Hazel Findlay has been climbing for 24 of her 31 years, starting out trad climbing on the traditional limestone sea cliffs of Pembrokeshire, South Wales. After dabbling in competition climbing—she was the British junior champion six times— at 16 she decided to switch her focus to outdoor rock climbing, specifically trad climbing.
Now well-known for her bold gear-protected ascents and hard big-wall free climbs on El Capitan, Hazel is just as likely to be found at the sport crag or in the mountains. Hazel has accrued stacks of first ascents and first female ascents around the world, but she’s as equally passionate about visiting new places and having adventures as she is about pulling on small holds.
Hazel is a graduate of Bristol University where she studied philosophy and psychology. In recent years, her interest in the psychological aspects of climbing has led to her work as coach, aiming to help fellow climbers use their minds in more productive ways.
