KEELY CAROLAN
Climber | Professional Coach | Mentor | Founder
Hi, I'm Keely. Welcome to Process Climbing. I've been climbing for 17 years, and coaching since 2018. I've coached for four youth teams and currently serve as the head coach of two competitive climbing teams (collegiate and youth).
I'm no stranger to the obsessive nature that many climbers have; I have chosen to center my life and career around this sport for most of my life. I am deeply dedicated to making climbing education accessible and embodying the "mentorship mindset" that makes this community so special. I'm excited to share my passion with you!
Athletic History
I began climbing with my family at Stone Gardens in Seattle, Washington, in 2009. I was a timid kid who couldn’t fathom doing the “scary workouts” I saw the team kids doing at the gym. At 14, a push from my parents finally convinced me to take the leap. I joined the climbing team at Stone Gardens in Ballard (now Edgeworks), and my obsession with the sport officially took hold.
After two years on the team, I qualified for my first Youth Sport Climbing Nationals and went on to compete at the national level throughout the remainder of my youth career. In 2019, I moved to Salt Lake City to attend college and pursue climbing further.
Over the next several years, I immersed myself in the climbing opportunities around the Mountain West, developing as an outdoor boulderer while also building my trad and alpine climbing skills. The freedom and adventure of exploring deeper into the mountains is a major part of why I love climbing.
My mom & I at Youth Nationals in 2018 - Kennesaw, GA
In 2020, I began coaching at The Front Climbing Club, and developing other climbers quickly became just as meaningful to me as pursuing my own athletic goals. My time at The Front had a major influence on me as both a coach and a climber. I will never forget the the athletes, coaches, and families I worked with there — they made me who I am as a coach and educator.
March 2024: I made the pro/open finals at St. Patty’s Pump, a sport climbing competition at The Front.
July 2025: After six difficult months of injury and illness, I sent Big Chicken (V9) in Squamish on my first major climbing trip and project back. It was a huge milestone in my return to the sport and reinforced the importance of hard work, resilience, and — just as importantly — being kind to yourself throughout the process.
An evening session in Little Cottonwood Canyon, May 2023.
Today, I continue to pursue my own climbing goals while navigating the realities of persistent injury, training as a busy adult, and long-term progression in the sport. I’m committed to returning to the sport healthy and continuing to challenge myself both in competition and in the mountains for years to come.
After years of developing other climbers while continuing to pursue my own goals, I’m excited to see where the next chapter of climbing takes me.
Sequencing at my last youth regionals, May 2019.
