crag and threw me on a rope. I was hooked. While the boyfriend went by the wayside, I found a new sport in my mid-20s that would change the direction of m