Member Spotlight: June 2017

Shannon Seidel

Member since 2015

How did you start climbing?

Shannon: 3 years ago on a fateful trip to Barcelona someone staying in my hostel talked me into a multi-pitch climbing adventure that hooked me for life. When I got home from the trip to San Francisco where I was living at the time, a couple of wonderful friends showed me “the ropes.”

Why do you climb at Edgeworks?

Shannon: Edgeworks is where most of my favorite Tacomanians can be found! I’m sure everyone says this but I LOVE the Edgeworks community and truly can’t imagine my life in Tacoma without it. When I flew up to interview for my job, they gave me a tour of Tacoma and I actually made them drive me to the gym to check it out.

Where is your favorite place to climb outside?

Shannon: A lot of my early climbing trips were to the Yosemite Valley. As my friend Drew put it, “winter was canceled” that year so the sun was out, no snow was on the ground, and it felt like we had this magical place to ourselves. I’ve gotten to climb in a lot of inspiring places but with the climbing history and my own formative climbing experiences there, Yosemite is hard to beat.

What do you do when you’re not climbing?

Shannon: Hmmmm…. When I’m not climbing I guess you might find me singing in my car, gardening at Cush Cottage, grading papers, watching stand up comedy, or trying to convince someone to go climbing with me.

Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?

Shannon: I love it all! I really do. Before the Spring Bouldering Series I would have said anything on ropes but shout out to Jimmy for the awesome competition because now I really enjoy bouldering too.

What are some interesting facts that you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?

Shannon: I guess many people are surprised to learn that I’m a scientist and that I love viruses! If you want to know what makes viruses so cool, feel free to ask me about them!

What’s your go-to route grade?

Shannon: I’m going with V.Fun and 5.Fun because grade ain’t nothin’ but a number! If I get too hung up on the grade, expectations and ego get in the way so I try to just do whatever seems fun on any given day.