Interview with Katie Brow – Girl On the Rocks

Professional rock climber Katie Brown has been stunning the world with her climbing prowess since she won her first international competition in France at age 14, then took the World Championships at age 18. After an intense youth in competition, Katie took time off to attend school, then found her love of climbing again as she entered her twenties.

Since then, she’s been diligently working at design school, studying yoga, and traveling the world.  Katie’s life has always included a lot of travel. Growing up in rural Kentucky, Katie traveled around Europe starting in her early teens to compete in climbing events.  When we met Katie six years ago, she was still painfully shy and leary of the spotlight from her past, but she was on her own climbing program that involved climbing for the love of it, complete with a new focus and a desire to break out of her shell.

Even though she had traveled on the pro climbing circuit, it was a climbing and bouldering trip to Hampi, India with friends that really opened her eyes.  “That trip definitely changed and shaped my perspective on life and on the world. India is so vibrant and so ‘in your face.’ It’s an incredible place and I can’t wait to go back.  I think all these trips have given me a more open mind and less ethnocentric view of the world. It has made me appreciate the value of ‘home’ but given me the perspective to identify what I value most in life.”

Katie took her first solo trip this spring, trusting the skills she had gained as an independent traveler.  “I’m usually traveling on a climbing trip with other climbers, photographers, videographers, etc. This was my first spontaneous, non-planned, solo trip. I went to Australia and New Zealand, and was greeted with open arms by friendly people who showed me the way-and even let me borrow a car!”

Katie now carries her metaphorical suitcase of skills and perspective with her throughout her travels.  “It can seem daunting, but with a guidebook and a couple of contacts, it’s quite easy. And climbers are a friendly, helpful bunch of people!”

And even though she’s traveled the world, she still says her favorite climbing areas are the Red River Gorge in Kentucky or Yosemite National Park in the USA. “The Red was where I started climbing, and is also home to my favorite style of climbing (long, overhanging routes) so I hold it dear. As for Yosemite, well there’s simply no other place quite as awe-inspiring.”

You can read about and purchase Katie’s latest book, Girl On the Rocks: A Woman’s Guide to Climbing with Strength, Grace and Courage, in our Books We Love section.

- Jess Reilley

Photos by Jamie Carpenter