There are strong people who aren't able to climb. It's about reading the rock, knowing how to position your body and having the tenacity to not let go.

There's a balance. Time and place for everything.

I had a bad knee injury when I was about seventeen. I wasn't able to climb for about six months. It was kind of like a transformative time for me, because it was really hard for me not to be able to climb. It forced me to appreciate things without just climbing.

The strongest climbers aren’t always the happiest or nicest to be around; neither are some of them coming from the purest motivation. Climbing another V17 is not going to save the world! This activity of 'rock climbing' is merely one of many ways to exist, pass the time, and evolve and grow from one moment to the next. That’s all.

They kind of go hand-in-hand. Following your motivation, resting when you need to rest, and going for it when you feel inspired.

As climbers, we need to learn to be good stewards of the land and take care of these places where we are spending so much time.

When I was 17, I blew out my knee bouldering, and I wasn't able to climb for a year. It was hard for me to have to stay away from what I love and what makes me happy. But it was a wake-up call to take care of my body and not be too reckless.