#3 - Hanging with Patagonia

It’s been a surprise, but I’ve been fully taken with rock climbing. Since trying to win a free beer at a bouldering event last year, climbing has become a big part of my weekly routine. After picking up some equipment on a recent trip to Texas, and getting in some training at an amazing gym there, I’ve come back to Seoul with a fire burning to learn the ropes.

Fortunately the time spent desperately pinching handholds on the wall has lead to some work opportunities too. This month I was called up by Patagonia’s Korea office and asked to head south for a shoot with their climbing team. As an added perk, they needed me to shoot from the top of the routes in order to capture the grit and determination in the climbers’ faces.

I’m far from experienced enough to know all the dynamics of using an ascender and foottape, so it was a relief to have a backup climber alongside as I got the hang of the system. The shoot was one of the most physically demanding of my career, and exactly the kind of work I want to be doing.

Getting to work with Patagonia on a project like this has been a good reminder that pursuing your interests can lead to working in them.