kindred spirits
- September 2010
- Simple Living Climb Training Travel
Hello Steph,
I have been climbing a little over a year now, and am nothing shy of addicted. Since starting climbing I have always been amped up by reading about places to climb, the amazing climbers all around the world, and watching climbing videos. I remember watching “The Sharp End” and first hearing your name, and of course I thought “awesome! an amazing female climber, I want to be like her one day!” but to be honest all pro climbers played the basic role of getting me thinking and motivated about climbing. I was never really looking for an idol or role model, because all climbers equally inspire me in different fashions, no matter their status on the rock.
Recently, I have started really dedicating my time and all around life to climbing. In the process of starting a training “program,” I have been researching books to buy and read to get me on a more solid track to really improving and getting the best out of the next several years. I was on amazon and after purchasing a couple books, their website suggested your book, and I remember reading about “High Infatuation” in a climbing magazine. I figured it would be worth while to look into a book that discusses climbing from a female perspective, since I am a female, and there aren’t too many books by women. Luckily I could read some of your book with amazon’s “take a sneak peek” option and within reading the first few pages, I HAD to write you.
One of the things that I love about climbing and the community, is it feels (most of the time) that everyone is automatically on a similar page and embraces life in a similar manner, but everyone is different and has a unique “climbing” life story. It sounds a little weird maybe, but I was so psyched after reading just the small excerpt of your climbing life story, because I automatically connected to it in a very personal way, and that doesn’t happen to me so often, especially with complete strangers I am reading about.
I am 24, currently living in Maryland with my parents (though one of my major goals right now is for that to change….SOON) I am finishing up my degree in Psychology at the University of Maryland. I never thought anyone in the pro climbing circuit would be a former Terp! That immediately got my attention, especially since you were deadly accurate with describing the population of University of Maryland, i.e not very outdoorsy/adventurous etc. I grew up loving the outdoors and being active, but I was definitely a non athlete too. I am sometimes envious of a lot of climbers out there making waves, because it seems everyone has such a head start. I wish I could have started when I was 5, but at least I was playing outside and forming an early appreciation for nature, because it has played a huge role in me finding climbing. In high school and my first few years in college, I was definitely in that process of “finding myself” because I strayed away from a lot of the things that made me happy, and got very caught up in the typical college life (working, classes, partying with friends) but I always wanted more! I finally realized I needed to get back to my old self and I made the dramatic decision to travel to New Zealand, which has only nature to offer which is exactly what I needed.
I was lucky enough to travel to New Zealand and live there for a year and a half! Thats actually where my climbing started. I just got back to the east coast 2 months ago and it’s definitely been an….adjustment. The energy of the east coast is so different, and I do sometimes get caught up in the feeling that climbing is just a dead-end, illogical pursuit. I have always been an idealist, and I always have to follow my heart, but unfortunately my sense of happiness often clashes with “reality” these days and that can leave me feeling really down sometimes, if that makes sense. But luckily, i have also started to love the fact that I will happily pursue the “dirtbag climber” life whole-heartedly, even if everyone around me thinks i’m crazy. It was just perfect timing that I stumbled across your book (and im excited for when it comes in the mail!!) because to me you definitely feel like a kindred spirit. It charges me up in a completely different manner than just reading about a new 5.15 that Sharma just dominated in some far off place. It keeps me motivated to live how I want to live and be happy doing it, because its proof that there is a least one success story out there directly related to what I am after!
So I know this is a really long email, but it was necessary, haha! If for nothing else but to put my thoughts into words! BUT I’ll be honest in saying I really hope to hear back from you because it would be such a morale booster, plus I just want to hear what someone on a similar wavelength to me has to say in relation to my thoughts….I definitely am a feedback fan.
Thanks for sharing your story and hope to hear more!
Katie 🙂
Dear Katie,
Thanks for your great letter! I think a lot of people struggle with expectations from society being different than what they feel inside. But it sounds to me like you really know how to be true to yourself. I think it’s crucial to be true to yourself, but also be open and receptive to the ideas and the community around you. Because we are creatures of our environment. That being said, sometimes it’s also good to know when you are in need of a different environment, as you have also experienced. Keep dreaming and keep doing, and you will always find yourself in a good place, that’s what I believe. I think that reality is different for everyone, and I also think that you know in your heart when you are on the right path. The important thing is to listen.
🙂 Steph
