Why Do People Love to Climb?

From a toddler’s first attempt to ascend a staircase, to a weekend adventurer’s mastery of a high-ropes course, people are drawn to the act of climbing. Though many animals are more adept at it, this doesn’t stop us from seeking out mountainsides, canyons, riverbanks, and trees. And when we can’t find enough of these, we fabricate rock walls, jungle gyms and balance beams. 

Scaling these obstacles is more than just a physical feat; it’s a complex meditation. Each ascent demands that we solve a puzzle of handholds and footholds, sequenced just right to make progress. It requires planning and the careful assessment of our body’s abilities. 

And there’s another ingredient: a sense of risk – the risk of losing a grip or slipping a foot, and taking a tumble. When we climb, we conquer these uncertainties and feel a deep sense of efficacy.

Few activities synthesize all three of these elements: physical agility, mental strategy, and palpable risk. Most sports engage only the first two; investing in the stock market, only the latter two. When we climb, all three come together, and something extraordinary happens: We reconnect with a fundamental part of our humanity. 

Perhaps this is because our distant ancestors often had to activate all three elements together — when hunting for food, exploring new territories, or building shelters. In the comfort of our high-tech civilization, we rarely call upon all these powers, yet something deep within us still yearns for the synthesis, for the total engagement with the world that this synthesis brings. Climbing satisfies an ancient craving for physical and mental efficacy in the face of risk, fulfilling us in a way few activities can.

When we climb, we experience a sense of mastery over our world. So, let’s take a step back sometimes and embrace the urge to climb. Let’s get out on the edge, feel our hearts pound, and experience the exhilaration of fully engaging the world around us.