Senior Harlan Wise started rock climbing at the age of 5. In his final year of high school, Harlan focuses on the impact that climbing has had on his life, teaching him many valuable lessons.
“Consistency is the best thing you can do,” Wise said.
Climbing is a sport that requires perseverance and dedication, according to Wise.
“You’re working on a project and you fail it tens of dozens of times before you succeed. And then you get it, and then you go on and start failing at another thing,” Wise said. “Climbing is not a sport that you progress quick in. It’s like 90% failure.”
Rock climbing is consistently ranked as one of the top ten most dangerous sports in the world, according to the National Library of Medicine.
“I’ve always been sort of a dangerous guy,” Wise said. “I like heights and adrenaline and thrill.”
Wise has been climbing competitively for two years.
Wise points out that he didn’t join the comp team to win awards, but instead “to have a routine schedule and be pushed harder than I could push myself.”
At competitions, there are judges, and the atmosphere is competitive, but remains friendly.
“Everyone is cheering everyone else on,” Wise said.
Wise’s passion for climbing inspired his college search. He plans to continue climbing competitively at the collegiate level.
“What I’m really looking for is a college with close proximity to the mountains where I can go climb outside,” Wise said.
When Wise joined the Seattle Bouldering Project for the first time, many of the people he climbed with were in their 20s and didn’t realize he was 15 years old. Through climbing, Harlan has made friends like Cleveland High School senior Nathan Lu. He enjoys climbing for the challenge it presents.
“It’s kind of like a puzzle, but like a physical puzzle,” Lu said.
Lu appreciates how climbing challenges him in unique ways.
“You have to put into use your brain power and physical prowess to complete the climb,” Lu said. “It’s not just your physical ability. It’s also your problem solving.”
Seattle Bouldering Project is a critical third space for Harlan.
“The climbing gym was his place outside of home and school,” Harlan’s father Marc Wise said.
Many younger people on Harlan’s team compete far more competitively than he does.
“That’s maybe not something I would really want, that pressure to compete at that level,” Harlan said. “But I do want to climb really well.”
Harlan points out one of his areas for growth: endurance.
“A lot of times, if I start to fatigue, I just drop,” Harlan said.
One day, Harlan wants to try a mountain climbing technique known as free solo. Free solo is infamous for its total lack of ropes, and hence higher rates of injury.
“I would totally do it,” Harlan said. “As long as I trained and feel ready for it, I would try that.”
Marc hopes that climbing will allow Harlan to be close to nature.
“Harlan has so much fun climbing and backpacking that it is infectious,” Marc said. “He has gained confidence and become more sure of himself over the years.”
Marc has seen Harlan set and achieve his own goals for years.
“All that has led me back to climbing was inspired and fostered by him,” Harlan said.
Throughout his time in the mountains, Harlan has grown a lot as both an athlete and person, according to Marc.
“He loves to set goals and to challenge himself and he is super positive,” Marc said. “He makes everyone around him have more fun.”
Harlan will compete at the divisional competition for the under-20 division of USA Climbing on May 24 at Vertical World’s Seattle location.
