American Sport Climbing – A Photo Essay

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:40:21 +0000

Photos by Andy Mann / Words by Jonathan Siegrist – Sport climbing in America has undergone a lifetime of changes during its almost 30 years of existence. What was once considered an ethically questionable practice has not only been widely accepted, but embraced by the climbing community. Sport climbing history is not only a fascinating story—it’s unique in that its landmarks remain for our current-day experience. Historical testpieces and groundbreaking routes are accessible to anyone and can be enjoyed by every following generation. Read more here.

Lauren Lee sends Anaconda (5.11c), Garden of the Gods, Colorado

Sheyna Button sending her long-term project, The Gym Arete (5.12b), Shelf Road, Colorado.

Lauren Lee sending The Example (5.13b), Shelf Road, Colorado.

Siegrist tasting the polished limestone of American Fork Canyon, Utah.

The author pulling down on Heretic (5.13), City of Rocks, Utah.

Lauren Lee on the bullet rock of Little Si Mountain, Washington.

Lauren Lee flashes 5.12d on the bullet rock of Little Si Mountain, Washington.

Siegrist makes a rare ascent of Pornstar (5.13d), Little Si, Washington.

The author on the first ascent of The Afterlife (5.12d), Wizard’s Gate, Colorado.

Jackie Hueftle sends Sheer Lunacy (5.11c), Penitente Canyon, Colorado.

Kevin Jorgeson ropes up for the Wizard’s Gate’s granite walls, Colorado.

Siegrist makes the first ascent of Cloak and Dagger (5.13c), Wizard’s Gate, Colorado.

The author pulling down on The Web (5.13c), Eldorado Canyon, Colorado.

Paige Claassen cranks down at Kentucky’s famous Red River Gorge.

Siegrist climbing Tanks for the Huecos (5.10d) under the moonlight, Penitente Canyon, Colorado.

Siegrist sends The Legend (5.13d), Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

Beau Stuart connects the pockets on a 5.12 at Sitting Bull Falls, New Mexico.

Paige Claassen working a 5.13+ at Sitting Bull Falls, New Mexico.

The author crimping his way through another Sitting Bull Falls 5.13.

Beau Stuart cops a rest on a brilliant 5.12 in Sitting Bull Falls, New Mexico.

Climbers cranking up and out of Last Chance Canyon, New Mexico.

Beau Stuart takes on Last Chance Canyon’s monster roof.

Ten Sleep’s “Scrote Block Roof,” an underdeveloped giant limestone wall.

Beau Stuart takes on Last Chance Canyon’s monster roof.

Sheyna Button on the immaculate Great White Behemoth (5.12b), Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Sheyna BUtahton on the immaculate Great White Behemoth (5.12b), Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Dave Hume sets up on Hellion (5.13c), Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Jen Fleming knows to Always Keep it Loaded (5.12a), Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Sheyna Button crimps down on Center El Shinto (5.12b), Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

The awesome alpine limestone of God’s Crag, Gunnison, Colorado.

Siegrist sends Grand Ol’ Opry (5.14b) at The Monastery, Colorado.

The author sending Hellion (5.13c), Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Siegrist sends Grand Ol’ Opry (5.14b) at The Monastery, Colorado.

Brett Johnson attempts God’s Own Stone (5.14), Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

Paige Claassen sending God’s Own Stone (5.14), Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

The author sends 100 Ounces of Gold, Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

Clipping at the Darkside Crag, Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

Siegrist on the FA of Pure Imagination (5.14d), Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

Sheyna Button cranks perfect sandstone on The Wobbler (5.11d), Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

Jonathan Siegrist working Beware the Future (5.13c), Flatirons, Colorado.

Lauren Lee pulls The Mentor (5.12b), Flatirons, Colorado.

Joe Kinder on the newly bolted Milkbone (5.13), Flatirons, Colorado.

Siegrist sends To Bolt or Not to Be (5.14), Smith Rock, Oregon.

Paige Claassen high above the Volcanic Walls of Smith Rock, Oregon.

Lynn Hill on the classic Bullet the Blue Sky (5.12d), Penitente Canyon, Colorado.

The author making the clip at Smith Rock, Oregon.

Siegrist above the Bend River in Smith Rock, Oregon.

Ben Scott pulls a 5.13 in Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Adie Drolet making it look good on a 5.11 in Boulder Canyon, Colorado.

Ted Lanzano likes Drugs (5.11b), Dinosaur Mountain, Colorado.

Dan Mirsky takes a 70-footer in Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

The author sending Ultrasaurus (5.13), Flatirons, Colorado.

Lauren Lee makes a winter lap on Superfresh (5.12d), Flatirons, Colorado.

Lauren Lee makes the first female ascent of The Example (5.13b), Shelf Road, Colorado.

ClimbingAmerican Sport Climbing – A Photo Essay

American Sport Climbing – A Photo Essay