Still Choosing the Hard Climb | Chris Hamper

hris Hamper has been obsessed with climbing ever since he can remember.

When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 13 years ago, one of his first thoughts was that he wouldn’t be able to climb anymore. He soon found that wasn’t the case. Chris has continued climbing throughout his diagnosis, even as Parkinson’s has made some movements and parts of the sport increasingly difficult.

That experience became the subject of the documentary The Parkinson’s Project, which follows Chris and the role climbing continues to play in his life with Parkinson’s.

Chris talks about the unexpected ways Parkinson’s has affected him, how he has kept climbing as his abilities have changed, and why he believes you can still get better at things after a diagnosis.

Key Takeaways

➡️ You can still get better at things after diagnosis.

After 13 years with Parkinson’s, Chris still believes there is room to learn, improve, and take on new challenges. His own experience has included continuing to climb, rebuilding a car, learning new skills, and recently taking up cycling.

➡️ Adaptation has kept Chris climbing.

As his left hand became harder to use, Chris changed how he moved between holds, became more selective about routes, and relied on friends for parts of climbing that had become difficult.

➡️ Effort can stay high even when performance changes.

Chris still prefers attempting harder climbs over choosing something easy. He says he tries as hard now as he did when he was climbing at his best, even though the level has changed.

➡️ Parkinson’s can affect the drive to do something you love.