Background

Kelli Anne grew up exploring the hills of upstate South Carolina (Pickens), just south of her current home in Brevard, NC. Early in her college years as an outdoor leadership major she went on her first climbing trip to Table Rock, NC (Linville Gorge).

There was no turning back from the camaraderie between her friends and instructors that weekend, and how natural climbing felt on the rock; she knew this was where she was meant to be. Since then, Kelli Anne has spent most of her time climbing around the southern part of western NC but has gotten to enjoy climbing in Joshua Tree, many areas of the pacific Northwest, West Virginia, and Mexico. After completing her bachelor's degree in Outdoor Leadership, she got her SPI in 2018 and just last year completed her Master's degree in Experiential and Outdoor Education. Her passion is instruction and she has been doing that in varying capacities for over ten years, while always aiming to be a better climber. When not climbing or instructing, she enjoys whitewater kayaking, cooking, and spending time with her husband Ethan and dog Hazel.