Fig Johnson (they/them)

Scholarship Recipient | 2023 Flash Foxy Trad Fest - North Conway

My experience of Flash Foxy Trad Fest was resoundingly positive. It was an amazing introduction to outdoor climbing and a deeply meaningful community experience. I met climbers from all over with varying levels of experience who wonderfully supported brand new climbers like me as well as longtime friends and climbing partners. More experienced climbers were stellar role models for what communicative, compassionate, and fun climbing relationships looked like. Newer climbers were just as friendly and brought different comfort levels and learning styles to the crag. Thanks to Flash Foxy, my interest in climbing has been broadened and reinforced exponentially.

Photo by Fig Johnson

However, being in a new place with new people was very overwhelming at first! I experienced agreat deal of anxiety the first day of the festival because I did not really know anyone and I am very new to climbing. I was encouraged to join one of the many meetups and despite my anxiety, decided to tag along with a group called Gays on Belay. The hike up to the route was intense and group dynamics were a little strained at first. When we arrived at the routes we planned to climb, my anxiety was in full swing. The reality of not knowing anything about the gear or systems of trad climbing was hitting me. Nor did I know any of the people I was going to have to trust in order to climb with. I opened up to three of the more experienced climbers in the group. In response, they were so patient, kind, and encouraging. No one pressured me to climb in a certain way and everyone was happy to share their experiences. It made me feel less alone, less anxious, and more at ease in the face of an expansive stretch of sharp granite.

I was also grateful to have an incredible Gym to Crag Clinic experience with Brittany Leavitt and Nina Kendall. Having exactly two half-finished 5.4 routes under my belt, I was still feeling nervous about heights, gear, and communication. I watched several participants of the clinic with months or years of top rope gym climbing experience scramble up routes easily. When I finally worked up the nerve to climb, I asked Brittany to belay me and I communicated that I wanted to work on my fear of heights by climbing to a slightly uncomfortable height and then just hanging out in the harness. She agreed and was kind enough to not only belay me but talk me through how I was feeling and what I needed to communicate to my belayer in order to feel safe. Brittany’s intentionality and generosity set a standard for who I will seek to climb with in future. Nina was also incredibly supportive and enthusiastically shared knowledge about the gear and systems of trad climbing. She demonstrated various gear, allowed us to experiment with it on the ground, and explained thoroughly how she had set up the anchor. It was a fantastic space to practice trusting and learning from the people I climb with.

I intend to continue climbing and endeavor to emulate the compassion that was shown to me as a participant in Trad Fest. The sense of community I felt at Flash Foxy will resonate with me throughout my climbing career.