My name is Laura and I am 23 years old. I have been climbing for about six and a half years now. I first started climbing at
Planet Granite in Belmont, where I met some of my best climbing partners including Kelsey and Tim. After climbing in the gym for a bit, Kelsey took me to Castle Rock for my first bouldering trip. I made my first sport climbing trips to Pinnacles, Tahoe, and Smith Rock. After finishing high school, I got to go climbing in Thailand, as well as take a road trip to Colorado, during which we stopped in Tahoe, Joe's Valley, Maple Canyon, Rifle, and Boulder.
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| About to embark on my first trad lead |
I started college at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in the Fall of 2008. After starting college I met Chelsea and Ben. Ben was the first one to take me trad climbing in Joshua Tree. I fell in love with it right away! It wasn't until Chelsea took me to Indian Creek though, that I really learned how to crack climb. Chelsea and I made regular trips to Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Bishop, and Tahoe. I met a bunch of my other climbing partners, including Alex, at school too.
During college I also started competing in the newly formed Collegiate Climbing Series put on by USA Climbing. That was a great avenue for me to meet even more great people like Casey, Ian, and Nolan. Over the past three years I have been working to create a climbing club on campus, and this year the club finally came to fruition. I enjoy being part of the club and holding education meetings each week and look forward to starting instructional clinics soon.
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| What could be better than good skin in Bishop? |
After a bit of time in college, Chelsea and I decided we needed a break so we took fall quarter off in 2010 and made a three and half month road trip. Before the road trip, we spent the summer in Tahoe, climbing at Donner nearly everyday. We met Eric up in Tahoe while working at High Altitude Fitness. After climbing all summer we were ready for adventure and headed to Smith Rock, Trout Creek, the Tetons, City of Rocks, American Fork, Boulder, Indian Creek, Joe's Valley, Maple Canyon and finished up in Bishop.
And of course, I can't forget to mention my two crag dogs, Titan and Star! They are amazing.
These days, I enjoy getting out as much as possible. I love being on the road, sleeping in the back of my car, and climbing the best rocks I can find.
