Common Climber met Caitlin at Mount Piddington in the Blue Mountains of Australia. She was making light work of a classic middle grade crack climb. Caitlin had buzzing energy and her red hair glowed in the sun like a flame. She has a passion for the game. CC asked Caitlin if she could share and explain her love of climbing.  Common Climber introduces Caitlin Schokker and this is her story 
 
My name is Caitlin Schokker and I’m one of you, a Common Climber. I adore our community, the sharing of skills, the confidence it gives me mentally and physically, and the wonderful feeling of ticking off a route or a project. The stoke is always real with climbing.

Three years ago I moved to Newcastle, North of Sydney in Australia and began climbing soon after. My friend, Maxwell Cullen introduced me, as he’d recently picked up the sport as well. We visited a nearby climbing gym, Pulse Climbing at Adamstown, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and heard that the university had a Mountaineering Club. I started indoor bouldering and roped climbing but soon found myself adventuring outdoors as well. ​

Caitlin proudly topping out on her first pilgrimage to Arapiles.

Growing up, I was someone who avoided being outdoors (being a pale skinned person always cautious of sunburn), but the thought of being outside surrounded by people with a similar interest in this wonderful sport sparked joy in me. Being in the University's Mountaineering Club enabled me to make new friends and to have fun. I trained hard and learned the ropes of both sport and traditional styles.
 
My first trips outside were with beginner trips to Morna Point and Scout Wall up at Port Stephens in the NSW Hunter Region. The people you meet in this time and the climbing you do can you set you up for a good future. I believe it is part of the reason I enjoy the sport so much. It was a safe and exciting introduction to rock-climbing. 
 
Within four months of beginning to climb I embarked on my first proper adventure to Mount Arapiles, the Australian climbing Mecca. I was hooked. Subsequent to this time I’ve accumulated a passion for all aspects of the sport. I have a wonderful time meeting new climbers and sharing stories, and I have a crew that I love and enjoy learning skills from to continue becoming a stronger and smarter climber. One thing that I still love learning about is the mental game it takes to have to be able to lead confidently, take risks on tricky moves, and really try hard and commit to the send! It’s amazing how all the different elements of this sport contribute to helping us become confident climbers.

Caitlin leading Pilot Error (5.10b) at Mount Arapilies, Australia. Mt. Arapilies is one of the birthplaces of Australian climbing.

​Of the different styles of climbing I’ve practiced, I really can’t tell you my favourite. They’ve all been wonderful in their own way. When it comes to multi pitches, ticking off Bunny Bucket Buttress (18/5.8 800ft) with my good friend David Mutch was a day I’ll never forget. In terms of trad routes, nothing has made me smile with excitement as much as the time I sent Agent Orange (15/5.7 100ft) at Arapiles. Out of all of the sport climbs I’ve ticked, one that really stood out for me was Bottom Feeder (20/510c) at Tonsai, Thailand. The climb itself was straightforward, but the view and area I was climbing in took my breath away.
 
Climbing overseas was such an awesome experience. Touching a completely new kind of rock, living within a different culture, and just experiencing the climbing community over there was unreal. Prior to climbing overseas in Tonsai, I'd also climbed in Spain. I booked a day trip with a local climbing guide on a beautiful winter’s day. We went to La Pedriza, about an hour’s drive north of Madrid. Here, I learnt how to slab climb. I also took my first lead fall at this place - which was rather emotional (in a good way). 
 
One of the funniest moments I’ve had is when a group of us organised some night climbing at Arapiles. The moon was full, we were satisfied from a delicious camp dinner, and a group went off to the Bard Buttress section whilst another headed to the Muldoon Area. The Bard group finished their climb quicker than our bigger group who played around on Clytemnaestra Buttress. The sound of them walking over to us made me giggle. Imagine the echoing sound of trad gear clinking together with glass bottles of rum and whisky! Post-send drinks anyone? 

Caitlin cragging not far from her home in New Castle, NSW, Australia.

Whilst outdoor climbing is a wonderful time, I still love and enjoy training indoors. Recently I’ve tried my luck in social bouldering competitions and placed 1st a few times in the women's categories. It’s starting to hit me that my strength is constantly increasing. I’ve always been stoked with my climbing ability, but finding myself placing competitively makes me feel more confident in what I can achieve, and what other girls who are starting out in this sport can also accomplish. 

​Being a female climber allows me to inspire other women and young girls to try this sport and climb hard. It warms my heart to have new friends tell me that I inspire them to train more and send sick routes. Heading outdoors to the crag with my male friends makes me feel more determined and stronger to prove to them that us females are just as strong and determined to tick off the harder routes! The climbing community has such an amazing vibe and energy to share around. 
 
Climbing has given me a sense of confidence and excitement that nothing has matched. In terms of goals, I’m hoping to lead a grade 23/5.11b sport climb by the end of the year, and to be more confident in gear placement for trad leading! I’m always working to climb as well as possible, to send fun routes, and to simply be outdoors with my friends. It’s not always about the numbers, the grade, the clean leads, and so on. It’s always been about having the absolute best time of my life. ​