Climber Story: Mai Hitotsuyanagi

To start, tell us a little bit about yourself

Hi, my name is Mai. I’m 35 years old with two dogs and my partner, his son and I live on 35 acres with 17 chickens. I’m a chiropractic assistant by day, movement teacher by night, and a personal trainer in my free time. I started a women and non binary folks climbing group called the Send Sisters and our sibling group Crux Heroix. Also, I’ve always wanted to start a food truck called Dump Truck and serve only Japanese dumplings with rice.

How did you start climbing?

I started really getting into climbing through an ex. I was terrified of heights but loved being outside so I gave it a shot. Eight years later… still loving it and getting into trad!

What impact has climbing had on your life?

Climbing has helped with my confidence, mental health, and I’ve formed amazing new friends. It also lead me to my partner! Recognizing the lack of groups and places where marginalized people could be free to be themselves gave me the desire to want to create a safe place. So I started the Send Sisters/Crux Heroix. I wanted to share my love for climbing with people who were intimidated and didn’t have the funds or the equipment to be able to go try this amazing sport.

What are some other things you do that you find most fulfilling?

I I love listening to Morbid: A True Crime Podcast while I pick the veggies in our garden. I love hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, & cooking.

If you could tell the world one thing, what would it be?

Be respectful of the land we have the privilege to use. Follow the rules of the land. Be kind to each other and have fun and be safe!

Favorite thing about Dynamite Starfish?

I love how relatable it is! And I love the stickers. I have most of them. 

Is there something you're working on that you'd like to tell our community about? We love a good story.

I’m mentally and physically preparing myself to go climb Solar Slab. I get to take an intro to trad class in Colorado in November and plan to climb as many pitches I can in Colorado to prepare. So if anyone has any insight or recommendations for Solar Slab, please hit me up!

You can find Mai on Instagram at @finding_mai_wayhome or reach out to her groups @send_sistersmi and @crux_heroix.

Want to get to know more of the climbers in the amazing Dynamite Starfish community? Check out our archive of Climber Stories here.

We hope you have enjoyed these sneak peeks into climbers' lives. We're on a mission to share diverse stories about rock climbing. Let's push the boundaries of who we know as climbers. Let's use our energy and passion for the outdoors to love our environment and inspire one another.

Have someone you think we should feature? Send us a message and let us know!

Until next time!