Charlie Barron

ABOUT ME: 

I started climbing 15 years ago at a small climbing gym called Steepworld in Billings, MT, and instantly fell in love. Climbing was initially just another sport to me, but I quickly realized that it was much more than that. I remember seeing every climb as a unique puzzle that I needed to solve with my mind and then execute with my physical and technical abilities. Upon being introduced to outdoor climbing, an entirely new dimension of climbing entered my life. I absolutely loved that I could connect with nature whilst being physically, technically, and mentally stimulated all at once. That feeling has been, and will always be, euphoric to me.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 

Oct 2019 | Winning the Yank-N-Yard National Cup
Jun 2020 | First ascent of the (current) hardest boulder in Montana, Breaking the Curse (V13/14)
Aug 2020 | Flashing Wildcat (V12)
Sept 2020 | First ascent of Shadow Walker (V14)
Dec 2020 | Graduating from Colorado School of Mines with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Q+A: 

Who is your favorite climbing partner?

I can’t say that I have a singular favorite climbing partner; however, one of my favorite climbing partners would have to be my good friend/mentor, Kerrek Stinson.  Kerrek has always inspired me by being both an impressive climber and a disciplined, brilliant student.  This combination motivated me to pursue both climbing and education to their fullest throughout my youth.  I don’t get to climb with Kerrek often these days, as I am currently living in Salt Lake City, UT while he is pursuing a PhD in mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, but I always look forward to the infrequent chances that we do get to catch up and climb.

What is your go-to hype song?

My current hype song is always changing but one that I can always jam to is Rock Love by Lando Chill.

What was the first La Sportiva product you tried?

I think the first La Sportiva product that I tried was the Solution 10+ years ago

Which charity/advocacy organizations do you support or belong to?

Two organizations that I will fully support until the day that I die are Climbing4Change and Access Fund.

APE INDEX:

I'm 5'11' with a +6''!