PORTLAND, Ore. — It’s climb night at Circuit Bouldering Gym in Northeast Portland. Laughter fills the air as friends hang out and lift each other up, both figuratively and literally.
Rikeem Sholes is one of the first people you see upon arrival. As an admin and host of PDX Climbers of Color, he helps create a safe space for people of color to explore climbing and form community bonds. Sholes highlights the group's remarkable growth, from a modest 100 members to a thriving community of over 1,600 across social media platforms. While the group predominantly climbs indoors, they venture outdoors in warmer months, exploring various climbing spots across Oregon.
“We come from all different backgrounds, all different socio-economic statuses, but we all come together to climb on the wall,” explains Sholes. “The outdoors in this area is so beautiful. Many of us are from places where we have strong communities of our own ethnicity or culture. Moving to Portland often means being away from that. So, this gives you a place to find people who share that experience with you and sweat it out.”
Alex Gray, a KGW producer, credits her climbing journey to PDX Climbers of Color. Like many others in the group, she attests to the confidence and connections it has provided.
“It's an amazing space. It's an amazing group of people,” Gray remarks. “I can remember when I first started, feeling so scared to take that next move. Now, I find myself not being afraid to take that next move anymore.”
Kassy Delgado echoes this sentiment, expressing gratitude for the group's role in expanding her social circle beyond BIPOC individuals. She emphasizes that the group is inclusive and aims to provide people of color with opportunities they might not otherwise have.
“It's not meant to be exclusive to anybody,” she states. “It's meant to bring us in and keep us here.”
PDX Climbers of Color organizes three climb nights each month at various rock gyms in the Portland area, welcoming newcomers to try climbing and discover a supportive community. Whether scaling walls for the first time or honing their skills, climbers find both encouragement and friendship.
“I guarantee you can find community here,” Sholes assures. “Come check us out. Make some friends. Climb some stuff, probably have some beers afterwards!”
“I did this on a whim to try to make friends because I was like 'I need to make friends outside of work,'” Gray adds with a smile. “I wanted to try to get myself out there and I just fell in love with the sport. It's just such a fun way to get my body active and moving.”
If you're a person of color and are interested in climbing with PDX Climbers of Color, you’ll find a group dedicated to cheering each other on and looking up to each other, one ascent at a time.
Let's Get Out there airs once a week on KGW's 4 p.m. newscast and The Good Stuff, which airs Monday-Thursday at 7 p.m. We're including viewer photos for this series. You can text your photos to 503-226-5088 or post them on the KGW Facebook page.