‘I’m a first-time model at 58, thanks to climbing’
Mari Rees-stavros decided to tackle her fear of heights head-on by taking up an adventurous new hobby.
Living in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales, I’m surrounded by mountains. I’ve been divorced since my children were young and, for 22 years, I’ve run my own restaurant based at the foot of the Snowdonia mountains. Lots of my friends and regular customers are climbers and I’d been saying for years that I’d join them one day.
The problem is that I’ve always been terrified of heights. Then, I reached my 50s and I thought, I can either grow old or grow young, and I decided on young! In 2016, I finally let my son Maki, 27, and daughter Kiki, 28, drag me to an indoor climbing venue.
Maki learned to climb when he was in the Army and he was determined to help me beat my fear. Despite being hooked up to ropes and a harness, my legs trembled uncontrollably the first time I climbed the indoor wall. I’m quite determined when I set my mind to something, so I kept going as long as I could. Then, each time I went back, I got a buzz as I pushed myself further.
Once I began to feel more comfortable, I tried bouldering, which involves climbing without ropes but at a lower height and with crash mats on the ground. I loved the challenge of working out where I was going to grab next. If I couldn’t see what my next move might be, I’d feel my legs begin to wobble but, the more I climbed, the more I pushed through the fear.
After a year mastering the indoor walls, I finally started venturing outdoors with friends like I’d always promised. We leave early in the morning to hike to a boulder site, trekking uphill through the mountains looking for the best spot. Being out in the elements is just wonderful. In the summer, we swim in the lakes at the base of the rockface after climbing. Even hanging off a cliff as the wind howls is exhilarating!
I would climb every day if I could, but I usually head out at least three times a week. For years, I spent my weekends organising restaurant events and would cancel my plans to put my business first. Since I started climbing, I’ve learned to let the staff take the reins more and prioritise my own time, too.
I started posting photographs of myself climbing on social media and a clothing brand called BAM noticed I was wearing its activewear. Someone got in touch and asked me to model the collection. I couldn’t believe it! On the day of the photoshoot, the photographer asked me who else I modelled for. I just laughed. A first-time model at 58 years old!
Climbing has brought me so many opportunities and taken me to beautiful locations in places such as Greece, northern Spain and France. As soon as I get home from trips away, I’m itching to go again. My kids laugh and beg me not to show them any more holiday snaps of rock formations!
I’ve built a climbing wall in my garage to practise on and the difference in my strength is unbelievable. I don’t get aches and pains and I haven’t been ill in years; I’m in better shape now than ever.
When I started climbing, I’d also hit the menopause and was feeling anxious about things that hadn’t bothered me before. Now, my frame of mind has changed completely. I don’t get stressed about work or let things get to me. My fear of heights is still there; it lingers in the background, but I’m so glad I decided to face it head on.
bambooclothing.co.uk
Hanging off a cliff as the wind howls is exhilarating