Climbers Vary

I wear a “Climb Like a Girl” tank all the time, and I do climb like a girl, because I am a girl. But I’m not the stereotype of a girl. I’m tall. I hate techy climbs with little crimps. Slabs are my nemesis. Give me juggy overhangs all day. On the Ashima to Alex…

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A Challenge I Could Do

We pulled up to Wall Street, the soaring walls of red sandstone right along Potash Road. It was a sunny, warm, but not desert hot, day in Moab, and the crag was packed with climbers. After scoping out the routes nearby, only one line of bolts was open. After a quick consultation with the guidebook,…

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Following the Cairns

I am sitting on a ledge up a steep hill and below the routes we are climbing for the day. Getting up here had been an epic struggle for me, and as I waited to climb, all I could think about was why I had even made the decision to head up here in the…

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Faith E. Briggs

Beacons of Badassery is an interview series shining light on strong women. After spending most of my life trying to prove that I’m strong enough to be one of the guys, I’ve realized that instead of trying so hard to fit a certain expectation, we should be redefining what it actually means to be strong….

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A Hand to Hold On To

“Everyone needs a hand to hold on to, don’t need to be no strong hand, don’t need to be no rich hand, everyone just needs a hand to hold on to…” – John Mellencamp Since I’ve been here in Colorado, I’ve been getting outside to explore as much as I can, and in doing so,…

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When Fear Transforms Into Confidence

I got lead climbing certified at Brooklyn Boulders Somerville exactly a year ago. I had led outside a little bit before that, and in the year since then, I also only led a little bit – here and there inside, but I tended to gravitate to bouldering, and some more outside, though I still often stuck…

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Abigail Wise

Beacons of Badassery is an interview series shining light on strong women. After spending most of my life trying to prove that I’m strong enough to be one of the guys, I’ve realized that instead of trying so hard to fit a certain expectation, we should be redefining what it actually means to be strong….

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Don’t Fall for Easy

I’d been working on a boulder problem at my new gym, but kept getting frustrated. I could do the first move, but then was completely stuck. Literally. I couldn’t seem to move anywhere from there. It didn’t make sense. Nothing felt possible. So I got frustrated and walked away. A few days later, I had…

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It Always Sucks at the Beginning

If you’re starting out the new year with a resolution to try something new, I have a reminder for you (and myself, too). It always sucks at the beginning. And it should be a challenge precisely because it’s new. When I try a new climb that’s hard for me, often I can’t do the first…

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Trying Harder

Last year, I resolved that my motto for the year would be “try hard.” After a year of trying hard, I accomplished a lot of my goals. I sent my first V5 – and many more after that. I also sent my first V6 – and no more after that (yet!). But I also learned that I…

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