Building community in their neighborhoods, inspiring climate action, and everything in between.
What does it mean to be a climbing advocate? It depends on who you ask. There’s a place for everyone to plug into the climbing advocacy movement, from stewarding the land to building community to driving policy action. Look no further than these seven inspiring climbers and one trailblazing gym for the inspiration you need to find yours.
1. Sally Jewell
Sally Jewell, right, meeting with park staff. Mission San Jose, Texas. Ancestral lands of Jumanos, Coahuiltecan, Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa, and Tonkawa. © Department of the Interior.
Connecting climbers with the great outdoors and educating them about sustainable access is critical to the climbing advocacy movement. Besides being an accomplished mountaineer, former United States Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has built a life and career around advocating for access to public lands.
2. Irene Yee
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada. Ancestral lands of Southern Paiute and Western Shoshone. © Irene Yee.
Yee’s work as a professional photographer increases representation and brings more climbers into the advocacy movement by showcasing women, people of color, and the average climber. Her beautiful imagery has earned her a substantial social media following, and she consistently uses her influencer status to promote inclusivity in the climbing industry and share responsible outdoor ethics with her fellow climbers.
3. Kendall Martin
Hospital Boulders, Alabama. Ancestral lands of ᎠᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi. © Caleb Timmerman.
When Martin noticed the community in Chattanooga, Tennessee, needed some help bringing new climbers of color into the fold, he decided to do something about it. He was often the only Black boulderer on any given day at the boulder fields—a city where roughly 30% of the population is African American—so he started a nonprofit organization that offers young climbers of color the opportunity to climb.
4. Tommy Caldwell
Yosemite, California. Ancestral lands of Southern Sierra Miwok, Northern Paiute, and Miwok. © Chris Noble.
Caldwell is a high-profile advocate for protecting and conserving the land. He uses his platform as one of the most recognizable climbers in the world to amplify conservation action and inspire climbers to join the advocacy movement. Learn more about Caldwell’s advocacy history and ambitions on his episode of the Climbing Advocate Podcast.
5. Alexis Krauss
Smith Rock, Oregon. Ancestral lands of Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Tenino, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. © Chris Vultaggio.
Now an Access Fund board member, Krauss is a longtime lover of the outdoors and teaching with a background in elementary education and human rights. She has been guiding outdoor adventures since 2016 and loves sharing the transformative power of nature with youth.
6. Memphis Rox Climbing and Community Center
Memphis Rox, Memphis. Ancestral lands of O-ga-xpa Ma-zhoⁿ and Chikashsha I̠yaakni’. © Memphis Rox.
Memphis Rox was conceived from the ground up as a place where everyone can connect with other climbers and find support in their community, regardless of their ability to pay. Based in Soulsville, an underserved neighborhood in South Memphis, the gym offers climbing, community, and mentorship with a “pay what you can” sliding scale to guarantee everyone can benefit. Learn more from Jon Hawk, director of gym operations at Memphis Rox, on the Climbing Advocate Podcast.
7. Enock Glidden
Enock Glidden topping out on the Wall of the Hurley Morning Light. Ancestral lands of Wabanaki, N’dakina, and Pequawket. © Mike Morin.
Glidden’s work and perspective as an adaptive climber strengthens the climbing advocacy movement. He is passionate about the transformative power of nature and works to grow the number of people love the great outdoors by connecting adaptive recreationists in the northeast with trails that work for them.
8. Climbers Like You
The climbing advocacy movement is stronger than ever and powered by climbers like you. Each of us has an incredible opportunity to influence the future of climbing and the greater conservation movement. The only question is, where will you plug in? This is an excellent place to start.