With Climbing Comes Community

A tale of how two girls came to be great friends, brought together through their shared passion for climbing and love for the outdoors.

Sofia Micci (left) and Kaitlyn Duong (right) hike on the rainy trails of Echo Cliffs in Malibu

While at its core, climbing is an intensely personal sport, with it ultimately coming down to just you and the wall, your mind and body connection to the rock, the sense of community and collaboration that derives from the sport is very special. From belayers and coaches to teammates and friends, the diverse climbing community can instantly connect and bond by shared passions, excitements and joys of exploration.

Coming to college, I turned to the climbing club to find my people, and very quickly I was met with deeply rewarding connections and genuine friends. For Sofia Micci, 20, and Kaitlyn Duong, 21, who come from different sides of the country and study different things at Cal Poly, it was their shared love of rock climbing that brought them together. It was not long before awkward hellos or mini conversations blossomed into full-fledged climbing trips and quality time spent with one another, exploring the great outdoors.

Lead climbing in Bishop Peak and Cerro Cabrillo, the two have spent countless hours trying different routes and exploring the idyllic nature around San Luis Obispo.

Sofia belays Kaitlyn up a sport climb at Cerro Cabrillo in San Luis Obispo.

And in more recent months, their love for climbing and ever-growing interests to explore new places have taken them to locations all around California, from Mission Gorge in San Diego, Echo Cliffs in Malibu to Lizard’s Mouth in Santa Barbara. With each climbing trip, the two have created a whole host of memories, sending hard routes and even taking wrong turns on an approach in the pouring rain. Throughout it all, Sofia and Kaitlyn, with their spontaneous natures and ability to go-with-the-flow, have had a blast.

Sofia tackles an over-hung boulder at Lizard’s Mouth/ Photo by Kaitlyn Smiling hard, the two carry their crash pads and gear at Lizard’s Mouth / Photo by Kaitlyn