FEATURES

THE BIG D
How Rifle Mountain Park, Colorado, came to be the “Land of 5.13d.” Plus, the long-awaited Rifle glossary, the glues that bind, and other Rifle “Ds” of despair.
By Matt Samet and Chris Weidner
Photos by Celin Serbo

PRETTY GNEISS
The roadside crags of Colorado’s Clear Creek Canyon seem to totter more than tower, but they’ve nevertheless played a critical role in the growth of American sport climbing.
By Abbey Smith • Photos by Keith Ladzinski

PLASTIC PRINCE
Straight outta the “Plastic Crucible” of board-flat Belgium comes Nico Favresse, the bold, spirited top all-arounder.
By Sanam Pejuhesh

IN SEARCH OF EL CHUPACABRA
Our intrepid Senior Contributing Editor Craig Luebben visits limestone-rich Puerto Rico to track the fearsome and fanged Chupacabra (aka “goat sucker”).
Story and photos by Craig Luebben
Illustration by Kristin Marine

DEPARTMENTS

CONTRIBUTORS
Sanam Pejuhesh, Craig Luebben, Mic Fairchild,
and Chris Weidner

EDITORIAL
Why we don’t need to fight

LETTERS
BASECAMP
HOT FLASHES
OFF THE WALL
PLAYERS
JUST OUT
TEN THINGS
OPEN BIVY
ROADKILL
SUSTAINED

CLASSIC CLIMBS
Irene’s Arête (III 5.8 or 5.9+) — walking the edge on the Tetons’ stellar Disappointment Peak

TECH TIP
Trad: improve your leading via the lost art of downclimbing.

REVIEWS
An epic DVD on Welsh climbers; the new, full-color Rifle guidebook; and Jennifer Lowe-Anker’s memoirs of her life with Alex Lowe

PERSPECTIVE
Miguel Ventura: pizza maker, artist, family man, social servant; Slade, Kentucky