The Wranglers

Matt’s journey to becoming a professional rock climber began in the most unlikely of places: the gently rolling hills of San Antonio, Texas. Back then, climbing gyms were non-existent, and anyone contemplating such a pursuit was either seen as a bit eccentric or had a name like “Sir Edmund.” But sometimes, it’s the unconventional perspective that reveals the hidden treasures in life, and San Antonio held a spark that ignited Matt’s lifelong passion for climbing.

After graduating college with a degree in Anthropology, Matt stumbled upon an old book about rock climbing in a dusty corner of the local library. In an era when physical books were still prevalent, this one had somehow eluded the hands of readers since its acquisition. The book, “How to Rock Climb” by John Long, first edition, was filled with pictures of daunting rock formations, strange metal gear, and hand-drawn illustrations of climbing techniques. The notion of scaling these exotic locations lit a fire in Matt’s heart, but there was a hurdle—he had never ventured beyond the county line.

Determined to chase his newfound dream, Matt began training obsessively. He climbed anything and everything he could. By increasing his strength and technical skills, the available terrain to explore only grew. His love for the history and culture of climbing and its deep connection to the natural world, gave him an appreciation for those who had taken this path before and had illuminated a potential path of his own.

Eventually, Matt took a leap of faith and traveled to Colorado with a simple plan: to explore the Rocky Mountains and climb as many of them as possible. The first sight of the towering peaks took his breath away. He quickly found work as an assistant guide for local outfitters, which allowed him to refine his skills and gain invaluable experience.

One of his initial climbs in the Rockies was the formidable Petite Grepon. If not for his Texas-sized optimism, this peak might have ended his climbing career prematurely. As Matt neared the summit, a blizzard and lightning storm struck. “How bad could it be?” he thought. As it turned out, it could be quite severe. The mountains proved to be stern teachers, and Matt learned many lessons that day, particularly about the nature of type 3 fun. From then on, he approached the mountains with a healthy respect for their power and unpredictability.

Over the years, Matt honed his skills, tackling increasingly challenging rock faces. His travels took him across the United States and beyond, deepening his love for the country and its people. The climbing community began to grow, with gyms sprouting up across the nation and the sport gaining widespread popularity. The climbing landscape changed as the years passed. Matt explored new avenues in the climbing world with nearly a decade coaching youth rock climbers from the beginner level to Olympic level! As a route-setter for one of the most prestigious rock climbing gyms in the country, Matt explored the intricacies of climbing movement and climbing instruction.

Despite his global adventures, Matt never forgot his roots. Though he climbed many renowned rock faces and explored breathtaking mountain ranges worldwide, it was the journey and the people he met along the way that stood out the most. Matt proved that you don’t need to be born in the mountains to climb them; you just need a bit of Texas spirit and a lot of heart.

He also did return the library book and yes, there was quite a hefty fee.