Sending it in Scrubs
As a nurse practitioner, Eddie M. is on the front lines of healthcare in his hometown of Montrose, Colorado. When he’s not checking in on one of his patients he’s checking out new routes to climb.
As a nurse practitioner, Eddie M. is on the front lines of healthcare in his hometown of Montrose, Colorado. When he’s not checking in on one of his patients he’s checking out new routes to climb.
Big Apple and Big Ascents
Eddie grew up Queens, New York. He recalls an upbringing where access to outdoors was scarce. A homework assignment in grade school consisted of finding bugs, which proved difficult in a concrete jungle where even his backyard was paved. This man-made metropolis made the weekend camping trips his family took to the Catskills incredibly formative. During what he dubbed “The Most Boring Mid-life Crisis” he prioritized outdoor recreation and now you can find his family in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, on the rocks of Ridgway, or the snowy peaks of southwestern Colorado.
A Family Affair
Eddie has brought his two children, along with his wife, into his climbing sphere. His eldest, now in college, is Eddie’s most steadfast climbing partner. Climbing should be about exploration and the process over the objective. “Even if you don’t make it to the top, it’s an experience worth having,” he shares.
Quick Hits
Occupation: Nurse Practitioner
Activities: Rock Climbing, Backcountry Skiing
Hometown: Queens, New York
Community Engagement: Board Member Ouray Climbers Alliance
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Stethoscopes and Carabiners Are Eddie’s Tools of the Trade
In Montrose, Eddie trades in his scrubs for a chalk bag, harness, climbing shoes, and Offline Maps.
How He Finds New Routes
The key is driving around a lot and being creative. That’s how he and his son discovered their latest climbing project. “Let’s just walk up there,” his son said. “We assessed whether there were any private land holdings, and onX Backcountry was helpful for that,” Eddie recalls. Using satellite imagery “to hunt stuff up” has expedited the scouting process as well.
How Did You Hear About onX?
“My introduction to onX Backcountry was through Mountain Project. I served as the state administrator for MP when I lived in North Carolina. My job there was moderating content and organizing the database. I’ve been enrolled in Mountain Project for 15 years. When onX acquired MP, I discovered that I liked the mapping interface and the Slope Angle shading. I use it to save Tracks and map safe routes through avalanche terrain.”
What Does Time Offline Mean to You?
“Oh, I struggle with this. We are so addicted to our handsets. Even when I’m getting nothing from it, I’m endlessly scrolling. One of the few things that offers enough gratification that I don’t even think about my phone is when I’m in the wilderness. So having the right tools, granted it’s a little ironic that the app is on my phone, keeps me away from the time sucks that are consuming me when I’m not in the outdoors. It’s super important to have access to something that’s healthier for your mind, and acts as a counterbalance to this increasingly technical world.”
Q&A
How does your experience as a climber interplay with your profession as a nurse?
“Mindsets about attaining goals persistence, grit, and continuing after initial failure are all traits that are important in climbing that I’ve brought into my professional life. As the medical guy, anytime I’m outdoors I’m deferred to for injuries or CPR.”
How do you organize your Content?
“It serves as a management tool. I keep track of trail and backcountry tours. I name things by geographic feature and color-code them to find them easier. I take notes on slope aspect information for skiing and approach trails to a crag.
What’s one of the things you’re most proud of as a climber?
“Climbing with my son is one of the things I feel most proud about. It doesn’t matter what we’re climbing, it’s just that he enjoys, or at least I think he enjoys, hanging out with me.”
What’s next? Do you have any summer objectives?
“I’ve got a couple lines that I’d like to get bolted and first ascend with him. He wants to climb hard things and I want to belay him and help him to push hard. It’s that mutual support that I’m looking forward to.”
What would you share with emerging medical professionals?
“For young people who are considering new career paths, you can’t go wrong with nursing or medicine. The relationships and trust you develop with your patients is super rewarding. Don’t just chase the money. You’re going to make plenty of money. Chase where you can make a big difference.”
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