Jillian Stannard, 44, looped the end of a rope through her harness, tied a figure-eight knot, and gripped the edge of her start hold. Exhaling slowly, she propelled herself upward in a rhythmic motion. 

Less than two years ago, this exercise of strength and precision seemed impossible. Confined to a hospital bed, Stannard faced multiple health challenges with doctors unable to diagnose a solution.

While her recovery took months of alternative treatments and was a long process of growth, climbing eventually became a source of healing for her. 

“It started becoming a really big confidence builder for me,” Stannard said. “As I was engaging in this new activity, my body was just transforming … and I’ve never in my life had this kind of physical health.”

Stannard is a regular member at Alta Climbing, Gilbert’s first indoor climbing gym, which recently celebrated its third anniversary. Since the sport’s Olympic debut in 2020, rock climbing has surged in popularity among teens and adults alike.

For Stannard, Alta offers more than just exercise — it’s an invitation to confidence in her body and self discovery. 

“It’s a sport that you will always be able to grow in," Stannard said. "There’s no finish line or completion. It’s an ever-evolving beautiful process within yourself."

Climbing demands full-body awareness and helped her develop mental resilience. Each route is a puzzle, forcing Stannard to figure out a solution that was unique to her body and strength.

It became a way for her to rebuild trust both in herself and others.

“Sometimes we go through trauma in life where trust is severely broken, and this is a way to learn how to trust again,” Stannard said. “You trust yourself, you trust your hands, you trust your feet, you trust your partner.” 

Stannard also finds climbing therapeutic for managing ADHD symptoms, something she and many other climbers identify with. The focus required on the wall quiets the noise of distractions and anxieties inside. 

“You have to be super hyper-focused to do a lot of the technical skills that we need in rock climbing," Stannard said. "You’re fully consumed in every way."

Still, though exhilarating, climbing inherently carries an element of risk. Contrary to common belief, many climbers often experience fear while on the wall.

The allure for most is not adrenaline, but the triumph of overcoming.  

Stannard sees her fear as important, not a limitation. She uses her fear as a tool to evaluate safety, and once she realizes she’s safe, pushes through that mental barrier. 

Professional climber Alex Honnold, famous for his free solo ascents, echoed this perspective in a recent conversation with "High Performance Podcast." Honnold argued that climbing cultivates a healthy relationship with fear.

“When was the last time most people were actually afraid?" Honnold said. "I think that if you don’t experience real fear from time to time … then your mind just sort of creates fears out of nothing. I think that the more real experiences you have with fear, with real danger … the less likely you are to make mountains out of molehills, to worry about the stuff that doesn’t matter.”

For Finn Helser, 22, climbing is a practice of self-mastery. By committing to a scary move, Helser lets go of self-imposed fears and challenges his limits.

“It’s a shame if someone never met the full extent of their creation," Helser said. "Climbing is one of the most natural ways to see what your body is capable of. It’s empowering to know that you can trust your body."

Finn Helser reaches the crux on a boulder face. (Courtesy of Finn Helser)

Courtesy of Finn Helser

Introduced to climbing at 18, Helser climbs at Alta almost daily, often alongside his older brother. While the sport pushes his physical and mental limits, the community is what keeps him coming back. 

Helser believes that climbing is as much of a social experience as it is individual. The gym allows him to meet a huge demographic of people with whom he wouldn’t otherwise engage.

Although he normally has an independent mind-set, Helser’s learned to appreciate others' support and rely on their advice to complete a climb. He loves being present with others and trying to problem solve together. 

Since there are so many different ways to position a body on the wall, there isn’t a standard body type in the gym. Each route is unique, just as the individuals who climb them are. 

“Typically when it comes to sports it’s hard for men and women to compete together because of physical differences, but in climbing that doesn’t matter," Helser said. "In my opinion it’s the only sport where men and women can be on equal levels.

“You know, it’s a rock. And with that you have a whole bunch of amazing individuals that are able to accomplish the exact same problem in incredibly different ways.”

Helser said the harder routes require more technicality over body strength. Anyone can learn to adapt personal qualities to their advantage and this contributes to the inclusive atmosphere.

Anthony Lara, one of Alta Climbing’s routesetters, helps craft this experience. Routesetters design climbs that challenge and engage climbers of all skill levels.

Lara began climbing as a young adult and was captivated by routesetting from the start.

After working front desk at a gym and building relationships with setters, he was given the chance to set his first boulder.

Routesetting isn’t a traditional career since the sport is still developing, so the path is often informal, relying on passion and mentorship.

Anthony Lara shown in action as he drills holds in place for a new boulder. (Courtesy Anthony Lara)

Courtesy Anthony Lara

Lara said he believes that interpersonal skills outshine technical skills in this profession.

Every routesetter has a unique creative process. He described that some envision movement or a sequence of actions first, then find holds that match their idea. Others draw inspiration from a specific word or abstract concept.

For Lara, climbing is a form of art that requires curiosity and an open mind.

“I think the more experienced you get, the more you can play with that process, but it all starts with some sort of intent,” Lara said. “I’m big on aesthetics. I really like climbs that mimic the outdoors. When I’m outside, what attracts me to a route is if it’s fun to climb and looks really cool. That’s what I try to incorporate into my sets.”

While grades are used to define the difficulty of a climb, Lara emphasized that they should not serve as the only measurement of success.

“I think success is all about what the individual’s personal goals are," he said. "Not completing a climb isn’t a failure if you’re finding little improvements the more you work at it."

Lara encourages new climbers to embrace the discomfort of difficult problems and try training till exhaustion. 

“If you give up when you’re tired or come down because you don't know if you can stick a scary move, then you’re building a bad habit," he said. "You’ll never know exactly what your body is capable of."

As the sport evolves, so do its participants. Improved gear and facilities have made climbing more accessible, but Lara has noticed a cultural shift as well. The majority of people used to train in the gym so they could climb better outside, but now the gym is the destination for many.

“I think the biggest change I’ve seen has been the mind-set of the average climber,” Lara said. “For me, climbing is a self-pursuit of mastery. I want to be as good at this as I can, and I want to focus on all the little details. But recently I think it’s become less of a personal pursuit for some people and more of an ego booster that they can put on social media. ”

Despite this, Lara finds fulfillment in helping others grow.

“At Alta, I’ve learned a lot about myself and it’s been so cool to see people develop as climbers," he said. "At the very least, it’s a gateway into this community and a place where people can start their own journey."

Reylee Billingsley is a student at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.