Mandy Brown

Mandy has always been drawn to the outdoors. Hiking, trail running, camping, and paddleboarding were her early gateways into nature, and climbing quickly became another meaningful way for her to connect with the places she loves. Living near the climbing areas of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois has inspired her to explore more of the region and deepen her relationship with the sport. What began as outings with a few friends soon grew into a sense of community—especially through Vertical Voyages—where she found people who share her enthusiasm for movement, challenge, and time outside. As someone with a full work schedule and a commitment to healthy living, climbing also became an unexpected but welcome way to build friendships and balance life.

Mandy recently joined the Vertical Voyages instructor team and is steadily expanding her skills through hands-on training and mentorship. She values learning from seasoned professionals, especially in a sport that can feel intimidating at first and requires careful attention to technique and safety. Through her training, she has gained confidence in handling equipment, conducting integrity inspections, performing safety checks, and understanding the systems that reduce human error. She’s grateful to be part of a supportive team where every question is encouraged, and every answer helps her grow into a more capable climber and future instructor.

What inspires Mandy most—both as a climber and as an emerging teacher—is watching kids interact with climbing. Seeing young climbers confront fear, push their limits, and discover what they’re capable of reminds her of why the sport is so powerful. She loves witnessing those moments of personal accomplishment, the ones no one can do for someone else. For Mandy, climbing is deeply individual yet universally empowering, and sharing that experience with others is one of the most rewarding parts of her journey.

Outside of climbing, Mandy is happiest spending long weekends on the trail or at a campsite, mixing in a few climbs and finishing the day with a refreshing swim in one of the region’s many rivers.