Michael Atlas - Southern Piedmont Rep

My wife and I moved to Charlotte, NC about 12 years ago - where we have since grown to a clan of 5 (our kids are 12, 9, and 6!)  I found my passion towards climbing about 10 years ago.  The moment that I was introduced to climbing in a little gym called "Kendall Cliffs" in Akron, Ohio, I was hooked.  Through the years, I have worked from being a gym climber to learning how to sport climb outdoors, to having numerous trad mentors and learning how to safely climb trad and push grades, to now giving back to the community.  

 

Throughout my journey, I've ticked 350+ routes, most of which around NC, with my favorite crag being Ship Rock.  My biggest accomplishments have been sending the linville crusher, castaway at Shiprock, V9 indoors, and Levitation 29 in red rocks.  Over the past year or so, I have consciously stopped pushing up the grades to instead devote time to just having fun, soaking in the experience, having fun climbing with my kids, and teaching newer climbers how to climb safely - as they have done to me.