Coach Travis started working with the Climb @ Blue Ridge youth climbing team when he moved to Greenville in 2016. While Travis loves training and preparing young climbers for competitions, his passion and psych for climbing remains with the outdoors. Over the past seven years, Coach Travis has spent many weekends and summer vacations traveling around the Southeast sport climbing, bouldering, and trad climbing in destinations like the Red River Gorge, New River Gorge, Obed Wild & Scenic River, and Linville Gorge. He is devoted to passing on his knowledge and passion for climbing to the younger generation of climbers in order to help them develop into safety conscious, well-rounded climbers ready to make the transition from indoor to outdoor climbing.

It all started in a climbing gym for Coach Karla. Now, 18 years later, she’s come full circle; tracing her roots back to where it began, only this time, with a 7yo kid crusher in tow. Her passion for climbing has greatly influenced her travels – oftentimes sending her and her family to world class climbing destinations. She considers the Red River Gorge her home crag after having spent her formative climbing years there and establishing dozens of first ascents in Muir Valley. As a climber of petite stature, Coach Karla draws on her own experience, developing techniques and strategies that suit climbers who mirror her in size – which benefits youth climbers in particular. Having coached several US National Team level climbers in the Midwest, her approach to coaching is centered on communication and fun while also creating an atmosphere and program that helps climbers develop their confidence and skills.

Coach Jared has been climbing for over 27 years and has helped coach 3 National Champions. He has climbed in 40 states and 7 countries and has participated in over 300 first ascents (mostly at the Red River Gorge). Jared enjoys climbing routes of all styles (traditional crack climbing, sport climbing, bouldering, and ice). He is currently the head route setter at Climb @ Blue Ridge and has been creating climbing routes for 25 years. For many years, Jared actively competed in bouldering and sport climbing competitions. He also set routes and boulder problems for various climbing competitions at the regional and divisional levels for over a decade. When Jared is not climbing, he enjoys whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking. He is 45 now and excited for the day when his 7 year old daughter, Lucy, will out climb him.

Coach Hannah says Climb @ Blue Ridge feels like home. She has been climbing at CBR for over 9 years and it's a place she believes helped shape her into the climber and person she is today. She loves going to Rumbling Bald or just hanging out in nature wherever she can find a great view. Seeing progress in her own climbing as well as that of youth athletes on the CBR Team is what she finds most rewarding. With her constant positivity and cheerful demeanor, Coach Hannah hopes to foster a sense of belonging and community among members of the team so that they may feel at home at CBR, just like her.

Coach Jack is currently a student at Blue Ridge High School. He will be graduating very soon and attending North Greenville University for Accounting. Jack has been climbing for two years and claims he will not be stopping anytime. He enjoys bouldering trips to Rumbling Bald and is a self-professed Rock Hugger. Jack is our resident calisthenics master and is infamous for his intensive core workout. When asked what gets him psyched about coaching, he said, "I can't wait to show your climbers the way. Dab on them haters!"

Thomas is a North Greenville University graduate. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management with an internship here at Climb @ Blue Ridge. Thomas has been climbing almost a year and a half. His favorite thing about being a part of the CBR Team is helping others achieve their goals and being a part of seeing others succeed.