Zofia Reych

An occasional writer and appreciator of lowball traverses. After completing a master’s degree in anthropology, Zofia went on to pursue a traditional career path at a London PR company but the pull of the outdoors was stronger.

They moved first to Sheffield, then to Chamonix, then did a surprising two-year stint among the Bulgarian hills before finally settling in Fontainebleau.

Although Zofia started climbing with a view to become a mountaineer, they somehow veered toward bouldering and now can usually be found wrestling pebbles in France. They believe that the still low (although improving) ratio of female participants in outdoor sports is symptomatic of lingering problems within broader society.

In September 2018, Zofia organised the first Women’s Bouldering Festival in Fontainebleau to provide a new platform for women to connect and grow in climbing and beyond.

The Number Crunch:

• "Over the last couple of years I managed to top out a few 7C boulders in Magic Wood and Fontainebleau (“Minisex” and “Welcome to Tijuana” are my favourites). Although it’s usually not the grade that drives me to a line, I am rather excited to break into the double digits in the near future."
• Number of countries I have lived in: 6