The Shorts— Holding On By Letting Go

“I didn’t expect to get to the top, let alone send. I merely wanted to push the limits of what I believed was capable for myself,” writes Shara Zaia. With climbing, Shara found a space to push herself as she strove to climb harder routes and created a community of friends. Yet, even while flourishing, one question continued to arise for Shara– did she belong? A version of this essay first appeared in The Climbing Zine in Spring 2024. Support comes from Kuat Racks Duer shopduer...