2025 Climbing Wrap-Up: Highlights and Looking Ahead
- Sophia
- Dec 31, 2025
- 3 min read
2025 was a year full of improvement and learning for me. Looking back, I remember lots of days out in the forest and visiting different local climbing gyms - every day a chance to learn and experience something new.
As this year comes to a close, I'd like to take a chance to share the 2025 climbing highlights of this year, but also use this as an opporunity to set some realistic goals for upcoming 2026.
January:
SCBC Hive POCO Probs in Coquitlam (bouldering competition where I placed 9th out of 30 YCF competitors).
Joining a new climbing team at one of my home gyms - Team Thunder (informally) at the UVic CARSA Climbing Centre
February:
Training with the team, I worked on consistent workouts twice a week - and, magically, saw great improvement in my technical climbing!
Cooler temperatures and rare snow allowed me and my family to travel further and hike, expanding my experience for future bigger backpacking expeditions.
March:
The SCBC competition season came to a close with their annual Boulder and Lead Provincials at the Richmond Oval - where I, to my own surprise, placed 5th in Finals out of 30-something other competitors.
A spring-break vacation to Costa Rica really changed my perspectives on living standards and opened my eyes to an entirely new culture.
April:
A daytrip with my coach Nicole to Horne Lake, BC, let me experience high-quality limestone sport climbing at a nearly world-class destination. Hard routes, though! ;)
May:
Our annual school field study to the Shawnigan Ecovillage changed my views on sustainable living and permaculture. I'll be coming back!
Warmer weather allowed for more outdoor climbing days, further enhancing my experience at different crags.
June:
An invitation to the Hangout climbing centre's (from Duncan) annual climbing-camping trip in Strathcona! Three days of amazing adventure climbing at Gold River's Crest Creek Crags.
Summer break meant volunteering at UVic climbing day camps with younger children, earning leadership hours and valuable experience for future climbing gym jobs.
July:
Day trip to the Progression Bouldering gym and the Hive Surry linkup - amazing comp-style boulders to project at each location.
My 13th birthday trip to Squamish, BC - four days of amazing sport and multipitch climbing, also expanding my personal gear arsenal with the Climb On Equipment store. Also a memorable climbing trip because of my first independent trad lead!
August:
My second backcountry experience with my mom - hiking the Elk Valley all the way to Landslide Lake and Berg Lake at the base of Mt. Colonel Foster, Strathcona's 4th-highest summit. Breathtaking 3-night out-and-back hike and also an eye-opening experience to one of my future objectives as Island Qualifier summits!
September:
Starting 8th grade meant less hiking/climbing trips, but a more structured after-school training routine. I could really feel my climbing improve!
October:
The Hangout's first-ever SCBC bouldering comp - Rocktoberfest - where I placed 4th out of nearly 30 other YCF girls. Cool boulders and of course, amazing camaraderie!
November:
To my surprise, placing podium at the SCBC November Sessions at Base 5 Coquitlam came across as a great experience. Congrats to Ella Woods and Ivana Chen, my fellow YCF podium winners! :)
December:
My 10th V8 indoor send meant more climbing opportunities in the future!
Christmas holidays granted me with amazing gifts from my family - not only with really expensive gear, but an upcoming France + Switzerland Intro Climbing Tour in April 2026!
2025 was a blast; I'm sure it was for all of us.
Now it's time to look ahead and mark your calendards with climbing trips, backpacking adventures, and competitions of 2026.
Who knows what'll be waiting out there!
-- Sophia
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