By Alyssa Walker
Ari Moulton was a 14-year-old foster kid living in Gorham when she was selected for the Kismet rock climbing program in North Conway. Today, she serves on Kismet's board of directors helping other young people find their way by climbing steep granite.
kAmz:D>6E @776C65 |@F=E@?[ ?@H a`[ 2?5 =:G:?8 :? }@CE9 r@?H2J H:E9 96C f\>@?E9\@=5 D@?[ t==:D[ 2?5 96C 5@8[ |2==J[ Q@?6 4@?DE2?E :? =:76]Qk^Am
kAmQz:D>6E 925 2 9F86 :>A24E @? >6[Q |@F=E@? D2:5] QxE @A6?65 2 =@E @7 5@@CD 7@C >6 2?5 96=A65 >6 7:8FC6 @FE H92E x H2?E65 2?5 H9@ x H2?E65 E@ 36]Qk^Am
kAmz:D>6E DEF56?ED — H9@ 4@>6 7C@> FC32? 2?5 CFC2= A2CED @7 }6H t?8=2?5 :? 255:E:@? E@ E96 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ — C@4< 4=:>3 :? E96 |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J 7@C @?6 H66< A6C DF>>6C 7@C 7@FC J62CD F?56C E96 5:C64E:@? 2?5 42C6 @7 46CE:7:65 4=:>3:?8 8F:56D 2?5 EC2:?65 DE277]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ |@F=E@? H@C<D 2E 2 =@42= =2H @77:46 2?5 2 ?@?\AC@7:E D6?:@C 46?E6C] $96 9@A6D E@ DEF5J =2H D@ D96 42? 25G@42E6 7@C 49:=5C6? — H9@ =:<6 96C ?@E D@ =@?8 28@ — 2C6 8C@H:?8 FA :? E96 DE2E6 DJDE6> 2?5 766= E96J 92G6 ?@ G@:46]k^Am
kAmz:D>6E[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ 2446AED @?=J 2 D>2== A6C46?E286 @7 E9@D6 H9@ 2AA=J E@ E96 AC@8C2>] $EF56?ED >FDE D9@H 7:?2?4:2= ?665 2?5 E96 56D:C6 2?5 4@>>:E>6?E E@ ECJ C@4< 4=:>3:?8]k^Am
kAmz:D>6E #@4< u@F?52E:@?[ pAA2=249:2? |@F?E2:? r=F3VD r@@D r@F?EJ *@FE9 !=246\q2D65 t5F42E:@? !C@8C2>[ 3@E9 7F?565 A2CE:2==J 3J E96 }6:= 2?5 {@F:D6 %:==@ED@? uF?5 @7 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 r92C:E23=6 u@F?52E:@?[ 2?5 @E96C AC@8C2>D 96=A DEF56?ED 86E @FE 2?5 6?;@J E96:C @H? 324<J2C5D]k^Am
kAmpD9=6J vF:=362F=E :D 2 (9:E67:6=5 t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= 7@FCE9 8C256 E62496C 2?5 E96 D49@@=VD @FE5@@C AC@8C2> 4@@C5:?2E@C H9@ =@G6D H2E49:?8 DEF56?ED 6?;@J E96 >@F?E2:?D]k^Am
kAmQ}@E 2== @7 E96> H@F=5 86E @FE :? E96:C @H? 324<J2C5 :7 ?@E 7@C E9:D 6IA6C:6?46[Q vF:=362F=E D2:5]k^Am
kAmt249 J62C[ 2E =62DE b_ (9:E67:6=5 t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= DEF56?ED A2CE:4:A2E6 :? p|r 9:<6D[ 8F:565 @G6C?:89E 9FE EC:AD[ =6256CD9:A 4@FCD6D[ 2?5 H66<=J AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAm%9:CE66? DEF56?ED C646?E=J 4@>A=6E65 2 D:I\H66< D?@HD9@6:?8 4@FCD6 E92E =65 E96> FA pC6E9FD2 u2==D 2?5 |@F?E (:==2C5 :? rC2H7@C5 }@E49]k^Am
