girl boss/girl climber

For me, with my love of biking, birds and women’s empowerment, I get sent a whole slew of articles and things from my dad whenever something of the sort comes across his desk. 

Which is incredibly sweet. 

That someone thinks of me when they come across stuff about the things I care about. 

What could be more loving? 

Over the weekend, my dad asked me, because he knows how much women’s empowerment means to me, if I’d like to check out the movie “Girl Climber.”

With a brief context of the plot– an accomplished climber, Emily Harrington, wanted to climb up El Capitan in Yosemite in 24 hours, without hesitation I said, let’s go! 

If you can go see the film in theaters, go, it was phenomenal from the story to the cinematography.  The film is hitting up different spots of the US and you can see if it will be shown near you here. 

I’d love to share 3 takeaways from the film:

1- At one point in the film, Emily talks about how she’s a woman in a predominantly man’s sport. Emily through different adventures becomes close with a ski mountaineer– Hilaree Nelson. As Emily deals with challenges in gaining the skills to climb up “El Cap” she repeatedly reaches out to Hilaree to share her defeats (and successes). Despite being in a man’s world, having another intrepid spirit to cheer her own was key. 

I don’t have to be scaling gnarly walls to ask myself: Who are the people near and far who hold you with care especially when you fall and fail? 

2-  Emily talks about her desire to start a family, but feels the pressure to complete this big project of reaching the top of El Capitan before she can start a family. There was something deeply meaningful to hear someone grapple with the challenges of a biological clock and other professional and personal aspirations. 

This is a reality for so many women and non-binary folks and hearing how this unfolds in other people’s lives, even if I am not trying to scale literal mountains, made her story and struggle so real and human. 

I don’t have to be scaling gnarly walls to ask myself: What are the big goals, projects and aspirations that are urgently calling me? 

3- Emily reads some of the unkind commentary on the internet about her, including about her body and weight. My heart hurt hearing this. So much of the commentary was about how she didn’t have a right or reason to be engaging in the tricky, risky and complicated climbs she was doing. 

Whether in the board room or our outdoor spaces, it’s so common for women to be told directly or behind one’s back that you shouldn’t be trying or doing what you are doing because you are a woman or your body doesn’t match certain stereotypes. What I admired about Emily was she didn’t let those voices dictate her next steps, instead she focused on training and surrounding herself with supportive humans that did believe in her. 

Whatever you are trying to reach there are going to be some naysayers and haters: How do you stay true to your goals, even when some “shade” is being thrown your way? 

If you go check out the film, I’d love to hear what your takeaways were!

Wheels up,

Ellen