Climbing Higher: University of Utah Squatters’ Grant-Funded Adventure

This spring, Squatters at the University of Utah was able to embark on a lovely climbing trip to the City of Rocks thanks to a chapter grant we were awarded by Lila and Darby and our lovely national Backcountry Squatters community!!

We were given $900 to help fund a climbing trip. Generally, there’s a huge issue that I think all of us run up against as we attempt to embark on our various outdoorsy quests: gear. It’s expensive, and important, and a huge logistical barrier. This is especially true when it comes to the Squatters mission of fostering accessibility. Taking a dozen lovely women and non-binary beginners climbing means you need a lotta ropes. Often, we crowdsource gear from our board and super stoked members. With climbing this gets harder because you simply need so much, and because personal gear gets really worn down. That’s why we are so thankful for the support we received from National Squatters this March!

With their funding we were able to purchase three ropes, a set of quickdraws, and anchor building supplies like cordelette and steel locking carabiners. With this gear, we were able to run an absolutely wonderful 14-person trip and have three ropes up at all times. This meant our member, the majority of whom were climbing outdoors for the first time, got to run laps, and climb 4 or 5 times the first day. The second day was shorter because all good things must come to an end ;( and we had to plan around the drive back to SLC, but everyone still got a good three laps in! By the end of the weekend, stoke was super high, and we had people who were poopin their pants the first day trying all the routes with confidence the second day.

 One of my favorite things about climbing as a sport is how much time it gives a girl to yap. Whether it’s chilling at the crag while you watch others climb, or a full-blown lie down on the mats at the gym, there is always a lot of down-time between climbs that creates an open and comfortable place for people to share and get to know each other. We brought 14 lovely people on this trip, and it was awesome to get to watch that dynamic unfold between them. We also brought henna to the crag, which served as the perfect activity. People were doing henna, lying in the sun, telling their tales, and cuddling! The days we spent at the crag were full of the type of silly sparkly closeness and community that has come to define Squatters for me and is my favorite thing about the group. This weekend, we were able to make friendships and see friendships form that I think are going to last through college and beyond, which is exactly what Squatters is about.

I am so very thankful for the support we got from National Squatters that enabled us to put this trip on. It, I think, has been my favorite trip that we have thrown so far. It was unbelievably cool to get to share a more technical sport with our members and watch their eyes light up and their stoke grow. The success of this trip has inspired our board to think bigger, and work hard to share the magic of the outdoors and really create spaces where people can grow. We will of course continue to use these resources to throw a spring climbing trip year after year. Thanks y’all! Stay Squatty!!

-Khushi

UofU Exec Team Member

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