Climbing, like life, can indeed feel like a solitary pursuit. We navigate a reality shaped by our own imagination, with everything else being secondary to our perspective.
Yep, that sounds close to how my reality seems to be most days.
I once heard a saying: “Everything you do is for you and only you, and it’s your ego that tricks you into believing you’re doing it for someone else.” Whether or not this is true, the point remains: your life and your climb are yours alone. Only you can determine your reasons for doing or not doing something. As you explore climbing as a metaphor for life, ask yourself why you climb rocks or, if you choose not to, why you make that choice.
Why Do We Rock Climb..?
There are countless reasons why outdoor rock climbing captivates so many people. Whether it’s the allure of the outdoors, the sense of community among climbers, the harmony of your body moving over stone, the thrill of facing the unknown challenge of a climb, the joy of creating your own masterpiece in nature, the moment when it all clicks and gravity seems to vanish, or the grueling struggle on the wall that transforms into gratitude for just being alive, climbing offers a myriad of motivations for each individual climber.
At its core, climbing is simply fun. Well, that’s certainly my perspective, the F-U-N part. However, let’s delve deeper than just the fun aspect of rock climbing.
What is rock climbing? Rock climbing is defined as a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations or indoor climbing walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. So, it’s a sport involving physical exertion and skill— It includes climbing, ascending, or descending rocks, cliffs, or mountains— It has a desired end state, like a finish point, high point, or summit— Do you got it?
So, we understand rock climbing at its most basic level. But why do we climb? With numerous million-dollar businesses centered around climbing and roughly 40 million people worldwide climbing both indoors and outdoors, this question might seem straightforward. However, it’s neither simple nor direct. Just as every moment in life is unique, so are the reasons climbers have for climbing. Each climber has their own personal motivations, and there is no single "right" reason.
To find your own reason for climbing, start by defining what climbing means to you. Once you have a clear understanding of your personal connection to climbing, you can begin to unravel the deeper layers of why you climb rocks or, if you choose not to, why you make that choice.
Why Do I Rock Climb..?
It’s estimated that less than 1% of climbers receive any form of compensation for their efforts. So, you really have to be passionate about getting outside and climbing rocks. Before writing this blog, I hadn’t deeply explored why I rock climb. If asked spontaneously, I’d probably say it’s because it’s just cool—hanging off a cliff and scaling a route that only a few others have climbed before is undeniably RAD. But beneath that surface RADNESS, there’s a much deeper reason for me, and I believe for you as well.
I rock climb— because it grounds me in each moment of being alive. Beyond the fear and danger of venturing into the unknown, whether it’s testing my physical limits or navigating uncharted terrain, climbing connects me deeply with the present moment.
The sensation of cold stone beneath my fingers, the precise edging of my climbing shoes, and the rhythm of my deliberate breathing as my heart races with each upward move—all contribute to a deeper experience. When my thinking mind steps aside and my essence flows, I enter a state where life feels unified. I become as interconnected with the world as the birds are with the trees, the soil with the roots beneath, and the gravity that anchors us to the spinning Earth. Climbing brings me fully into each moment of existence— to simply put it. And it’s just freakin’ FUN!
Why Do You Rock Climb..?
This is the most important question: Why do you choose to climb rocks? Only you can answer this and only you will continue to reflect on this before tying-in or heading out before dawn to hike deep into the backcountry to solve a problem. This question serves as a reminder of your motivations and reasons for choosing to rock climb. Living a life of self-inquiry allows you to explore the unknown through experiences that only you can define and determine as right or not ideal for you. You are unique, and you will remain the only person like you throughout the entirety of existence.
Keep asking yourself why you climb rocks, or choose not to, as there is no definitive end state to this understanding—only the constant of a living, evolving life. As the seasons of movement come and go, allow the climbs to flow with minimal resistance. Give yourself the opportunity to explore through simply being whether this climb is right for you.
“The best climber in the world is the one having the most fun!”
– Alex Lowe
Written by James Larson
Photography by James Larson
Edited by Maria Harrison
Artwork by Carolina De Los Rios
Source Reference: none
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