For KRUX athlete Jen Kim, climbing is about joy: the kind you share with friends when someone does something they didn’t think they could do. Based in Northern California, she’s drawn to climbs that are both physical and technical.
The Project That Humbled Her
Sheepherder, in Bishop, looked like a warm-up. It became a multi-year project. Four or five trips later, she finally sent it.
“And it was a euphoric moment. I was like, ‘I have overcome my demons.’”
What She Knows Now
“Climbing has taught me a lot about prioritizing taking care of yourself and being strategic with how you do things.”
Now she plans for recovery, especially on long trips:
“Sure, it’s fine if you trash yourself and you have five days to recover before you do it again. But if you’re on a two-week trip and you do that on day two, you’re hosed.”
What Keeps Her Coming Back
“Right now I’m really leaning into the joy of climbing. Like, I can do things that are hard and weird and scary, or just silly, you know? … It’s just like a childlike joy.”
