Note: this poem is published in Volume 25. Photo of Anna climbing “Peace” in Tuolumne Meadows, California by Mary Eden.
Climbing draws us to these moments.
Where flowing water harmonizes with every exhale;
Where bare toes find solace in mud
And bare skin befriends sunlight’s golden rays.
Where our wild hearts stir with blooming friendships under juniper trees,
And our wild senses are drawn to the constellations of granite domes capturing the landscape.
For a while,
It was hard to explain why I chose this path:
Living out of my car and embracing simplicity.
I would catch myself almost apologizing
For my enthusiasm,
“It’s just a rock, after all.
It’s not like there’s a point.”
But the truest part of me always understood—
How can it be pointless
When every moment in nature is connection?
How can it be pointless
When climbing kindles passion, love, struggle, togetherness, understanding, and
Peace?
How can anything this powerful ever be pointless?
Anna “Hazelnutt” Hazlett is a lover of all things climbing, nature, and food. She lives out of her car, chasing the world ’s most beautiful slab and face climbs. You can find more of her work at @annahazelnutt on Instagram and YouTube.
You can score a copy of Volume 25 at our store: https://shop.climbingzine.com/
