“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!”

Do you have those days where the critical tasks of the day seem insurmountable? These are the days when delayed contracts need to be finalized before $1.00 can be made, project due deadlines moved to tomorrow instead of next week, consultants are sitting at the table of your best business client (where you also you consult!) infecting their brains with fears to the point of immobility and the next deal feels like it’s the bigger “Everest” to climb. Life can be overwhelming at times. Of course, there are the metaphors of life that strengthen your ability to blow through these seemingly insurmountable mountains in life to climb. Meet two women (sisters!) trekking one of the greatest metaphoric adventures of life; climbing. And share in what they’ve learned from this most physically & mentally demanding sport. Jill Hendrix and Emily McFarlane climb the edge, they hold on to the edge and are totally Over the Edge about anything vertical.

The Over the Edge Story of the Month: Emily McFarlane, Survey Methodologist, RTI International and her sister, Jill Hendrix, Founder of www.fiction-addiction.com

On the Edge and Over….Literally!

I remember to this day, the mixed feelings of fear, nervousness and near nausea when spotting a human speck dangling from the very tip of one of the tallest free standing vertical boulders I’d ever seen while driving some back winding roads in Colorado. Imagine yourself, if you will, hanging on by just your fingertips. You’re on the jagged rocky edged lip of a boulder 100’s of feet high. You tightly hold onto the only rock crevice you can find with your finger’s life sensors while you peer out literally from the top of the world. Recovering physically within seconds for the very next move and secured by what seems to me to be a very thin (but strong so I am told) rope, with a buddy you hope is totally caffeinated during this over the edge sporting climb of the day, you wonder why not do this every day.

In my mind, there is no other sport more dangerous and more about life and death than this sport. My introduction to climbing came while living in Houston more than 10 years ago, I was one of a handful of women climbers at an indoor climbing facility; training with my husband a few times per week after our strenuous long hour work days. The sport, even indoors, was one of the most difficult sports I’ve ever practiced. The mental difference between practicing the indoor sport of climbing as exercise and the actual passion for the outdoor hobby is so great in my mind. Climbing is unforgiving. One mistake could cost you your life. So I knew where to find strong women who crossed over the mental barrier, from inside exercise to extreme sport. I set out to find women climbers to see where the mental strength came from to take on such a challenging sport. “So why climb?” my first question to Emily MacFarlane, a young professional in the Research Triangle Park area.

Emily ventured out to outdoor climbing inspired by her sister Jill. I have only just met Emily for the first time and find her very reserved and quiet. She does not fit the extreme images I have of someone in love with this extreme sport.

Emily is a tall, long legged, blond, very fit 20-something, young working professional. The long legs mostly work to her reach advantage. My sister had the impression early on in her climbing days guys were the more naturally powerful climbers” says Emily, “I started to believe this myself at first. Over time and lots of training I realized we can actually be great climbers too.” Jill noted to me in our communications (and I have also observed ) that guys have this inherent competitive nature for focusing their attention on the external components of climbing like the wall itself and what their fellow climbers are doing around them. Keeping up with their buddies seemed more motivating for some of her guy friends than any inner source. In the beginning, it is easy to fall into the trap of keeping up verses learning to look at each move from inside your gut and learning to look at each climb strategically, like a puzzle. “Each move up is just another goal accomplished and a new step toward the big goal, the top of whereever you are climbing that day. Every time you climb there are new routes to explore or new ways to tackle the same problem if you will.” Emily explains and then continues on, “The training over time made me stop and center myself. I look at my strengths and leverage them while focusing on strengthening my weaknesses.” The ability to stretch your limits is a great advantage in climbing. Emily has since found a group of climbers who are more interested in reaching the next personal goals than competing with each other which is more enjoyable.

