On September 2, 2018, I found myself dry heaving with fatigued muscles on the false summit of Nevada’s highpoint - Boundary Peak. Struggling with altitude sickness, I could hear my friend crying in the background while phoning her father about our decision to turn around due to our late start time, with night quickly approaching. I was overwhelmed with emotions. I felt tears swelling in my eyes as I began my descent. And that’s when it hit me. The reality of where we were and what we were doing flooded through my body like electricity as I gazed in the distance… we were walking on the moon. This was the first mountain I ever climbed. For years I admired adventurers from afar and created a narrative that I didn’t belong, nobody looked like me, I wasn’t athletic enough, I didn’t start young enough, I’m not fast or strong enough, etc… but here we were… walking on the moon. This experience had a ripple effect on my life. I have since been very passionate as a BIPOC Neurodivergent woman, to help underrepresented folks overcome imposter syndrome and self-limiting beliefs in the world of climbing.

My experience with Flash Foxy, an inclusive climbing festival, showed me how impactful creating an intentional space for climbing has on community, empowerment, and mitigating barriers to access. This experience led me to forming Coalition Crag in April 2022 initially as a place for women and non-binary folks of all skill levels to have a safe place to show up on their climbing journey. In 2023, I began receiving more interest from folks outside of the scope of this club, which has led me to rebrand the club to underrepresented climbers + allies. I wanted a club that didn’t feel so “exclusive”, that made everyone feel like they belonged. I also believe it is crucial for allies to be present. To better understand the challenges people face so they can be a catalyst for change.