Throughout his life, Desmond Mangat and his family have been avid climbers. He has been fortunate enough to have experienced the community and the gorgeous nature. Climbing outside is a passion of his—a way to enjoy nature and exercise. In the past few years, he has focused his climbing progression towards lead climbing multi-pitch routes and building a network of climbing partners. The problem was that none of his friends climbed outside of the gym; he was determined to teach them, so he created Boulder Rocks.
To execute this project, Desmond required planning, preparation, and friends who were willing to step outside their comfort zone. He targeted friends with gym experience who were stoked to venture outdoors and build their skills. This involved multiple outings to Eldorado Canyon State Park and Boulder Canyon, which entailed gathering the appropriate gear, selecting routes suitable for everyone, and having a detailed plan. To set up sport climbs, his friends needed to learn how to lead belay, which required multiple excursions to the local climbing gym. There, they practiced belaying each other before attempting it outdoors.
Through Boulder Rocks, Desmond Mangat brought four people climbing outside, where they set up multiple top-rope sport climbs in Boulder Canyon and practiced belaying and lead climbing. It was inspiring for him to see his friends build their connection to the outdoors while they improved their climbing skills. He is excited to take advantage of his new climbing partners in the future and see them grow. He gained significant experience organizing groups by prioritizing comfort and teaching effectively. He looks forward to using these leadership skills as he progresses as a climber and beyond.
Moving forward, Desmond will continue to progress as a climber and work with more partners to build camaraderie and climbing technique. He is currently applying to colleges where he plans to accelerate his leadership and academics. He hopes to study business or finance and work as a portfolio manager in the future. He will still hold his connection to the outdoors close and strive to accomplish outdoor goals of climbing big walls and alpine routes.