Kat Whipple is a queer first ascensionist rock climber.
And so much more…
Kat fell in love with sandstone crack climbing in Indian Creek, Utah. She teamed up to develop over 175+ first ascents in Indian Creek, with her on the sharp end of the rope for more than half of those climbs. She is the woman who has established the most climbs in that area and the only queer identified first ascensionist in the area.
Kat’s love for climbing was sparked as a kid. She bouldered a lot until she broke her leg, then switched to lead climbing and traditional climbing. All this while managing chronic pain and physical limitations and stretching debilitating fear to strength and nervous system agility. The new techniques and challenges of each type of climbing inspired more dedication to learning it all. She pushed grades to 5.13 in all forms of climbing.
When, she found Indian Creek and learned to establish first ascents. It stole her heart. Though the physical and emotional challenges were met with more systemic challenges. The first openly queer woman putting up new routes, meant loosing climbing partners, people trying to discredit or erase her contributions and achievements in the area and climbers trying to tare her down. She did not let the challenges stop her, she kept developing climbs and building supportive community.
The only thing that paused her perseverance was breaking her back, while crack climbing. She had to give up the sport all together for a time. It broke her heart, and gave her new perspective too. She painstakingly took recovery seriously, both physically and mentally. And, eventually built her body and mind back up. She is stronger than she has ever been, still putting up brutal first ascents with a desire to catalyze change in the climbing world.
For 20 years Kat has been creating systems for social change, building and holding community, founding organizations, and coaching, all while climbing.
Kat has a Masters in Clinical Social Work
Her work has focused on innovation and trauma informed inter-generational work with individuals and families, building community around foster youth, supporting sexually exploited youth, and empowering LGBTQIA+ communities. She is also trained in group facilitation and optimization by Matrixworks since 2006. Since 2002, she has founded 2 non-profit organizations and developed 5 social impact training and mentoring programs, in Colorado, Ecuador and California, while coaching individuals, families, and social impact entrepreneurs.
She is dedicated to supporting everyone in moving through their fears to find their unique gifts, strengths and resilience by connecting more to themselves, one another and the world around them, all while being curious and playing as much as possible.
Check out www.KatWhipple.com to work with Kat.
Testimonials
Watching Kat climb is like witnessing art in action. It clear that she is not only a master of the nuances of climbing technique, but she understands and is able to harness the physical, mental and emotional aspects climbing in a way I have never seen before.
Through Kat's tutelage, my skills and ability have improved to a level I assumed was far beyond my reach in such a short period of time. Her adept communication coupled with her intuitive nature make her an exceptional mentor. Kat explains the physical aspects of movement and technique clearly and directly for any physique and skill level and discerns precisely when and how to encourage or push you to move beyond your own fears and self-doubt. I have reached new heights in my climbing and all my goals in the sport and in life seem more achievable than ever because of Kat.
- A. G.
My son started climbing with Kat and both climbing and Kat has literally helped him so much. It gave him something to help him through the hard times our family went through. Kat’s support of our entire family has transformed our family and made us all more resilient.
- S.L.
I “spotted” Kat Whipple as she set out to establish an unclimbed route in Indian Creek, Utah. What happened next turned out to be easily one of the top three most metal acts of rock climbing I’ve ever seen. Leaving the flake, Whip committed to an absolute horror fall. Zero, zero options for failure or retreat. I heard deep psychological pep talks to the higher mind and the basement dwelling animal. There were tears in my eyes as I watched a true death battle: a mix of brutal scrap-fight wrapped up in a mastery of technique. It was a moment of mastery. At one point I thought to myself, “she doesn’t realize how hard she’s climbing right now...” She was just going. Unstoppable. No option to fail. I’ve never, ever seen anything like it. It was art, and death, and life... mixed up before our eyes in a form of climbing I won’t claim to fully grasp. It was like magic. Scary, scary magic. Necromancy.
- Chris Schulte
Kat’s support and climbing with my daughter gave her new ways to handle social anxiety with peers and other worries. Our family can’t thank Kat enough.
- M. A.