Wrestling with depression, 麻豆社国产resident Katie Hurley found some of her solace in climbing and other outdoor sports.
鈥淚nstead of choosing to take medication and everything, my medication is getting outside,鈥� she said while also acknowledging that others may need medical treatment.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just something about climbing,鈥� Hurley continued. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something about you and being on the rock and getting to the top of something and that feeling of accomplishment that you just can鈥檛 mirror anywhere else.鈥�
Now, she wants to help other women get that same feeling she鈥檚 had on the rocks of Squamish.听
Hurley is setting up a climbing clinic with local athlete Vikki Weldon.
The Treeline Women鈥檚 Climbing Festival will help female climbers ascend their respective mountains this upcoming weekend at Klahanie Campground.
The rationale behind creating a women-only climbing event stems from Hurley鈥檚 experience with different learning styles.
She said that, generally speaking, women tend to talk each other through the learning process more and can be a bit more patient.
Getting tips from men is good, she said, but they can favour a different learning style, which can be a little more competitive.
Because that style of learning isn鈥檛 always a good fit for women, it鈥檚 good to have to an event for women to learn from women, Hurley said.
She also added that it was her hope that the Treeline festival would also inspire some female climbers to become professional guides.听
While the climbing community in 麻豆社国产appears to be fairly inclusive, there does appear to be a discrepancy between men and women when it comes to guides, Hurley said.
Locally, there appears to be significantly more men than women who wind up in that profession, she said.
Hurley said she hopes her clinic can be a step toward getting more women in those positions.
A series of workshops with climbing experts will be held over the course of two days.
Welcome to athletes of all skill levels, students will be learning techniques that are intended to up their game.
Those who are trying to make the leap from the gym to the cliffside will find instruction about rope handling, anchors, belaying and rappelling.
Attendees will also learn leading technique, rock rescue, as well as multi-pitch climbing and more.
Further details can be found at www.treelinewoc.com.
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