Hello to all, or none of you (I’m not expecting a wide turnout)! Welcome to my very first official blog, dedicated entirely to climbing, mental health, and all the inbetweens. Each week my aim is provide two separate doses of content, one relating primarily to climbing, and the other dedicated to mental health.

Since we don’t know each other very well, I figured I would make this first post an “about me” if you will. My name is Alina and I have been climbing for almost 2 years (I’m a wee baby in the climbing world). I stumbled about this magnificent hobby/sport through my boo, Luke. Although my love for it is what kept me in it (he can’t have all the credit)!

On the flip side, since this is a blog about mental health as well, I’d like to discuss my own (as you’ll be hearing a great deal about it in posts to come), I have been clinically diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety, and these have been with me for as long as I can remember. I have been seeking medical help for, mmmmm, maybe 5 years now. Climbing has been one of my saviors for this struggle though, thus the whole basis of this blog.

BUT on a happier note, and since mental illness certainly doesn’t define me, I am the proud parent of two very sassy creatures, Munch the cat and Hot Dog the dog (now they really do define me). I am also working full time as a brewer for Parallel Brewing! Geez enough about me! SIKEEEE most of this blog is about me.