From Beginner to Big Wall: Chasing Dreams in Brazil (Part 1)

Recently, I completed my first big wall, female climbing trip through Brazil with a close friend of mine. We conquered three of the classic big wall routes in Brazil in one week by ourselves: 1) Moonwalker, Pedra Riscada (roughly the size of El Cap- we slept in hammocks on a bivy ledge at the top of pitch 12 before continuing on the next day to the summit and down), 2) Face Leste Pico Maior, Parque Tres Picos and 3) Face Leste + Maria Cebola, on the coveted Dedo de Deus. Everywhere we went, we ran into male climbers (we did not run into one single female climber- we want to change this!) who were awestruck at the project that we were attempting and succeeding at. It was such an empowering and emotional journey that boosted my confidence in climbing and everyday life. I hope that my story will reassure those in doubt about going after their own dreams that if there’s a will, there’s a way and dreams can...