Karly Rager

Karly found climbing in the Black Hills of South Dakota as a rebellious 18-year-old. It clicked instantly. She was a gymnast as a kid and bringing that kind of movement outdoors felt like a dream come true. She cut her teeth in the Poudre Canyon, CO and Ten Sleep, WY while still finishing her engineering degrees & then working as an engineer for 4 years. 

But Karly spent each day behind a computer screen with her mind on the rock. In 2020, she quit engineering, moved into her van, started her own climbing coaching business (Project Direct Coaching), and became a full-time climber.  In addition to doing what she loves, helping others improve their climbing helped her own relationship with the sport feel much more fulfilling and sustainable. 

Karly loves sport climbing & multi-pitch climbing. She strives to not have one “style” but to be comfortable on all rock types at all angles. She is most inspired by lines that require every tool in the toolbox - slabs to roofs, cracks to tufas, kneebars to handjams.. You’ll find her tryin’ hard on rock around Mexico & the western US.