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‘Megatron’ (V17) Finally Repeated! Downgrade to V15 Suggested
After making the first repeat of Shawn Raboutou’s ‘Megatron,’ American upstart D.B. Vernon is recommending a double downgrade to V15.
Ex-Yosemite Climbers Propose Interactive “Stonemaster Experience”
“Today’s climbers don’t realize how hard we had it back then,” read a statement from an anonymous group of former Yosemite climbers.
Wait, a Bouldering Area Was Recently Protected by… the Zoo?
The Asheboro Boulders could have been destroyed by a mining company. Instead they were saved by the North Carolina Zoo.
Do Climbing and Alcohol Mix?
Alcohol and climbing have a long history. A nutritionist dives into the pros and cons of crag drinks.
You Climb? You Are Probably Going to Get Arthritis.
Climbing is hard on your joints, but take care of yourself and you can minimize the damage or at least delay the inevitable.
Meet the Engine Behind @sleepeatclimbrepeat
In an online world showcasing young, impossibly fit climbers, Jeremy Arntz—heavyset, middle aged—is proving that the sport is accessible to all body types.
‘Burden of Dreams’ (V17) Just Got its Most Creative Ascent & More
The News Roundup! Elias Iagnemma uses some wild beta on the world’s most straightforward V17 // The first confirmed E12 gets its third ascent // Matt Fultz takes down his hardest climb yet // Bronwyn Hodgins hits the sport world with a 5.14c
These are the Funniest Climbing Clips We’ve Ever Seen
14 climbing clips, all free on the internet, all funny.
What’s Best For You: the Tension Board 2, the 2024 MoonBoard, or the Woods Board?
Longtime board fanatic Matt Samet tested the three latest LED walls. Here’s what he thought.
“The Best Storyteller on the Planet.” Loved Ones Remember Everest Icon David Breashears.
Famed mountaineer, filmmaker, and Everest pioneer David Breashears died on March 14. Those who knew him best share memories of the legendary alpinist.
When You Clip a Bolt or Climb on Public Lands, You Can Thank This Guy
Roughly from 1986 to 1993, Armando Menocal was one of the founders and de facto leader of the nascent Access Fund. It is hard to imagine where climbing would be today without him. He fought for climbers’ rights, and though he wasn’t a fan of bolts he believed the government shouldn’t dictate how or where climbers place them. When government agencies tried to ban bolts, Armando stood in their way.
Weekend Whipper: Climber Dangles From Ice Dagger. Then It Snaps.
“Upside-down double-heel hook” is not in our mixed-climbing vocabulary. Maybe that’s for a reason.
Seán Villanueva-O’Driscoll Completes Massive Solo of Paine Towers, Patagonia
The ‘Travesía Doble M’ (5.11 A2; 2,200m), is the first time all four summits have been connected in a push—with or without a partner.
6 Reasons to Watch The North Face’s Film About Jacopo Larcher (And 1 Reason Not To)
It’s all fun and games until you start ruining narrative flow.
Interview: Kai Lightner on Making the FA of ‘Death of Villains’ (5.15a)
We caught up with Lightner to learn more about ‘Death of Villains,’ his training, and—after an eight year interlude—what it took to surpass what he believed to be the peak version of himself.
Is Alabama One of the Best Places to Live As a Climber?
With the acquisition of the Citadel, one of the oldest climbing access projects in the southeast, another killer Bama crag is open for business.
Legend Yuji Hirayama Repeats the Dangerous ‘Daydream’ (5.14 Trad) in Japan
The 55-year-old Japanese icon recently completed a crack project he’s eyed for the last 40 years. In an interview with Climbing, he talks about why “adventure is much more important than grades."
Fifty More Classic Climbs of North America
In 1979, Steve Roper and Allen Steck released 'Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.' This modern take is for the weekend warrior.
Upper Chaos Canyon Is Open Again! Has the 2022 Landslide Left Us New Boulders?
A 2022 landslide destroyed dozens of boulder problems in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Upper Upper Chaos Canyon. After a two-year closure, Chaos is open again, giving climbers a chance to explore the numerous “house-sized” boulders deposited by the slide.
Controversial Call at USA Climbing Team Trials Sparks Debate
Was Adriene Akiko Clark "robbed" of gold, or are “rules rules”?
Weekend Whipper: Reminder! It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
“I let the feeling of being done take over, and I forgot to use my feet.”
Quick Tip: Chris Deuto Says, “Just take it Easy”
As a part of a new series, we’re interviewing pros and joes about the things they wish they knew before beginning climbing.
