http://www.climbing.com/news/ CLIMBING NEWS: Hot Flashes, Just Out, Press Releases and Passages. HOT FLASHES reports the world's most up-to-date climbing news. From the alpine big walls of Pakistan, local bouldering comps, to the local crags in your backyard. JUST OUT features p roduct reviews by the Climbing Magazine Staff. In PRESS RELEASES we support and help promote a variety of events, slideshows, crag clean-ups, festivals, competitions and causes in the outdoor industry. PASSAGES celebrates the lives and climbs of climbers who have passed on. en-us http://www.climbing.com/news/ http://www.climbing.com/subscribe_today.gif 2/10/12 - New England’s biggest crag, Cannon Cliff, has seen some cool winter action in recent weeks, with a couple of new variations to the classic Icarus in the middle of the cliff as well as the second winter “ascent” of the mile-long girdle traverse of the crag. http://www.climbing.com/news/hotflashes/cool_climbs_on_cannon_cliff hotflashes Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:05:00 EST Cool Climbs on Cannon Cliff 2/10/12 - New England’s biggest crag, Cannon Cliff, has seen some cool winter action in recent weeks, with a couple of new variations to the classic <i>Icarus</i> in the middle of the cliff as well as the second winter “ascent” of the mile-long girdle traverse of the crag. OK, so it’s only a rope bag, but what piece of gear gets more use? The Edelrid Caddy ($44.95; edelridna.com) simply gets everything right. The shoulder strap orients the broad, low-profile bag sveltely under your arm for easy carrying. The generous tarp (it manages even an 80-meter rope) features innovative grab loops on each corner that allow you to transport the rope easily between nearby climbs without folding everything up completely—no more dropping one corner and having the rope spill out into the dirt. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/no_tip_necessary_edelrid_caddy justout Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:56:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/Edelrid-Caddy-sm.jpg No Tip Necessary: Edelrid Caddy OK, so it’s only a rope bag, but what piece of gear gets more use? <b>The Edelrid Caddy</b> ($44.95; <a href="http://www.edelridna.com" target="_blank">edelridna.com</a>) simply gets everything right. The shoulder strap orients the broad, low-profile bag sveltely under your arm for easy carrying. The generous tarp (it manages even an 80-meter rope) features innovative grab loops on each corner that allow you to transport the rope easily between nearby climbs without folding everything up completely—no more dropping one corner and having the rope spill out into the dirt. An anchor is something that provides stability in an uncertain situation, and the Metolius Anchor Chain ($49.95; metoliusclimbing.com) does just that. This Dyneema chain makes equalizing simple anchors easier, with 12 full-strength (22kN) loops. Any beginning climber would do well to have this in his or her kit, thanks to how easy it makes setting up toprope anchors, especially on bolted anchors. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/terrific_toproping_metolius_anchor_chain justout Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:54:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/Metolius-Anchor-Chain-sm.jpg Terrific Toproping: Metolius Anchor Chain An anchor is something that provides stability in an uncertain situation, and the <b>Metolius Anchor Chain</b> ($49.95; <a href="http://www.metoliusclimbing.com" target="_blank">metoliusclimbing.com</a>) does just that. This Dyneema chain makes equalizing simple anchors easier, with 12 full-strength (22kN) loops. Any beginning climber would do well to have this in his or her kit, thanks to how easy it makes setting up toprope anchors, especially on bolted anchors. When I heard that Arc’teryx had redesigned its award-winning Gamma MX Hoody Jacket ($349, arcteryx.com), I balked: How could this stellar jacket be improved? But the new Gamma MX is a definite upgrade. The designers gave it new patterning, which means improved fit and range of motion for the shoulders and arms. Arc’teryx also switched from Polartec Powershield to its proprietary Fortius 2.0 fabric, which is blessed with enhanced durability and water resistance without any sacrifice of stretch or breathability. http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/change_is_good_arcteryx_gamma_mx_hoody_jacket justout Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:00 EST http://www.climbing.com/news/justout/Arcteryx-Gamma-MX-sm.jpg Change is Good: Arc’teryx Gamma MX Hoody Jacket When I heard that Arc’teryx had redesigned its award-winning <b>Gamma MX Hoody Jacket</b> ($349, <a href="http://www.arcteryx.com" target="_blank">arcteryx.com</a>), I balked: How could this stellar jacket be improved? But the new Gamma MX is a definite upgrade. The designers gave it new patterning, which means improved fit and range of motion for the shoulders and arms. Arc’teryx also switched from Polartec Powershield to its proprietary Fortius 2.0 fabric, which is blessed with enhanced durability and water resistance without any sacrifice of stretch or breathability. 2/9/12 - Climbing pioneer Herb Conn passed away in his home near Custer, South Dakota, on February 1, at the age of 91. http://www.climbing.com/news/hotflashes/herb_conn_dies_at_91 hotflashes Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:25:00 EST Herb Conn Dies at 91 2/9/12 - Climbing pioneer Herb Conn passed away in his home near Custer, South Dakota, on February 1, at the age of 91.