You’d be surprised by the number of people who start rock climbing because they’re afraid of heights. While it may be hard to believe, it’s the second most popular reason that anyone ever considers walking into a climbing gym (the first being the incessant peer pressure of a climber friend nagging about how ‘you’d love to climb if you just gave it a chance’). So while naysayers shake off their outdoorsy friends for the hundredth time, there are those in the world who head to the rock climbing gym without the coercions of their Teva-sandal-wearing acquaintances–those climbers are the most motivated of them all. 

Fueled by their fear of the unknown and invigorated by the micro-successes of topping out their first project, the people who are most afraid of rock climbing often become the best of them. So whether you’re a boulderer, trad climber, speed climber, or just like to wear Patagonia clothing without being too much of a poser, scroll onward to enjoy this V10+ selection of rock climbing memes.