Adeline Wight (Ady) is a 27 year old sponsored athlete obsessed with climbing, anime, animals, her family, and her people. She competes locally, sets boulders at Central Rock Manhattan, coaches youth teams, teaches climbing clinics, and coach private clients.

"Born and raised in the Bronx, I’m a true city girl. When I think about my time outside I relive summer nights jumping double-dutch on the concrete with neighbors, family gatherings in Soundview park eating grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, sitting on a swing set for hours refusing to share with other kids, riding along bike paths in the park with my Dad, and the many water balloon fights and games of tag on the playground.  In the 7th grade, I went on a weekend school trip to a camping site in upstate NY. We slept in cabins, had all of our meals in the Mess Hall, played classic trust-building exercises in an open field, and ate venison that a man Indigenous to the land cooked for us. He also taught us the role each life form plays in an ecosystem and why we should appreciate the lands we live on. Even though I enjoyed the discussion about conservation, what stood out to me most from this trip was discovering my fear of heights. After putting on harnesses and tying in, we climbed up a tree one by one, held onto a stick hanging from a rope, and were told to jump off the ledge; trusting that our belayer would keep us from decking.  I jumped eventually, but I did not enjoy myself. lol 

Fast forward 15 years later to my first bouldering trip in Minnewaska State Park Reserve (most people call it “the Gunks”). I fell in love with the outdoors immediately. I appreciated the taste of the fresh air, the echoing crunch of my footsteps, the sound of animals in the distance, glimpses of chipmunks skittering by, the beauty of the landscape, and the euphoria of being able to interact with the rock. I wish I’d found this sooner. 

The first time I climbed was in the 10th grade at NYU Palladium with my Mom on top rope. I never knew climbing was possible outside of a mountain, Mt. Everest was all that came to mind. I tried again in college using all the colors and messing around just for exercise. I was very inconsistent and had 6 month breaks at a time because I couldn’t afford it. I started my membership at Manhattan Plaza Health Club (a real climbing gym) on my birthday in 2013, and learned that not only are there are different grades, but that I was a pretty terrible climber. 2 years later I started working the front desk and teaching how to belay, the next year I learned how to set and started competing, and the following year I got my first sponsorships from Beta Labs and Arc’teryx New York. In 2018 I moved over to Central Rock Gym where I began teaching my own clinics, coaching youth teams, and taking competition seriously. 

After climbing outdoors and hiking for the first time this past summer, I understand how healing it can be to interact with and be fully immersed in nature. I held out so long because the outdoors were foreign to me and therefore dangerous. No one in my family drove or took trips outdoors throughout my childhood. I grew up watching the Black person die first in (almost) every movie, especially those that took place outside of the city.  In the Black community, the common mindset is that Black people don’t go outdoors and it simply isn’t true.  We have this collective distrust and discomfort towards the idea which is historically systemic and the weariness has been passed down for generations. Sundown towns still exist and until this past summer, I was unable to discuss this real danger with friends who offered to give me access to the outdoors. 

I have hope for not only the climbing community but the entire outdoors community to actively become more welcoming, empathetic, and accessible. For me the outdoors is a way to refresh and reboot from all the stress of daily life because you’re reminded that you and your problems are a small part of something bigger. You can slow down and be present in a peaceful moment that lasts the whole day (or weekend) before you go back and continue the fight.

It’s pretty obvious that the climbing world that I’ve become so attached to is largely a white male space. I used to feel uncomfortable being the only Black climber and sometimes the only female in my gym early on. I’ve combatted that the way I do in every other situation: be friendly and make my presence known. If I’m going to frequent a place or kind of event, I want everyone to know my name and be inviting like an episode of ‘Cheers’. After I gained some control of the environment I felt more comfortable. Once that was established, I got to work bringing more of the representation I want to see into the climbing world by sharing my resources and being the best trailblazer I can. 

Another source of discomfort for me is facing challenges, be it physical, or emotional. I find my outer peace by looking within. I believe that happiness starts inside and radiates outward, reaching the people around you who are open to it. In finals at a competition, I think about all the resources and time I poured into getting as far as I have. I didn’t train so much, lean on the support of others when I needed it, and harden my resolve only to get frustrated and walk away right when I get to face the best challenge. Not only is this supposed to be the best part of the night, which I had to earn the right to experience, but this is also a chance to truly face myself and learn how to surpass my limits on the spot. This is honestly the best part of indoor climbing to me, I love facing a puzzle and using all of the knowledge I’ve gained to reach the top. When I remember how much I love being there, I get out of my head and find my groove. I think about the time I have left, the beta I tried, what knowledge I can pull from whatever did or did not work, and ask myself if I gave maximum effort. It takes pressure to make a diamond. 

As I mentioned earlier I truly love anime, especially ones where the protagonist faces an enemy that they may or may not be able to defeat. They have to push themselves 120% to come out of the other side victorious. Looking back, we always appreciate what we learned from the experience and tip our hat to the challenger, or in this case, the setter. 

You don’t have to be in a difficult situation to stop and experience outer peace. "

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