Marcela Riddick (she/they)

I started climbing outside almost a year ago after discovering gym climbing as an adult. What began as a way to work out quickly grew into something more. I am now an indoor bouldering youth coach and have been looking for ways to build deeper community through climbing. 

When past scholarship participants in my network recommended the Flash Foxy scholarship, I knew I had to apply. It felt like the kind of space I had been searching for, one rooted in connection, inclusion, and growth. 

Through my work as a volunteer leader with Outdoor Afro, I organize events across the country that bring Black communities together outside. When I received the scholarship, I wanted to do more than just attend. Alongside two other Outdoor Afro leaders, I helped organize a Black bouldering meetup for the weekend. 

This was also my first time climbing in Bishop, and the weekend was full of firsts. 

The sense of community stood out the most. I met people from my backyard as well as across the country. I connected with other organizations doing mission-aligned work and reached out to my own community for support, from borrowing crash pads to gathering snacks for our group. It all felt deeply collective. 

I had the opportunity to help others try outdoor bouldering for the first time. Watching people discover what they are capable of on rock is something I will never take for granted. At the same time, I was pushing myself in new ways. I tried climbs I would not have attempted on my own and was challenged both physically and emotionally by incredible guides and instructors who I now consider friends and mentors. 

I also learned more about the Indigenous history of the Eastern Sierra, which added another layer of meaning to the experience. Conversations with community leaders, especially Sage, inspired me to think more intentionally about how I share my own culture and community in the spaces I am part of. 

I connected with artists who encouraged me to push my own creative work further. As a photographer, I am leaving this experience with new inspiration and a goal to return next year to vend and share my work with this community. 

Most importantly, I felt safe, supported, and seen. That feeling is what made this experience so meaningful. Creating connections to new rock and new people, there is nothing better than that!