Lao Staff Climbing

If you walk past our crags on a staff climbing day, you'll probably hear the group before you see them. Laughter echoes through the valley. Someone is cheering. Someone is giving advice. Someone is hanging on the rope, laughing too hard to continue climbing.

Most of our kitchen and bar staff did not grow up climbing. For many of them, Green Climbers Home was their first introduction to the sport. While a few have started learning more advanced skills, most still climb on top rope with the help of our volunteers, who set up the routes and handle the belaying. Our long-term goal is to help more local staff become confident and one day independent climbers. But for now, these climbing days are simply about getting outside the kitchen and having fun together.

One thing we have noticed over the years is how differently our staff approach climbing. Many visiting climbers arrive with projects, grades, and goals. They want to send. Our staff certainly enjoy reaching the top, but they don't seem particularly concerned if they don't.Falling off halfway up a route is often followed by more laughter than frustration. A successful move gets celebrated. A failed move gets celebrated too. Sometimes the person who climbed the least distance had the biggest smile at the end of the day. The atmosphere is infectious. What starts as a climbing session quickly becomes a social gathering, with encouragement coming from every direction. Their cheering can often be heard from neighbouring crags.

We would also like to thank Beal for supporting our climbing activities. Their ropes help make these days possible and allow our staff to continue discovering the cliffs that surround their workplace every day.