Melissa Strong’s story is one of resilience, recovery and the courage to live her truth. In her debut memoir, Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing, and Second Chances, she reveals an unbreakable spirit shaped by hardship and hope. The book begins with Strong’s life story to April 2, 2017: the day when Strong “died a little bit and came back to life.” While literally taking her dream to open a restaurant into her own hands, the avid and sponsored climber found herself in an electrocution accident that resulted in partial hand loss in her home. 

Each page is grounded in authenticity and candor as Strong shares her deeply personal journey as a climber, restaurateur, woman, wife, daughter and sister, and how these roles intersect. With multifaceted strength at its core, her perspective on life offers something meaningful for every reader. Strong advocates for finding something that brings you joy, emphasizing that in the wake of adversity, the lessons learned through joy can carry you through the moments you need them most. 

“We can discuss how each sport offers different rewards and triggers different emotions, but it all comes down to enjoyment,” Strong writes. “It’s not about standing on top of a cliff or a boulder. It’s the process. It’s how you get there that captivates me.” Readers will quickly learn that everything Strong has accomplished in life, and every life lesson in between, has prepared her for the day and the days following when her hands, the parts of her that had allowed her to climb rock formations and serve plated dishes to customers, changed forever. 

Reading Strong’s words feels as if she is sitting across from you, simply telling you a story. As though you’re splitting a crisp bottle of rosé on the patio of her Estes Park, Colorado establishments, Bird & Jim and Bird’s Nest, surrounded by Colorado pines, refreshing mountain air and Strong herself. 

“We humans can do amazing things that we’d never dream possible,” Strong says. “Tragedy taught me that some of the tools I required to get through were already with me. I had to dig deep, be open to the light, acknowledge the good and turn away from the darkness.” 

Her story lingers long after the final page, inviting readers to meet their own challenges with grit, grace and an open heart.

melissaistrong.com 

Photos by Adam Strong and Zach Bunch.

Chloe Wasserstrom
Community Engagement Coordinator
@chlowass 

Originally published in the summer + fall 2026 issue of Well.