Meet Kimber Cross | Alpinist and Elementary teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimber Cross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimber, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Being a kindergarten teacher and an Alpinist has a unique balance to it. During the school weeks, I’m focused on education and creating engaging learning experiences for my students. Come Thursday or Friday after school, I’m quickly packing in preparation for a weekend climb. Additionally, I’m making sure my classroom is set for that Monday, clear plans and all should there be an (pray never) accident or injury in the mountains that requires a emergency substitute in my room. I like to be well organized in this work life balance I suppose.

Additionally, I’ve learned to keep as much of school at school and work only during my contracted hours. This I’ve learned overtime is a really healthy boundary for teachers. There are times I do have to prep after hours because there is always a checklist for kindergarten, however, the balance is essential in allowing me to plan and execute on objectives in the mountains year round.

Lastly, I’m grateful for the various breaks such as summer break, spring break, etc. they give me time to travel for climbing or have multi day trips. It allows me to climb with friends all over the country and world. As stressful and full the career of education is, those times are a gift.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being an adaptive climber – or better said – a climber with adaptive needs has been an incredibly enjoyable passion. I’m proud of the shift in the climbing world and while there is still shifting to be had, I feel I have a firm place in the alpine as a woman and a person with a disability.

What I am so proud of, and what sets me apart along with the many fellow climbers with adaptive tools, is my prosthetic ice tool. Wearing it on my arm brings a unique level of feeling “even more” disabled because it’s a prosthetic that’s very noticeable, but simultaneously I feel powerful and capable because I’m able to ice climb AND lead on ice.

Learning ways to adapt and modify brought challenges, absolutely. Sometimes I’d be the last one packing or unpacking, because things just took a little longer here and there with one hand. Time and experience has spend up my techniques and skills, thankfully. Having the patience for myself was the biggest lesson as my life as a climber grew. Partners on the mountains have showed grace and support thankfully, but being a perfectionist and wanting to perchance, “prove myself” had been internal obstacles I had to push past,

What I want the world to know about my story is how there is power in representation and resilience. Growing up, there weren’t athletes in the climbing world my parents could point to so I’d see myself. And really, so my parents could see and feel deeper hope in my future in athletics and the outdoors. Now as an adult who climbs and uses a prosthetic ice tool, I hope to be one of many that represent people with limb differences in the outdoors that are leading, instructing, and paving the way for the future generations.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had someone visiting my city, Tacoma, Washington I’d first take them down to Point Defiance. It is the second largest municipal park in the country next to Central Park in New York. It has amazing trails and views of the Olympic Mountain Range as well as being right in the waters of the Puget Sound.

Tacoma is such a beautiful city filled with many delicious brunch spots like Art House Cafe in Stadium district. But another feature is it’s location to mountain access. Head south of Tacoma for about an hour and a half and you’re in Mount Rainier National Park. My favorite volcano to climb. So I’d absolutely take a friend visiting for a day in the park. There’s access to hikes, scrambles, and climbs for people of all skill levels.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A big shoutout goes to The Mountaineers, an organization in Washington state that has courses in mountaineering. I took both the basic and intermediate alpine courses which focused on rock, glacier, and ice. The instructors for these programs were inclusive, supportive, and provoked me to believe that I was capable of climbing with my disability. Having one hand requires adaptation and modification in the world of climbing, I grew in confidence through the Mountaineers.

I also have friends/mentors in the climbing world that have advocated for me and opened doors. Vasu Sojitra and Maureen Beck are both professional athletes and on The North Face team, they are also both adaptive with limb differences. Their own journeys have been the representation so valuable to a climber like me.

Website: Kimberbelle.com

Instagram: @kimberbelle

Image Credits
Muddy Shutter Media (main photo) Spencer Kirk (other photos)