On a bright and sunny morning in the mountains of Colorado, Silas Goolsby, a freshman track and field sprinter at Piedmont University found himself scaling the rocky cliffs with ease and grace. Silas was about to conquer his most challenging climb and for him, there was no more incredible thrill than the rush of adrenaline that came with conquering his first big climb.

Silas’s love for rock climbing began when he was just a pre-teen. He was always drawn to the outdoors and found that climbing was the perfect way to challenge himself physically and mentally.

“I love the feeling of being up high, with nothing but the wind and the sun on my face,” Silas says. “It’s like being in another world, where all that matters is the climb and the next move.”

As Silas grew older, his passion for rock climbing only intensified. He began traveling all over the country with his family to climb some of the most challenging and beautiful routes imaginable. He became known within his family for his climbing strengths, skills, and unwavering determination to complete challenging climbs.

But for Silas, rock climbing is a hobby more than a sport. It is a way of being utterly free from the rest of the world. It also became a philosophy that guides his every decision and action outside of track and field.

“Rock climbing has taught me so much about myself and life,” Silas says. “It’s taught me to be patient, persistent, and never to give up. It’s taught me that there’s always a way to overcome an obstacle, no matter how big or difficult it may seem.”

For Silas, rock climbing is also a way to connect with the natural world and appreciate the beauty and complexity of the environment around us.

“When you’re climbing, you’re so focused on the rock and the climb that everything else just fades away,” Silas explains. “You become one with the rock, the mountains, and the elements. It’s a calm and powerful experience.”

Silas’ family has a commitment to rock climbing. They spend hours preparing, studying new routes, and planning their next adventure. They believe it’s a way for them all to get along and bond with the outdoor world as a unit.

“ I’ve never seen Silas get excited to do any type of sport or adventure outside of track,” Julie Goolsby, the mother of Silas says. “But when we tell him that we are planning to climb, he gets all red in the face, and I can tell that he’s been thinking about climbing for some time because then he’s just antsy about the climb.”

For Silas, rock climbing is just a hobby; but it is another way of life that has shaped him into the person he is today. And as he reaches the top of yet another challenging climb, he knows there are always new challenges to conquer and new heights to reach.

On Track is a recurring sports column by Chris Donsereaux, a junior sports communications major and member of the Piedmont track and Field team.