Climbing Beyond Walls: Inclusion and Diversity in the Vertical World

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Climb It Up seminars, a project dedicated to promoting social inclusion and embracing diversity through the practice of rock climbing. As a climbing instructor, the experience left me deeply inspired — and more aware than ever of the role our sport can play far beyond the crag.

Climbing is often seen as an individual pursuit or a challenge of physical limits. But in truth, it is also a shared journey: we rely on trust, communication, and cooperation — core values that echo the very essence of an inclusive society. Whether you're tying into the rope with a long-time partner or a complete stranger, the wall doesn't care about your background, ability, gender, language, or story. It simply invites you to try.

What Climb It Up taught me is that rock climbing can be a tool for connection. It can break down social barriers, empower people with fewer opportunities, and create spaces where diverse identities feel seen, respected, and supported.

But for this to happen, instructors like myself must also evolve. Technical skills are essential, but so is our ability to create safe, welcoming, and culturally sensitive environments. This means learning how to:

• Identify and remove invisible barriers that may keep people from joining.

• Understand the different experiences that marginalized groups may face in outdoor sports.

• Promote equity in how we teach, guide, and communicate.

• Recognize our own biases and continuously work on inclusion as an ongoing practice — not a one-time action.

Through the Climb It Up project, I not only gained tools and frameworks to apply in my own teaching, but I also met inspiring individuals and organizations who reminded me why I started in this field in the first place: to help people grow, connect, and discover their strength — together.

As we open new routes on the rock, let’s also open new routes in our thinking — ones that lead to a climbing community that is more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming for all.