Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Garza.
Hi Michelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello, my name is Michelle, and I am passionate about climbing mountains. This did not begin as a plan, but rather as a consequence—one that, over time, has helped me understand that contact with nature not only transforms people, but also brings order, reveals truth, and redirects their lives.
El Potrero Chico—this is where the story begins. EPC is an iconic destination for sport climbing on a global scale, located in Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Mexico. As a climber, it is a profound privilege to call this place my home.
I grew up here, living a simple life surrounded by a large, close-knit family. For many years, I was not truly connected to the mountains. Knowing they were there and watching foreign climbers return year after year felt so ordinary that it never caught my attention. After all, climbing is not part of everyday life for most people in this area; there is only a small, active group of local climbers.
It wasn’t until I was 23 that I had my first encounter with climbing. At that time, I was going through an overwhelming period due to a long and turbulent romantic relationship. At that age, I didn’t know how to set personal boundaries, nor how to recognize them. That lack of clarity left me vulnerable, and I developed a deep emotional dependency on the wrong person.
I remember that during that period I would frequently fall into hysterical states—scratching my arms or pulling my hair… scenes I will never forget. I felt completely worthless and was bad company for everyone around me. It is not my intention to dwell on that chapter, but I mention it because it was during the process of ending that relationship that I climbed for the first time. Without searching for it, the mountain would slowly become the best medicine.
One day, on my way home from college, I was riding in a shared taxi when I recognized one of the passengers—a guy named Chuy Hill. I knew he was one of the few climbers in Hidalgo, so I took the opportunity to ask if he would invite me to climb. That’s how my first experience began.
Over time, I realized that it wasn’t just my first physical contact with the rock; something more subtle was happening. New thoughts emerged while I was climbing—thoughts in which the fear of falling lost its meaning, because no impact could hurt more than the emotional pain I was carrying. Ironically, that pain became my greatest drive: it pushed me to climb higher. For the first time in years, I found something that didn’t just make me feel better—it made me feel strong. I didn’t stop. What began as relief eventually transformed into a passion that would radically change my lifestyle.
If all of this happened over the course of a summer, it was with the arrival of winter—and the high climbing season in El Potrero Chico—that I fully crossed the portal. Welcome to the climbing community. Thanks to my uncles’ hotel, Rancho El Sendero, I became even closer to that world. A small paradise that hosts climbers from all over the globe: the United States, Canada, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, England, Israel, China, Japan, Switzerland…
I was captivated by the free and authentic way these people live and enjoy life.
Many of them shared a hippie, free, and simple spirit. People from very different backgrounds came together as one large family. No one was trying to be anything, there were no appearances to maintain, no masks to wear—and that captivated me. For the first time in a long while, I felt accepted exactly as I am.
Before becoming a climber, my dreams revolved around earning a university degree and getting a good job in order to “be someone,” moving to the city and settling into a routine, finding a partner to build a family with, experiencing motherhood, and perhaps, from time to time, taking a few vacations at the beach. With the arrival of climbing, all of those ideas were shattered. I completely lost myself, only to later find my true essence. I hit reset.
This beautiful mountain has taught me to believe in myself in ways I never imagined possible. I now find myself longing to take the next step and one day become a Professional Guide, opening this new path for future local guides and climbers. What began as a refuge and a way to channel pain soon ignited a deep passion that now illuminates my path.
I would like to share more stories from my experiences as a climber—each one carries a metaphysical lesson. I have been fortunate to meet incredible people: guides who became mentors and who shared their knowledge with kindness, expecting nothing in return. I have also found a profound source of inspiration in those who continue to venture out at ages when many believe it is no longer possible, reminding us that both body and spirit can be reinvented again and again.
Intense experiences in the mountains can awaken an interest in quantum physics, philosophy, metaphysics, theology, or psychology. In some way, they make you more introspective about life and about who—and what—you truly are. Through climbing, I not only regained my health; I recovered my ability to dream, to think for myself, to find my own answers, and to let go of borrowed dreams that society often tries to impose as our own.
The mountain can reveal truths that go beyond words. In its silence, you can recognize who you truly are—a divine being. Its touch strengthens. Breathing its fresh air brings me back to what is essential, to the simple act of existing. And then I understand that there is a world beyond the material, and that even though I may feel insignificant before the mountain, it is she who constantly reminds me how important I am.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the greatest challenges for me has been reinventing myself and accepting that I have a different kind of dream, as well as helping my family see it as something real and valid. I don’t know anyone close to me who has dreamed of becoming a professional guide, which made it difficult at first for both them and myself to fully understand this path. Also, coping with the fear of dying, which can sometimes feel very strong.
I could say that one of my obstacles has been the language barrier. I have had to learn English in order to communicate more clearly with foreign climbers and to continue growing as a guide, especially since the certification I am working toward is completed in the United States.
Even so, I believe that everything has flowed for a reason. Every obstacle has represented an opportunity for growth and a way to build resilience.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a full-time climber and work as a guide specializing in single- and multi-pitch sport climbing in El Potrero Chico. My goal is to create safe, meaningful, and unforgettable experiences for climbers visiting the area, especially those looking to build confidence on vertical terrain.
I am originally from Hidalgo and possibly the only active female climber from the region. I take pride in sharing climbing with others and in making thoughtful decisions that help create an environment where people feel safe, supported, and confident on the rock.
My experience climbing in El Potrero Chico has allowed me to develop a solid understanding of its routes, environment, and associated risks. I combine this knowledge with professionalism, patience, and a genuine desire to support each climber in expanding their knowledge and understanding of climbing.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
To have clarity and synchronicity between thought, word, feeling, and action.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escalartepotrero/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AdX7BgkSd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
