SALT LAKE CITY When 10-year-old Conner Bailey makes his way to the top of the climbing wall, he looks below to see just how far he s come. As he works his way back down, he heads right back up, realizing he still has a long way to go but he s eager for the challenge.
For eight years, rock climbing has been a way of life for the now fourth grader. According to his mom, Tessie Bailey, his start at such an early age was in large part due to necessity. We adopted Conner when he was 2 years old, and he had some medical issues, particularly low birth weight and curvature of the spine, Tessie Bailey said. We put him climbing as part of his therapy, and he really took to it. Not only has his spine stayed stable, but Conner has really taken to the sport.