TAKE 5 with Team Mammut Australia // Emily Small of Climb & Wine

1). TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT CLIMB & WINE.

Climb and Wine was founded in Peru by Australian climber Emily Small. Emily envisioned a social climbing club that encouraged networking and skill building with a focus on encouraging more women, both travellers and locals to experience the world of rock climbing and mountaineering.

Upon returning to Sydney, Australia Emily started organising informal climbing and camping trips which quickly became popular. Seeing the confidence that came from people when in a supportive peer learning environment soon had Emily organising official Climb and Wine days and expanding in other areas to support every climber to participate.

Climb & Wine is a community group organised and run by volunteers. We run lots of different programs and support lots of different projects including skill building workshops, book publishing, community gear hub, social nights and of course lots of climbing days! Everyone lends a hand which is what makes our community work.

2). WHAT INSPIRES AND MOTIVATES CLIMB AND WINE?

Providing a platform for networking, creating friendships and advocating for inclusive practices within the climbing community. Climb and Wine has a focus on skills and knowledge development which builds confidence and with that confidence comes empowerment.  We want to see a generation of empowered, skilled and confident climbers.

3). CAN YOU SHARE AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY, FROM CLIMB & WINE?

There are so many!! Check out our 1^st community book ‘More Than It Hurts, and other stories of (mis)adventure by woman who climb and mountaineer’ Check it here

A focus of Climb & Wine has always been to provide a platform for friendships to begin with epic adventures. One member of Climb & Wine headed to Nepal to develop her skills and knowledge in the mountaineering world. When in a hut high up in the mountains a conversation was struck up between the CW member and another Australian. Soon the other Australian was saying “You should join this awesome social club in Sydney. They help build your climbing skills and are very welcoming and friendly, they are called Climb and Wine’. The CW member laughed and said she knew it well.

Realising the international reach Climb and Wine was having inspired the community to grow further and keep building as a grassroots group.

4). ACCORDING TO CLIMB & WINE, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

More stories, More adventures, More learning, More fun!

Mammut exclusive: After the success of our first community book, we are publishing a 2^nd!

‘Journey to Eternity, and more stories (mis)adventure on rock and in the mountains’ is due out on the 1^st December 2021!

After the difficult and isolating times in the last couple of years Climb and Wine will be focusing on lots of events that bring our community back together, connecting again in person and building up the confidence to get back out and adventure. We hope to get our annual South coast trip happening again mid 2022 and lots of weekend adventures back in nature where we all love to be.

5). WORDS OF WISDOM

It’s always better to show than tell.

Take the time to share your skills and knowledge to anyone wanting to learn. You never know the impact imparting that can have on a person’s life and future. Be kind.