Small Team, Big Altitude: Foxcroft Climbers Tackle 24-Hour Challenge

three student rock climbers show off their muscles standing in front of a rock wall

Sep 24 2026

Last weekend, Foxcroft climbers Saoirse C.G. ’28, Riley G. ’27, and Sophie J. ’28 were the only all-female and only youth team to participate in an endurance rope competition, where teams of three worked together over the course of 24 hours to achieve the most points, most vertical feet climbed, and most first ascents.

Competing against adults and college students, the Foxcroft trio achieved over 13 hours of climbing during the event, with each girl completing 30-40 climbs of the 40-foot wall, earning approximately 50,000 points and beating another team. A talented and enthusiastic group, the girls took some time out of their busy schedules to share a bit about the experience.

Tell us about the competition.

Riley: We climbed for 10 hours straight, then we went home and went to sleep, and then we climbed for three hours straight.

Saoirse: [The equivalent of] over four Empire State Buildings.

Sophie: One person climbing, one person belaying, and …

Riley: One person cheering the other person.

Was it weird to be the only all-girls team?

Saoirse: Not really. There were other girls there. We were just the only team that consisted of all girls. There was always at least one man on the other teams.

Riley: It was weird to be the youngest. I think that the other teams were definitely aware that we were teenage girls because when you're climbing next to a 40-year-old man in the same competition, “one of these things is not like the other,” but they were all nice to us.

What was your favorite part about participating in the event?

Saoirse: When my parents came.

Riley: I think my favorite part was when I was climbing, a girl was being lowered down next to me — she looked me in the eyes and was like, ‘You got this.’ I really didn't think I had it. I was shaking on the wall, and I was like, ‘No, it'd be so embarrassing if I fell off because that girl believed in me.’ Then I sent it (climbed it) the second time, and it felt so good.

Sophie: My favorite part was right at the end, when every time I climbed something and my hands felt like they were burning, I finally got to the top.

Anything else to add:

Saoirse: I'm not much for hyping myself up, but I'd like to say that we're awesome.

Riley: It takes a lot. I think that you really need the years of climbing experience that we have to even try it, and it was crazy that we tried it because we were going against adults.

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