Nicholas Milburn

How did you get into climbing?

I don’t have a specific start to my climbing. My parents climb, so I didn’t really have a choice. I went on my first climbing trip to Rifle when I was six months old and, even though I didn’t do a lot of climbing, growing up in that environment has shaped who I am now.

I grew up in a part of the US with no rocks, so I put a lot of my energy into competition. I have always valued outdoor climbing more than competition, but I learned a lot about how to push and perform underpressure. These skills have been invaluable throughout my life. Now, I rarely compete and I put all that focus into my outdoor goals. I find the process of climbing in nature to be more rewarding and the views are typically better.

What is your connection to Nature Climbing?

I revere craftsmanship. With modern manufacturing capabilities it is easy to mass produce anything, but something is lost in that kind of mechanized world. A thing that is touched by a craftsman has a certain soul that is rarely found in everyday things. Everything that Nature Climbing produces has soul. They take simple materials from the earth and turn them into beautiful works of art. These are works of art with utility. I think that is where their true beauty lies. They understand how to balance form and function. 

What is your favorite gear?

If I had to pick one piece of Nature Climbing gear it would be the brush. I like having everything I own to be special to me. Life is too short to be surrounded by mundane things. I could pick up any old brush to clean my holds, but I brush a lot of holds and I want the experience to be something I cherish. There is the tactile sensation of the brush. Nature’s brush feels good in my hands. There is the visual stimulus of seeing the color of the wood, the bristles moving across the rock, and the chalk in the air as it comes free of the rock. I like seeing the effects of my brushing. There is the history of the tool. Trees were felled, boars were sheared, and craftsmen went to work to deliver this brush. It’s a weighty thing.

What are your climbing goals?

I’m a sucker for historical routes. Things that are striking, hard, and have historical significance motivate me. The two routes at the top of my life list are Biographie and Jumbo Love. I want to do both before I die.

Any tips and tricks?

I think it is important to learn how to climb for the sake of climbing. In other words, climb because climbing is enjoyable. Getting too caught up in completing goals can take away from the act itself. Falling off the final moves of your project is frustrating and it is good to release those emotions, but don’t focus too hard on the failure. Remember that you had another wonderful day climbing on a beautiful piece of rock. Climbing can be pretty fun after all. Sometimes it is hard work and that is cool too. It’s not fun all the time, but hopefully, it’s fun a lot of time. It’s all about the balance.

Where do we find you when you are not climbing?

My favorite non-climbing thing is food. I get a lot of satisfaction from making tasty things and making them look pretty. I share a lot of the food I make through Instagram stories, so go look there if you are curious.