Climbing Character series #3
I originally connected with Hannah after stumbling across her Instagram where she was sharing tips for lead belaying from a wheelchair. We started talking, and she ended up on the belay device asset card in First Ascent! Here’s a little bit more about Hannah and being an adaptive climber.
We talked a lot about what climbing can bring to a person’s life—which can be especially pronounced for adaptive climbers. “My favorite thing about climbing is the freedom it gives me. Once I am tied into the rope no one is worried about me falling, I can do my own thing and leave the real world for a little while,” says Hannah.
At the age of 14, Hannah sustained a traumatic brain injury that flipped her world upside down. Doctors said she wouldn’t be able to graduate from high school, or play any of the sports she had grown up playing—difficult terms to accept. Academically, Hannah proved them wrong: she finished high school and later graduated from college with a degree in Child and Family life. Physical recovery and a return to sports, however, seemed more elusive. In 2019, she signed up for an adaptive climbing program through a local rehab center. From the first few sessions, it was clear that she had a future in climbing. After that program ended, she signed up for a belay class, joined a gym, and started climbing on her own.
Gear cards are drawn throughout the game to climb pitches!
Hannah at her gym in Minnesota.
The cool thing about climbing is that it is one of the only sports that is truly accessible to everyone because of the built-in safety of the rope. Unlike standing or walking-based sports, climbing allows folks who have difficulty with balance or mobility get stronger and more coordinated without the fear of falling to the ground. Hannah described how climbing helped her walking become more steady and controlled—she saw a difference within weeks. Additionally, adaptive climbers can excel in climbing quickly because they are used to problem solving to navigate everyday life. They are accustomed to moving differently, improvising, and looking for alternatives when they’re stuck.
We talked a lot about Hannah’s gym and their attitude of “we haven’t done that here yet, but let’s see how we can make it happen.” She is one of the only adaptive climbers at her gym, so when she’d ask the staff an accessibility question, they wouldn’t know on the spot, but they’d have an answer for her the next time she came in. I think this is something every gym can learn from and adopt, if they aren’t already. One of the most striking examples is when she asked if she could take the lead test—the staff did some research and was ready within a couple weeks.
Receiving her lead certification is Hannah’s proudest climbing achievement. “Being able to lead is an accomplishment for anyone, but it was a goal I never saw myself getting to, so when I got that coveted lead tag on my harness, I was beaming!”
Unfortunately, the lead tag doesn’t keep other climbers from treating her differently; Hannah said that there’s still some folks who don’t know what to say to adaptive climbers, so here are a few of her tips:
Treat us like you would treat an abled climber! Don’t assume that because we climbed it, you will breeze through it. If a random person in the gym sent a route, would you assume that you could send it too? And then get visibly angry when you couldn't?
Don’t randomly tell an adaptive climber they are an ‘inspiration’ to you. (Especially when they complete a mundane task or have climbed a route well below their limit) “We don’t exist to inspire you, we exist to inspire ourselves, just like you inspire yourself.” Overpraising feels patronizing and diminishes their achievements.
Please call us “Adaptive Athletes,” try to not use “disabled,” and please don’t say “Handicapped.”
Outside of the gym, Hannah enjoys creating cards in her craft room or exploring nature with her fiancé, Paul. They have a rescue named Kodak and love to golf during the warmer months. For tips on her favorite belay devices, check out her instagram @coping.through.climbing.