When summer hits, professors practice what they preach—leaning into areas of interest that oftentimes go beyond their immediate field of study. 

This summer, Kyle Heys, director of student success, climbed in Yosemite for a week with five Calvin alumni. He says the highlight of the week was a 3,000-foot climb up The Nose route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park with Zach Swart ’24.”

“We pulled off what is called a NIAD or Nose-in-a-Day (80% of folks climb the route in 3-5 days, 20% go for in-a-day attempts). We started at 3:30 a.m. and finished on top of the wall at 1:30 a.m. It was a wild day with amazing climbing, base jumpers, feuding couples on the wall, falling haul bags, and all manner of emotions. It was a lifetime climb and significant achievement,” said Heys.

How did this opportunity come about?

I have been rock climbing for the last 20 years at places all around the country with Grand Teton National Park and the Red River Gorge in Kentucky being favorite locales. For the last five years I have been traveling each May out to Yosemite with a group of Calvin alum to climb. Being able to even imagine climbing the Nose took years of skill building and training. Over the last few years, we climbed bigger walls in Yosemite including The Sentinel, Cathedrals, and Half Dome that allowed us to believe climbing El Cap was possible. We actually attempted this route last year but bailed. This year was a redemption run. Zach and I met at the Calvin wall most Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6 a.m. to fit in two-hour climbing sessions and build endurance and crack climbing skills.

What was your favorite aspect of the experience?

My favorite aspects of the experience are testing my own capabilities, the deep and wild shared experience with a climbing partner, the feeling of adventure of not knowing you can pull off an objective, and the remarkable humans and stories you meet along the way.

How did you develop this interest outside of Calvin?

My interest in climbing developed both outside and inside of Calvin. Connecting with Ryan Rooks and teaching with Outdoor Recreation has provided me great opportunities to climb and teach climbing. I teach a climbing class at Calvin most years and lead a trip or two for higher level climbing students to places like the Red River Gorge in Kentucky and Joshua Tree National Park in California. Climbing is also a great community connection for me which has led to hosting outdoor film festivals, building a climbing feature in Highland Park, and developing new climbing areas. I initially learned to climb in the garage of a former Calvin alum and now I get to pass that on to the Calvin and greater Grand Rapids community. Many of my current climbing partners are folks who I played a role in teaching them to climb.

Any way to apply what you learned during your climbing adventures to your work with students at Calvin?

The wilderness is raw and is such a rich place to explore who you are and of what you are capable. Stories from my experiences climbing occasionally work their way into conversations with students. Ideas like expanding your available reality, slow progress toward a goal, consistent work through adversity all apply to climbing and life as a student.