Passing

the

Crux

–

Empowerment

through

Climbing

Climbing is not obscure anymore. It’s not just for the wayward teens or misfits of society. The doors have opened broader. With gyms everywhere, it’s easier for people to become introduced to the sport. This has not always been the case, especially for Women. In the fall of 2005 Steph Davis became the first woman to free climb the Salathe Wall of El Capitan, just 10 years after Lynn Hill’s historic free ascent of the Nose.

Other than those major accomplishments for the sport, feats and accomplishments of women in climbing took a backseat. In a male dominated sport, women were making headway in the climbing world behind the scenes. Not because they were any less capable or impressive, but because of a lack of exposure not only of women’s accomplishments but also a lack of exposure to the outdoor spaces.  

For Katie Lambert, these historic accomplishments from women along with some chance encounters on rock outside lit a fire in her. Seeing other women out there leading routes and taking down some of the most iconic lines in the world made her believe that she could do that too – she saw herself on the rock. In a time before social media and the popularization of the internet, exposure was rare but impactful.  

The future is female. No longer is it obscure to see only women out climbing, summiting mountains together, and continuously making huge strides and setting standards in the sport for both men and women. Climbing has become a space for everyone. More women, people of color, and queer communities see themselves represented in the sport. This amazing space we all know and love has become an opportunity for all people to make it their own and create a personal love for the sport of climbing, no matter how different that might look compared to the person next to them.

With this burst of growth in the sport, questions remain. How do we educate all these new people into the sport so they recreate safely? Is there a ceiling to how far women and the sport of climbing can go? What’s next? We might not have answers, but one thing that can be said for certain is that women will play a major role in whatever is next to come. They will continue to lift one another up through mentorship, supportive partnerships, and the sharing of stories and experiences. This is the thread that ties us all together, the rope that gets us to the summit.