Lisa Rands
Encyclopedia
Lisa Rands is an American
rock climber
born in 1975. She is known for her bouldering
, competition wins, and ascents of gritstone
routes. She was first introduced to climbing while studying for her geology degree. In her early climbing years she aspired to every kind of climbing from bouldering to big walls, and even aid lines. The first American to rank 1st in an international bouldering World Cup, she has won many competitions indoors and out, and also excelled in outdoor bouldering – having climbed Midnight Lightning (v8) and Plain High Drifter (V11) (both considered elite level boulder problems) between 2000 and 2002, and was the first woman to succeed on the problem The Mandala
(v12) in January 2008.
Rands has also had successes in traditional climbing
, being the first woman to achieve the grade of E8, with ascents of The End of the Affair at Curbar Edge in October 2004, and Gaia at Black Rocks in April 2006, both in England's Peak District
; these routes are notorious as being both extremely hard and extremely dangerous, with a fall carrying the most disastrous consequences for the climber. She also made a fast all-free ascent of Saint Exupery Spire in Patagonia and has sport climbed 5.13d/5.14a in China.
She lives in Bishop, California
with her husband, Wills, who is her coach.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock climber
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
born in 1975. She is known for her bouldering
Bouldering
Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad so that a fall will not result in serious injury. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders or artificial boulders in gyms and outdoor urban areas...
, competition wins, and ascents of gritstone
Gritstone
Gritstone or Grit is a hard, coarse-grained, siliceous sandstone. This term is especially applied to such sandstones that are quarried for building material. British gritstone was used for millstones to mill flour, to grind wood into pulp for paper and for grindstones to sharpen blades. "Grit" is...
routes. She was first introduced to climbing while studying for her geology degree. In her early climbing years she aspired to every kind of climbing from bouldering to big walls, and even aid lines. The first American to rank 1st in an international bouldering World Cup, she has won many competitions indoors and out, and also excelled in outdoor bouldering – having climbed Midnight Lightning (v8) and Plain High Drifter (V11) (both considered elite level boulder problems) between 2000 and 2002, and was the first woman to succeed on the problem The Mandala
The Mandala
The Mandala is a boulder problem in The Buttermilks, which is a popular bouldering area near Bishop, California....
(v12) in January 2008.
Rands has also had successes in traditional climbing
Traditional climbing
Traditional climbing, or trad climbing, is a style of rock climbing in which a climber or group of climbers places all gear required to protect against falls , and removes it when a passage is complete...
, being the first woman to achieve the grade of E8, with ascents of The End of the Affair at Curbar Edge in October 2004, and Gaia at Black Rocks in April 2006, both in England's Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
; these routes are notorious as being both extremely hard and extremely dangerous, with a fall carrying the most disastrous consequences for the climber. She also made a fast all-free ascent of Saint Exupery Spire in Patagonia and has sport climbed 5.13d/5.14a in China.
She lives in Bishop, California
Bishop, California
Bishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
with her husband, Wills, who is her coach.