kAmtG6CJ 72==[ @=56C DEF56?ED 42? 2AA=J E9C@F89 E96 (9:E67:6=5 @FE5@@C AC@8C2> E@ 4@>A=6E6 2? p|r =6256CD9:A 4@FCD6 — 2 9FE EC:A =65 3J p|r 8F:56D]k^Am
kAm%96 4@DE E@ (9:E67:6=5 DEF56?ED 2?5 @E96C DEF56?ED 2E r@@D r@F?EJ D49@@=D :D 7C66] !C@8C2>D =:<6 E96D6 4@DE 2?JH96C6 7C@> Saf A6C 52J A6C DEF56?E FA E@ Sc`d A6C DEF56?E 7@C @G6C?:89ED]k^Am
kAmpE 7:CDE 8=2?46[ :E 5@6D ?@E >2<6 D6?D6 E92E DEF56?ED :? v@C92> 2?5 (9:E67:6=5[ E@H?D A6C4965 2E E96 ?@CE96C? 6586 @7 E96 !C6D:56?E:2= #2?86 @7 E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:? }2E:@?2= u@C6DE[ H@F=5 92G6 =:>:E65 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ =62C? 23@FE 2?5 6IA=@C6 E96 >@F?E2:?D E92E DFCC@F?5 E96>]k^Am
kAmqFE 7@C >2?J DEF56?ED :? v@C92>[ (9:E67:6=5 2?5 @E96C 4@>>F?:E:6D :? r@@D r@F?EJ[ E9:D :D 6I24E=J E96 42D6] xEVD ?@E 7@C =24< @7 2446DD — :EVD =24< @7 @AA@CEF?:EJ]k^Am
kAm(92E H6C6 @?46 E9C:G:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D :? }6H w2>AD9:C6VD 3@@>:?8 =F>36C 2?5 >2?F724EFC:?8 :?5FDEC:6D ?@H 7246 D:8?:7:42?E 64@?@>:4 2?5 D@4:2= 32CC:6CD] r@@D r@F?EJ 92D E96 9:896DE A@G6CEJ C2E6 :? E96 DE2E6[ 9@G6C:?8 2E 2C@F?5 `c A6C46?E]k^Am
kAm%96 p|r AC@8C2> 2?5 z:D>6E 2:> E@ 7:== E92E 82A 36EH66? @AA@CEF?:EJ — 2?5 A=246]k^Am
kAm'6C@?:42 *@F?8 @7 q6C=:? 2?5 96C 7:G6 49:=5C6? A2CE:4:A2E6 :? p|rVD r@@D r@F?EJ AC@8C2>] ~?46 2 H66<[ E96J 8@ E@ !:?<92> }@E49 ':D:E@CDV r6?E6C 7@C Q92?5D\@?Q D4:6?46 24E:G:E:6D =:<6 :56?E:7J:?8 2?:>2= EC24<D 2?5 65:3=6 A=2?ED[ 9:<:?8[ D?@HD9@6:?8[ 2?5 D<::?8]k^Am
kAmQ%96J =@G6 :E[Q *@F?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAm{2DE DF>>6C 2== 7:G6 @7 E96> A2CE:4:A2E65 :? 2? @G6C?:89E 9FE EC:A E@ {@?6D@>6 {2<6 2?5 6?82865 :? @?\EC2:= D4:6?46 =6DD@?D E2F89E 3J p|r DE277] %96 @=56C EH@ 49:=5C6?[ 286D `c 2?5 `d[ 2=D@ 42?@65 2?5 9:<65 @? @?6 @7 p|rVD %66? (:=56C?6DD p5G6?EFC6D EC:AD 7@C r@@D r@F?EJ DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAmp|r EC:AD =:<6 E96D6 4@DE 23@FE S`[___ A6C DEF56?E[ 3FE 2C6 7C66 7@C r@@D r@F?EJ DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAmQxE H2D @?6 @7 E96 36DE 25G6?EFC6D E96J 6G6C 925 :? E96:C =:G6D[Q *@F?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(96? 96C EH@ @=56C 49:=5C6? 42>6 9@>6 7C@> E96:C %66? (:=56C?6DD p5G6?EFC6D EC:A[ E96J E@=5 96C :E H2D 2H6D@>6] QxV> G6CJ 8C2E67F=[Q *@F?8 D2:5]k^Am
kAm!=246\32D65 65F42E:@? 4@??64ED DEF56?ED E@ A=246] x? E96D6 42D6D[ :E C@@ED r@öD r@F?EJ J@FE9 E@ E96 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ 3J :>>6CD:?8 E96> :? E96 9:DE@CJ[ 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 4F=EFC6[ 2?5 64@?@>J @7 E96 >@F?E2:?D]k^Am
