Women on the Wall

An exploration of female rock climbers and their connection to the sport.

We all have insecurities and as women, we are often perceived as weaker than our male counterparts, whether that be a weaker emotional state or physically less strong.  We all have our own ways of dealing with that perception and finding our own strength. My form of empowerment is through rock climbing. 

To rock climb, one must be physically fit as well mentally stable.  Every moment you are on the rock wall, you face a fear that sits in the back of your mind and the higher you climb, the more you must fight to hold back that unease.  As fear comes to the forefront of your thought, you begin to sweat, to shake and to lose energy.  But to harness that anxiety takes focus, control and most of all dedication.  As a climber, you must train all the muscles in your body, particularly your fingers, to endure any sharp edges or rough surfaces you may encounter.  Two weeks away from training means starting all over again because finger tendons require much more attention than any other muscle. 

Climbing isolates you.  You are the only one who can push past the mental wall you have set up for yourself in order to finish the route.  Your climbing partner can offer words of encouragement from the ground, but ultimately you alone must instill a sense of calm in yourself and push forward.  The world tends to slip away as you concentrate solely on the movement of your body.  Your arm stretches to reach the next hold while your toe is pressed hard into a small jagged rock, pulling your body in opposite directions.  As you pull up slack in the rope and lengthen your body to its full extent to clip the next draw, you must stay perfectly balanced because one small slip may mean a 15-foot fall.

So why do I climb?  It humbles me, and it invigorates me, making me feel that I can accomplish anything if I am able to push through the challenge in front of me.  There’s nothing quite like that feeling when you reach the top and are filled with a rush of adrenaline and self-confidence.  

Everyone has a different reason for getting on the wall and this project is meant to explore those reasons.  I am setting out to photograph women in the climbing community that inspire me, showcasing their grit, tenacity, and control.  Capturing their image in an urban setting is a way of showing how the strengths we develop in climbing are very much a part of our everyday lives. Through climbing, we learn confidence, and with this confidence we become stronger women.

Kaybe Loughran

“When I started college, my friends tried to get me to climb, but at the time I was a nerdy engineering student, didn’t understand the point, and wanted to do my homework instead. When I was 19, I did a NOLS course and got to go on my first alpine multipitch in the Wind River Range. The camaraderie, preparedness and spirit of adventure that was required of such a feat got me hooked. At the top, my instructor sat down and jotted down notes on the time, route, and gear used, in a personal log. His attention to detail stood out to me.

THAT. That’s how I want to climb.

Well, I would not say I always have it together like that, but climbing has guided me through so many life experiences. Climbing checks my ego, expands my risk tolerance, reminds me to have compassion for myself, increases my focus and gives me discipline and structure to my life – all in such beautiful ways. Trips give me something to prepare for and look forward to. Training reminds me to take care of my body and gives me a positive self-image. Developing partnerships has taught me to accept and invest in people. My climbing partners are some of the deepest and silliest friendships I have.

On top of all of this, there is so much variety in climbing. I genuinely love it all. The resourcefulness and problem solving of an adventure trad route, the sheer power of bouldering, and the mindfulness of a tall sport climb. Climbing has been something I can take ownership over, excel at, and learn from constantly. It is the perfect sport for me – every part of me.”

Marzieh Karami

“Climbing for me is a mixture of feeling the nature, childish desire to play games, socializing and finally exercising.

I cannot describe my passion for the nature and especially the mountains. Standing on top of the mountains and smelling their special breeze is one of the most joyful things that I do and it is one of the reasons that I am still alive. Although I climb mostly at the gym, I see it as a path to climbing better outside.

When I immigrated from my hometown to a new country I started climbing after a week and it helped me to fit into the new society a lot better. Now I know that anywhere in the world can turn into a pleasant place if I find its mountain climbers. Climbers share a lot of features all around world as most of them have abundant care and respect for nature and human beings.

 Since my childhood, I was always very bad at all sort of sports. I was always hunched over books and very clumsy at any physical activity even driving. When I started hiking at college, my love for the mountains dragged me to the rock climbing gym and my friendship with routes began. Right now, I think I am physically in shape not as an athlete but still I made good progress compared to when I was 18 years old.

Long story short, rock climbing gym is where I found all my friends in my current city (with a few exception of course) and where I know I can go and forget about all my problems in life (because I am facing bigger problems there).”

Aleisha Rice

“When I started climbing about 4 or 5 years ago, I was primarily interested in it as a way to stay in shape. But over the years my love for the sport has transpired into so much more. Not only is it a physical activity, but a mental one as well. Knowing how to move your body efficiently to use the least amount of energy or how to correctly crimp a hold and not pump out your forearms are all part of the mental training process. 

But what really makes climbing enjoyable for me is the community. What were once acquaintances are now lifelong friends who constantly motivate me and push me to do my very best both on the wall as well as in my personal life. Climbing for me is more than just a physical activity - it’s a lifestyle. And I continue to learn more and more about climbing as well as myself every single day.”

Ann Tiempetpisal

“I frequently ask myself why I climb and cannot touch the core of the answer. It is a question I ask myself almost infallibly every time I am at the base of a climb, tied into the rope and scared. I tell myself, sometimes aloud, that I climb because I like it. Sometimes it feels like I’m lying.

I am afraid of the exposure, the falling and, if my mind dwells upon it, even the height. There’s a lot of anxiety, vulnerability and tears. I don’t know if or when I might process the fear to keep it from hindering me.

Yet, despite everything, climbing owns my waking hours, free time and daydreams. I am compelled to be led by this urge that pushes me upward and challenges me to become better – physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s been the force that’s propelled me around the country and out of it. It is the spark that ignited some of my greatest friendships and best experiences. I never seem to find the answer to the question of ‘why’ but sometimes when I look at the faces around me, whether I’ve gotten to the top of the rock or am wallowing in defeat at the bottom, I feel like the answers are looking right back at me, infallibly there to pick me up.”

Abby Decker

“Climbing is a major stress reliever for me. All day at work I am solving complicated mental puzzles with lots of quickly changing details and information. It’s nice to hit the gym after work and be able to release all that stuff. Climbing is so consuming that every ounce of mental and physical energy must be dedicated to the current task at hand.”