Vertical wall climbing is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports on earth. Both Emily and her sister stress the mental strength required for this sport. They both note at separate times that more mental conditioning is required than actual physical strength. “I love it for that reason.” Emily shyly says as though talking to herself. “The next move like a foot to the next rock or a hand to the next crevice is one step closer to the big goal of reaching the top. But each new move is a goal reached in itself. You are successful with each new move.” Jill notes to me “Climbing is very mental. You need to think positively and not let doubts or fears overwhelm you. Men sometimes seem to do better if another guy is there egging them on, but for women, I think the key is self-confidence. You have to know to your bones that you are really capable of doing this and then you just have to do it and not let anything distract you.”

Emily’s dream is to climb in every country around the world and to climb every part of the U.S. possible. Her next goal is for a US climb at the Tetons in Wyoming. I’ve personally skied the Tetons, so as Emily mentions this to me my mind immediately visualizes some of the over 10,000 foot razor edged rocky peaks. I remember seeing these peaks during my off trial ski trips and I shutter at the thought of “hanging out” on the Grand Tetons. There is a big mental difference I realize with where I am and where Emily and Jill are. I have to say I admire (even envy) their passion, their courage and strength and the desire for this sport. The face of death would seem to stare down from the rocky cliffs at every move. I would see it in rock shapes and afternoon shadows. It all seems so daunting to me. But Emily’s passion for encouraging more women take on this sport is real and calming. Both she and her sister comfort me by noting climbing is one of the safest sports in the world if you take the proper steps to learn the safety techniques. “The gyms are great ways to meet new people, test your skill, learn how to climb safely and test your courage for the great outdoor climbs” both Jill and Emily gently persuade.

As for Emily, climbing seems to be a more personal thing. Its more about being with her sister and friends while doing something she loves. RTI International’s tag line says they are all about “Improving the Human Condition.” To me, Emily has found both work and life passions that are all about human conditions and improvement. What a great balance of personal and work values! She loves what she does at work: creating surveys that measure the human condition and leveraging what is learned to better peoples lives. She also Loves the people she works with; and loves creating a better world through the research conducted. When she is on the wall, it is all about competing with herself, strengthening herself, and improving her own human condition, all the while hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

8 Secrets Learned from Climbing to Aid in Reaching Life Goals

1. Do what you are passionate about in life

2. Stretch yourself, always

3. Believe in yourself, Confidence is the key to success in anything you do

4. Ignore the naysayers!!!

5. Connect with others who share your passions

6. Stay balanced

7. Let your passion rejuvenate you

8. Live your life to the fullest

Your Mental Power To Climb

There is a great benefit to climbing. Very different feelings of achieving are felt when mountains are reached or new steps taken There is an emotional boost to meeting the physical challenge and solving the mental puzzle. When met with courage (meaning you’ve reached the top of the wall or peak of the cliff), the accomplishment is so powerful. I have felt the emotional boost and the powerful mental confidence myself at times. The experience may proceed like this: you’re half way to the top. You fall off the wall. Then fall after fall after fall after fall you’re just trying to get your foot on the next rock, near exhaustion and wanting to just give it up… the mental power takes over and you try once more; but a new stretch in a different direction finds your foot on a new stone. Finally, almost to tears with excitement you return back to the challenges of the climb. You pull up and continue the strenuous climb to the top. The overwhelming sense of accomplishment is euphoric .

I experience, Emily and Jill, as they are share some of their greatest climbing experiences with me, as two women made of mental and physical steel. I want to share their Over the Edge strength with my readers with hopes to inspire other women to reach deep within themselves to push their mental and physical limits.

If you are interested in learning more about the sport of climbing here are a few websites to visit:

• http://www.trianglerockclub.com/
• http://www.verticaledgeclimbing.com/
• www.raleighrockyard.com
• www.sheclimbscarolina.org

Let me hear from you. I love comments and connecting with my readers so please email me your thoughts. Anything you’d love to share concerning any of the Over the Edge past stories or ideas on future stories is welcome, email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it subject: Over the Edge. You may also visit my blog at www.cladventures.com for past Over the Edge stories.