Climbers Like Me: Ariel

Tell us about yourself - who are you and what do you love doing?

I’m a small town mountain girl from the heart of the Canadian Rockies. I moved to the UK during

the first COVID lockdown and it wasn’t the easy transition I was hoping for. I have lived abroad in

Australia as well and moving overseas has never been an intimidating challenge for me. I was

excited to live somewhere where I could be on rock more often and have more opportunities to

travel to Europe. I know it sounds crazy to move from Canada to the UK but I actually met my now

partner in Thailand through rock climbing and we decided, after a long distance relationship, that

it would be better for us and our outdoor lifestyle if I moved here where the Peak District National

park is at our doorstep.

During these COVID times I have been fortunate to walk to crags, get into

fell running and much more. I have a background in Emergency Services and in Canada it was a

very demanding career where I didn’t have much of a work-life balance. By coming to the UK it

has reignited my passion for the outdoors as I learn more about trad climbing (I am a sport

climber at heart but I think that will change this season as I get out on trad more)! This was the

stop button I needed to find a new balance and shift my mindset from work to investing more in

myself. I have never felt more healthy, fit and rested in my life! I hope to pursue volunteer

opportunities with emergency services organizations here and continue to grow as a climber and get to know the community here better.

Give us three words that you identify with most?

Adventure, curiosity, patience.

What brings you the most joy outdoors?

Being able to share amazing experiences with the people I care about. It could be a difficult climb

for my partner and I or a walk with a neighbour.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

No longer defining myself by the grades I climbed. I never felt like I was competing against anyone

other than myself but I used to define what climbing was to me based on how hard I climbed, it

went from pushing myself physically and bettering myself to an unhealthy obsession that started

to suck the fun out of the sport. I think going out and having a good day on some easy climbs is

more enjoyable than absolutely beasting yourself on a single climb. I now feel like I have a healthy

balance and mindset for these types of days. I still love pushing myself but it’s not longer about

the grade, it’s about solving a problem and if you don’t achieve it, try again tomorrow.

If you could share a core value or abiding principle with others, what would it be?

Be kind. have compassion for everyone you encounter because you don’t know what they are

going through. Small gestures of kindness can make someone’s day!

Tell us one small change we can make as individuals to help our community?

Pick up your rubbish or any rubbish you see outside.