Climbing and Community — OutClimb Brings Queer Visibility and Community to the Climbing World

Rock climbing has climbed to new heights in the past few years, figuratively speaking. With the increase in popularity of indoor climbing, there are now over five locations across the Twin Cities for people to enjoy. But with this popularity, where does our community play a role?

With typical “gym bros” also come “climbing bros,” which can make it difficult to find other queer people to climb with. In comes OutClimb, a non-profit organization that works to help make climbing approachable and accessible to trans and queer people while also building community and visibility.

Dustin Modrow, OutClimb president, says the organization was founded by his friend in 2018 because they saw that the majority of climbers at the gym where they worked were cis men and wanted to change that. Modrow shared that many people still find that true to this day, with one of the members joining OutClimb because they were having trouble finding people to climb with who would respect their gender identity and pronouns.

“People have found mentorship and just people to climb with in Outclimb that they may not have been able to find otherwise,” Modrow says.

OutClimb hosts free or reduced-price climbing events on alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the second Friday every month at various climbing locations across the Cities, including Vertical Endeavors, Minneapolis Bouldering Project and Minnesota Climbing Cooperative. The first time is always free, but then people can receive a discounted day pass for the event if they aren’t members.

Meetups are mostly open climbing, but each one starts with a movement lesson to help climbers stay on longer and not get as sore, according to Modrow. Mentorship is also available for people at all levels (no experience needed) from OutClimb leaders, like Modrow, who has been climbing for 13 years.

There are many types of climbing, both indoor and outdoor, such as top rope, lead climbing, bouldering and ice climbing. All vary in difficulty, but Modrow says climbing is good at meeting you where you’re at.

“If you can climb a ladder, you can get on the wall,” Modrow says. “In the day-to-day, if I’m feeling low energy I can still go and just climb some stuff that isn’t pushing myself to the limit, and my friend will be right next to me and they’ll be trying to send the hardest route they’ve ever sent pushing themselves so hard, and we can be there doing that together.”

Starting to climb can come with fears, but it may be easier than it seems. There are risks that come with all types of climbing, but sharing knowledge on what those are and how to mitigate them helps with fears and intimidation, Modrow says. Climbing is also more of a skills-based activity rather than based on athletic level, differentiating it from other sports.

Each meetup is a mix of regulars, people new to OutClimb and completely new climbers, according to Modrow, leaving room for people of all experience levels and opportunities to meet fellow climbers. He says these meetups helped him find community and long-lasting friends in a time when he was having trouble making friends.

“It’s really just finding something you’re interested in that’s regularly scheduled and going to that as often as you can,” Modrow says. “There’s an open invite channel on our Discord, and then that will turn into hangouts outside of climbing as well, but I like the moments where invites are open to everyone to climb, and then that community is formed.”

OutClimb also has climbing groups for various identities to find community within the climbing world. BIPOC Beta, Climb ASL, Sober Climbing Club, Femme Climbing Coalition and Indigenous Climb are just a few of the many groups with their own calendars of meetups. While most of the meetups are indoor climbing, they are working on doing more outdoor meetups and clinics this year to increase the representation in outdoor climbing as well.

All in all, there are plenty of opportunities whether you’re a frequent climber looking for a new group to climb with or you’re looking to climb for the first time. Check out one of the many meetups, take a stab at climbing and find a community of people to learn and grow with.

Learn more at outclimb.gay or follow @outclimbmn on Instagram for all the latest updates and upcoming events!