Climbing Out of Parkinson’s!

About the Club:

Climbing Out Of Parkinson’s meets on Saturday mornings from 10 – noon, in the classroom. Even if you have never climbed before we provide the instruction and support for you to climb safely. We will belay you on top rope, and/or offer side climbing (an adaptive climbing technique) with a mentor. We also expand out into the main gym to test ourselves on the tall walls. Climbing strengthens muscles, especially core and leg coordination, challenges your brain with route finding, and improves balance and stability in movement. Plus it is just plain fun!

We have zero tolerance for any discrimination. And we support diversity in all forms. Come join us on our journey of exploration of what is possible!

When We Meet:

Saturdays from 10 am to Noon

What to Expect:

10:00 AM - Up!

  • Meet up in the classroom (we’ll make an announcement)

  • Gear up, put on shoes and harnesses

  • Warm up with stretches and gentle movements

10:15 AM - Climb!

  • We provide whatever level of roped support you need to enjoy climbing safely

About Our Organizers:

Paula Mierau (SHE/HER)

Paula has been climbing at Pacific Edge and outdoors since 2017. It used to be that she was always busy as an Emergency Room nurse, but now that she is retired from that job, she has more time for beach volleyball, long steep hikes with her three dogs, intense gardening projects, and climbing! Paula’s best climbing experience was in Pinnacles. She could see two condors circling behind her as she climbed and was pretty sure they were waiting for her to fall and die so they could pick her bones. As she made it to the top, one of the condors landed very close by! Possibly he was just checking to be sure she was not dead.

stacy kim (SHE/HER)

My first climbing experience was in Yosemite in 2002. My date (who was a climber) suggested we jug the fixed lines on El Cap. I had no idea what that meant but he showed me how to use ascenders and up I went. At Mammoth Terraces, 300 m off the ground, he showed me how to rappel. To this day I am wary of rappelling! But I love climbing, especially long trad climbs, though with two precious pandemic dogs I’ve had to modify that to lots of single pitches. In my previous life as a marine science professor I did field research in Antarctica and at hydrothermal vents in the deep sea, where I explored community balance in the absence of human disturbances. I still approach life with an ecological perspective of how healthy communities function as a whole, which is why I love the inclusiveness of Pacific Edge!