Cara Taylor

Between the sheer walls of metamorphic rock that wind along the Potomac river, and walls of sandstone that tower over the New River Gorge, a group of people find peace scaling those walls and plunging through rapids.

From the outside, many people see those who are a part of this community, or partake in this lifestyle as vagabonds, or aimless wanderers who risk their lives in the name of recreation. This misconception tragically fails to address the most noteworthy parts of this community and the true reasons why they choose to spend their time hanging off cliffs and paddling through roaring waves. Many climbers and paddlers say why they do it, is because the mental clarity that they feel when on the wall or in the water; the freedom they feel once they reach past the fear, the graceful power in their moves. Each time they tie in to ascend a route, or descend into the roaring waves of a rapid they face something in themselves, the panic that says turn back, and in the act of moving beyond that emotion they feel a clarity and control like nothing else. A confidence in themselves, their body, and mind.

These images aim to illustrate and construct a picture of the people in these communities, why they choose these sports, and the impact it has on them.