Lani Chapko, a passionate climber from Seattle, Washington, has been drawn to outdoor activities from a young age, initially excelling in sprint kayaking. Her climbing journey began during college in Southern California, where friends encouraged her to take an outdoor adventure PE class despite her initial fear of heights. This class, which included both indoor climbing and outdoor trips, sparked a love for climbing that led her to explore canyoneering, backpacking, and multi-pitch trad climbing.
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Starting with minimal formal training, Lani learned the ropes from more experienced friends, navigating early challenges and tricky situations through hands-on experience. Overcoming her fear of heights was a significant hurdle, but she has since learned to balance safety awareness with pushing her limits. Lani briefly experimented with free soloing but opted against it due to the risks involved.
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Lani's climbing achievements include a free ascent of El Capitan's Freerider route. She is particularly impressed by climbers from previous decades who accomplished great feats with less advanced equipment. With a deep interest in climbing gear, influenced by her engineering background, Lani enjoys exploring different types of equipment and systems.