Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 76 to tell you of their tales into the unknown, if approached with interest and wonder. With some of the greatest Montana climbers working as everyday people among us, it's easy to underestimate these unassuming blue-collared individuals in our communities. But the humble climber is often the one who lives the longest, so it's no surprise these great climbers need not boast to appreciate what they have seen and done in Montana's wild vertical world. The climbing community is an extremely vibrant and wel- coming bunch of individuals, all with the same strange ad- diction: a life into the vertical. It is hard for outsiders to un- derstand why these individuals seemingly risk their life and limb in pursuit of something meaningless, but to those on the inside, it's just something we must do. The late great climb- er Warren Harding once said in response to why he and his team of climbers wanted to scale the great walls of Yosemite National Park, "Because we're insane!" It seems to be a fitting stereotype, as most climbers seem to have at least one screw loose! That being said, they are the kindest, most giving, and inviting group of people I have ever come to love. Generations of climbers, dating back hun- dreds of years, have all felt the same connection and drive to chase these seemingly minute goals of vertical adventures. With knowledge being passed down from one climbing gen- eration to the next, the passion of adventure is not soon to be lost. Mentorship is an extremely important part in under- standing climbing, whether that be through friends, older climbers, or community members. Learning from someone who has spent significantly more time climbing than you is crucial in creating safe and efficient climbing habits. Face- book groups, community outreach events, organized group climbs, and weekly climbing meetups are the norm in today's

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