kAmp?5C62 |F==6C[ p|rVD }@CE9 r@F?ECJ !C@8C2> s:C64E@C[ D2:5i Q|@DE CFC2= J@FE9[ D:>:=2C E@ FC32? 2?5 DF3FC32? J@FE9[ 5@?VE DA6?5 >F49 E:>6 :? E96 @FE5@@CD 6IA=@C:?8 2?5 25G6?EFC:?8 7@C 2== E96 D2>6 D@4:6E2= C62D@?D <:5D 6G6CJH96C6 5@?VE 86E @FED:56i F3:BF:E@FD D4C66?D[ H@C<:?8 42C68:G6CD[ 2?5 762C @7 :?;FCJ]Qk^Am
kAm|F==6C D2:5 E92E @?6 @7 E96 >2:? 8@2=D @7 E96 AC@8C2> :D E@ 4@??64E =@42= J@FE9 E@ E96 QDA64E24F=2C =2?5D42A6 E92E DFCC@F?5D E96>]Qk^Am
kAmQ%96 2C62VD DA64:2= @FE5@@C 6?G:C@?>6?E @776CD 2 F?:BF6 2?5 6IEC6>6=J 8C2E:7J:?8 =:76DEJ=6[ 2?5 J@FE9 H:== 36 >@C6 :?4=:?65 E@ 49@@D6 :E 2?5 H@C< E@H2C5D DE2J:?8 @C C6EFC?:?8 E@ E96 C68:@? :7 E96J 92G6 2? 2AAC64:2E:@? 7@C E96 C68:@?VD 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 2DD6ED 2?5 7@C E96 C64C62E:@? @AA@CEF?:E:6D E92E 23@F?5 7@C C6D:56?ED[Q |F==6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm|F==6C 25565[ Qx?DE625 @7 E9:?<:?8 E92E E96C6 :D ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ :? E96 2C62[ E96J H:== F?56CDE2?5 2?5 2AAC64:2E6 E96 C62==J 7F? E9:?8D E96C6 2C6 E@ 5@ :? ?@CE96C? }6H w2>AD9:C6]Qk^Am
kAmz:D>6E 7@F?56C |:4926= y6H6== D2JD E92E E96 8C62E6DE :>A24E 7@C r@@D r@F?EJ DEF56?ED :D QE92E E96J 92G6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96:C =@42= 6?G:C@?>6?E[ H9:49 E96JVC6 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J 5@:?8 2=C625J — :? 56AE9]Qk^Am
kAm%96D6 8@2=D 5@G6E2:= H:E9 &}wVD r2CD6J $49@@= @7 !F3=:4 !@=:4JVD a_`c[ z6J u:?5:?8D 2?5 #64@>>6?52E:@?D 7C@> E96 r@@D *@FE9 $EF5J] %96 C6A@CE 6IA=2:?65 E92E 56DA:E6 E96 56D:C6 @7 >2?J r@öD J@FE9 E@ =:G6 ?62C E96:C 72>:=:6D 2D 25F=ED[ Q>@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 r@@D J@FE9 C6A@CE E96J 2C6 F?=:<6=J E@ C6>2:? :? E96:C 4@>>F?:E:6D >@DE @7 E96:C =:G6D 2?5 >@C6 E92? @?6\E9:C5 D2J E96J 2C6 =:<6=J E@ =62G6 2?5 ?6G6C C6EFC?]Qk^Am
kAmu@C }@CE9 r@F?ECJ <:5D =:<6 pC: |@F=E@?[ *@F?8VD 49:=5C6?[ 2?5 vF:=362F=EVD DEF56?ED :? (9:E67:6=5[ E96D6 AC@8C2>D 2EE6>AE E@ C6G6CD6 E92E EC6?5 3J 8:G:?8 E96> E96 492?46 E@ 2AAC64:2E6 E96 362FEJ @7 E96:C @H? 324<J2C5]k^Am
kAmp=JDD2 (2=<6C :D 2 7C66=2?46 HC:E6C 2?5 C6A@CE6C DA64:2=:K:?8 :? 65F42E:@?] $96 =:G6D :? E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D H96C6 D96 C625D[ HC:E6D[ 4@@<D[ 2?5 6?;@JD 2== E9:?8D @FE5@@CD H:E9 96C 72>:=J] x? A2DE J62CD[ D96 92D H@C<65 2E z:D>6E #@4< u@F?52E:@? 2?5 p|r]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.