Episodes
The Ascent Archive Podcast features oral histories collected by the University of Utah and produced by the J. Willard Marriott Library, including the Rock Climbers Oral History Project and the American West Center’s Everett L. Cooley Oral History Project. You’re about to hear an oral history that is unedited. Please excuse possible interruptions, sound quality issues, potentially outdated or offensive terminology, and the occasional curse word. https://ascentarchive.lib.utah.edu/
Portia Menlove was born and raised in Salt Lake City. She spent time doing outdoor sports with her family. Portia was immediately draw to climbing as an ADHD kid and started climbing all the time at the Wasatch Front Climbing Gym and going on trips with older climbers. Portia competed in youth and adult bouldering competitions, including the Junior Competitive Climbing Association, Professional Climbers Association, Mammut Bouldering Championships, and Nationals. In 2005 Portia won Nationals and was on the US Climbing Team. Portia discusses inspirational female climbers, friendships surrounding competitions, the pressures of competition, and disordered eating. Portia now focuses more energy into trail running, but still loves to climb and be a part of the community. Portia is an ICU nurse at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
View Portia Menlove’s Oral History in the Marriott Digital Library