Taylor Kasler was introduced to climbing while attending a friend’s birthday party at Inner Peaks climbing gymin Charlotte, NC.  After his 12th birthday, his mother gave him a pass to Inner Peaks instead of another summer pass to the local theme park.

After a shoulder injury from swimming in high school, Taylor started climbing more regularly and discovered a passion that stuck.  As a regular and employee of the gym, he learned lead belaying and soon started traveling outside with his friends. The New River Gorge in West Virginia was their sport climbing destination on weekends and his home state of North Carolina provided phenomenal bouldering with places such as Boone and Hound Ears.

To Taylor, West Virginia University seemed like the perfect place to get a parks and recreation degree. With the New River Gorge at a good weekend trip distance, Cooper’s Rock right outside of town, and a climbing gym in the WVU Recreation Center, Taylor could have it all.

Taylor currently works at the climbing wall while finishing his program at WVU.  He still frequents Cooper’s Rock and the New River Gorge.