The Crux: Managing Mental Health in Life & Climbing

Mental health is a hot topic within the climbing community—and for good reason. Not only can taking care of our inner worlds improve our daily lives; doing so can also make or break our experiences at the crag or on the wall. I recently contributed another article to the Women's Bouldering Festival website. In this post, I share climbing mental health tips, some anecdotal experiences, and open...
A traditional climbing rack (trad rack) and shoes

What Trad Climbing In The Gunks Taught Me

Back in July, I had the pleasure of trad climbing in the Gunks for the first time. Here's a recap of my experience–now LIVE on the Women's Bouldering Festival Blog! Explore the Gunks! Here's a snippet to get you hooked: It’s not coming out… or is it? I was fiddling with a nut that was wedged into a crack. My brows furrowed as I yanked on its wire, taking care not to damage the surrounding...

Dreaming of Fontainebleau…

Today—May 11th, 2020—the forest of Fontainebleau cautiously reopened Today—May 11th, 2020—my first article about Fontainebleau went live on the Women's Bouldering Festival blog! Hit the button to take a look! Take me to Font! Did somebody say great timing...? Whether you're a non-climber or a total Bleausard, take a look! I learned a lot while diving into the history and ecology of this...

Fear That Doesn’t Quit

Standing on a razor-sharp flake, Toes dangling off the edge into void, The only audible sound his breathing, He pauses to assess his next move. I contemplate what he must've seen as he was falling. The end of his rope, frayed and desperate? Life with his lover, gone in an instant? The view of his adventure, gigantic before him? So many have died with their boots on that it makes me question...

Hemlock

With time, the aches have diminished and impossible hurts have been tempered. My chopping block has softened, transformed into a pillow where I now rest. My tongue has forgotten the acridity of accusation, now knows only the crinkling of a knife's edge as I chew on serrated memories repeatedly torn apart.

Wordsmithery

Hello! Some big updates have transpired in recent months. The last time that I wrote here was warmer and perhaps less complicated. This past August, every action felt invincible, inconsequential, and tense with potential. Summer's warmth kept me company during languid afternoons, and I could stay out late into the heart of the night without a care. Every day's story was a novel worth writing...

Gear, Beer, & Shakespeare

As some of you may know, I've been doing digital marketing for a Denver-based outdoor gear rental startup called Gearo. This has been both an awesome foray into creative marketing and the outdoor industry, and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with them. Here's a blog that I recently published on their site. Check it out and let me know what you think! I wonder if I...

Alone Time

Lately, alone time has been a rarity. I'm thankful, because that's entirely due to good fortune: My friends are wonderful, active, and spontaneous. Many of my creative projects are blossoming. My career is slowly but surely taking off. Each day with my boyfriend is an awesome adventure. My local rock gym is essentially my second home. The many hats I wear are stacked high right now. And,...