Kamloops mountain climber overcomes mental health challenges with help from biggest rock, her dog Ernest | iNFOnews

Trinica Teskey loves spending time in nature with her dog Ernest. Climbing and exploring the mountains around her home in Kamloops help her heal from past traumas.

Photo credit: SUBMITTED / Trinica Teskey

July 5th, 2021 – 7:00 a.m.

Climbing and exploring the mountains around her home with her dog is helping a Kamloops woman recover from a past trauma.

Trinica Teskey and her dog Ernest are often out and about touring the mountains in the Kamloops area. Teskey is an avid climber, a sport she started five years ago. Climbing has not only strengthened her physically, the sport has also strengthened her emotionally.

Teskey has been busy coming to terms with past traumas for the past few years. Rock climbing in remote locations with her supportive dog, Ernest, has proven to be her best mental health tool.

“Climbing helps me prove to myself that I want to be alive and can overcome anything,” said Teskey. “That clears my head and lets me look to my future with hope. When my mind and body are connected, the flow that I want to achieve in life arises, and finding this flow to overcome the rocks changes my life. ”

Part of the joy she finds in climbing comes from the adrenaline and endorphins that are released from physically demanding exercise. Vigilance and commitment keep them away from stressful thoughts.

Trinica Teskey and her dog wake up on one of their many outdoor adventures in the mountains around Kamloops.

Trinica Teskey and her dog wake up on one of their many outdoor adventures in the mountains around Kamloops.

Photo credit: SUBMITTED / Trinica Teskey

“My life is full of fun and adrenaline climbing, bouldering and mountaineering,” said Teskey. “The view I see when I touch the anchor above is breathtaking. I have a personal connection with every rock I try to conquer. Going outside and having that adrenaline rush reminds me of how lucky I am to be alive. I cannot find the same peace in the city. I long to touch rock faces, they are solid and ancient. ”

She says her biggest rock is Ernest, an American bulldog she named after her late father.

“He makes me feel safe, loved, and never alone,” said Teskey. “I spent a lot of time training him to be safe in cliffs and canyons and not to walk on equipment. He watches me climb and gets loud when I peel off the rock. Ernest is very affectionate, well educated and is urgently needed in the mountains for my protection. He’s my rock when the mountains aren’t there to save me. ”

She hopes to find a mentor and prepare for the multi-pitch tours in Squamish. These include pre-rope climbing, bouldering at extreme heights, speed climbing and free climbing. She doesn’t have a favorite style and says that she loves freedom from everything.

She plans to travel across Canada and take on all climbing locations and challenges. However, she will not go anywhere without faithful Ernest.

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