Washington is home to recreational wonders of all kinds, from snow sports and aquatic activities to mountaintop excursions and backcountry adventures. Rock climbing and bouldering have a special allure to adventurous types. Not only is it a fantastic full-body workout, testing everything from your spatial awareness to the grip strength of your toes, but it also brings you to new heights as you learn to overcome challenges and grow in skill. High Steppe Climbing Center, located on Lincoln Avenue and proudly owned and operated by Yakima locals, is the place to be for experienced and aspirational climbers alike.
From the total beginner to the ultra-athlete, High Steppe Climbing Center provides a safe and fun opportunity to challenge yourself and learn a new skill. For a specialized team of Yakima Valley students, this opportunity goes a step further, as each spring, High Steppe trains a team of youth climbers to compete in the USA Climbing Youth Series.
The Culture of High Steppe’s Competitive Climbing Team
These students, ranging in age from eight to eighteen, spend several months learning, training, and growing both individually and as a team before the first round of competition. But for the climbers, as well as for the coaches, it’s about more than just making it to the championships. Here, it’s about every step, belay, and send along the way.
Coaches Elizabeth and Jose lead the Competitive Climbing Team, building their coaching philosophy on connection rather than coercion. “As coaches,” Elizabeth shares, “we’re there to help the kids think critically about how to improve.” The High Steppe leadership team focuses on creating an environment where students can learn, connect with coaches and fellow climbers on a personal level, and become better athletes both physically and mentally.
Surpassing Goals During the Competition Season
When it comes to competition prep, students start training early. Regional Championships are hosted at the end of March, followed by Divisionals in April and National Championships in the summer. “At the start of each season,” Elizabeth says, “we ask the climbers to write down goals about why they climb as part of the team. Several of the kids said that they’re on the team to get stronger, and most of them mentioned simply having fun.”
Adrian, one of High Steppe’s 2026 youth climbers, wrote in his goal-setting session that he joined the team “to get stronger, physically and mentally.” Addie, a teammate and avid athlete, said that she “loves being on the team because of the team spirit. It’s a great challenge for my body and my brain.”
This spirit of goal setting gives each climber autonomy and ownership over their training and helps team members hold each other accountable for challenging themselves to improve each season. Climbers train in cycles throughout the season, starting with a foundation of skill acquisition, then moving into strength training, and finally interval climbs to test the full range of an athlete’s power and agility.
With 7,500 square feet of wall surface to climb on, there’s plenty of room to grow and test out new skills. The culture of the Competitive Climbing Team is one of encouragement and fun, both on and off the wall. Each season, coaches watch their students work together towards their training goals, having fun and strengthening friendships. “Even at competitions,” Elizabeth says, “climbers on the ground are cheering for those on the wall. It’s great to hear everyone encouraging each other and supporting their friends.”
Training Together, On and Off the Wall
Even when the young athletes aren’t actively on the wall, they’re still bonding as a team and learning new skills to apply to their next climb. Lately, the team has been playing hacky sack together. “It helps us work on hand-eye coordination,” Elizabeth says, although the game wasn’t originally planned as a training exercise. “We definitely bond as a team while playing. We’re not very good, but we’re laughing the whole time.”
As the Competitive Climbing Team gears up for their upcoming Regional Championships, Coaches Elizabeth and Jose can’t wait to see their students do their best and reach new heights in pursuit of their season goals. “Good climbers seek being uncomfortable,” Elizabeth says. “We like to remind ourselves about the ‘ABCs’: ‘Always Be Climbing.’ Our climbers really embrace the mentality of pushing out of their comfort zones, and they love it!”
Always Be Climbing: Ways to Get Involved
If you’re looking to grow your bouldering and climbing skills, or simply spend an afternoon trying something new, High Steppe is the place to be. With drop-in passes and memberships available, as well as seasonal special events like Ladies’ Night and summer camps, there’s something for everyone and climbing truly is for everyone.
“Maybe you think you’re not a sports person. Come try it anyway!” Elizabeth encourages. “We have lots of stories of people coming to try climbing for the very first time, and it immediately clicks for them. It’s hard, but it’s fun and the more you climb, the more you’ll fall in love with it.” Whether from the wall or from the ground, be sure to keep the Competitive Climbing Team in mind this March to cheer on the students as they tackle new routes and difficult sends in competition.
High Steppe Climbing Center
1015 E Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101, Yakima