Huge New Route Opened on Aguja Poincenot, Patagonia
‘Pot’ (5.11 A3; 2,500ft) marks the end of a three-year project for Luka Lindič and Luka Krajnc.
Nepal Passed New Rules for Climbing Everest. Not Everyone Is Happy.
Amid proclamations and revisions, guides and operators are left scratching their heads
Why, How, and When to Extend Your Draws
Learn how to extend your draws to minimize rope drag and rope abrasion while making falls less dangerous.
America’s Scariest V16 Finally Gets a Second Ascent
First climbed by Daniel Woods in 2015, ‘The Process’ gathered rumor and cobwebs for nine years before Zach Galla finally scrubbed them away with his recent ascent.
What it’s Like to Climb 2,000 feet on Cerro Torre and Then Fly Off
Watch Swiss climber and paragliding pilot Mario Heller team up with Argentina’s Pablo Pontoriero and Switzerland’s Roger Schäli to climb up and fly off Cerro Torre.
To The Girl Who Feels Pressure To Define Herself
Allison Vest is a three-time Canadian Bouldering Champion. Here, in the form of a poem, she offers a mantra for other female climbers.
Weekend Whipper: Nearly Decking on a Polished “Classic”
Be wary of clipping above your head while close to the ground.
False Idols: The Problem With Putting First Ascensionists On A Pedestal
Establishing new routes is tons of work and takes a vision and drive (and lots of free time), but it's also a selfish pursuit, done to make the FAer happy.
My Unpopular Opinions About Training for Climbing
Everyone is different, but these training precepts seem to stick no matter who you are or what your goals are.
Please Don’t Unclip and Downclimb After Missing a Rappel Anchor
These two self-rescue methods will help you safely extricate yourself if you miss a rappel anchor
How to Watch The National Team Trials and Paraclimbing National Championships
Semi-final and final rounds will be livestreamed on Outside Watch
Weekend Whipper: Committed Climber Can’t Reverse His Course. Big Fall Ensues.
“I put myself off-route, on the far end of an unprotected traverse, and climbed up moves I could not protect nor easily reverse.”
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Dynos
The first dyno? The longest dyno? A system for grading dynos?
Climbing Can’t Be Racist… Right?
Not everyone has a smooth entry point into climbing, and not everyone starts in a friendly, supportive community. Let’s change that.
10 Easy Ways to Stretch and Strengthen Your Wrists
Don't wait until they start to ache.
Daniel Woods Just Made His Hardest First Ascent in Years
The 34-year-old American gave us the lowdown on his “savage” new boulder, ‘Adrenaline’ (V16— his first hard FA since ‘Return of the Sleepwalker’ (V17)
Why Pets Don’t Belong at the Crag—Ever
It’s easy to think that we can look after our pets’ needs at the cliff, but, in reality, we can’t.
Is Canada’s Hummingbird Ridge the Hardest “Classic” Climb?
Nearly 60 years after its first ascent—and 45 since its inclusion in “Fifty Classic Climbs of North America—the Hummingbird Ridge remains as fearsome as ever.
Weekend Whipper: Why (Sometimes) You Should Run It Out Above Sharp Roofs
The climber would have knocked his teeth into the roof had he placed a cam a bit higher.
Interview: ‘Riders on the Storm’ in Patagonia Finally Freed After 30 Years!
The 1,300-meter behemoth was freed over 18 stormy days. Over a meter of snow fell on their portaledge camp, and winds exceeded 80 miles per hour.
10 Essential Yoga Poses for Climbers
Whether you're prepping for or recovering from a climb, this practice will bring much-needed focus and release
Will Bosi Gets Second Ascent of ‘Return of the Sleepwalker’—Confirms V17
Bosi, who has now climbed three V17 boulders, considers ‘Return of the Sleepwalker’ harder than ‘Alphane’ but easier than ‘Burden of Dreams’
Adam Ondra Repeats ‘Bon Voyage’, Confirms World’s Hardest Trad Grade
Ondra has now climbed the hardest grade in every climbing discipline except bouldering (he has yet to do a V17).
The Top 8 Family-Friendly Climbing Areas in the U.S.
These destinations check all of the important boxes, offering short approaches, a high density of routes at various grades, a flat staging area, zero to minimal rockfall, and overall safe climbing terrain.
After Facing Criticism, IFSC Introduces Unprecedented Policy to Combat Eating Disorders
The policy mandates athletes to undergo questionnaires and tests before competing, with those identified as at-risk receiving further evaluation and treatment.
He Used a Human As the Belay Anchor. Really? (Yes, Really)
This anchorless belay relied on bodyweight and broke all the rules in the book, including some that weren't even in there.
Weekend Whipper: The Big, Clean Whips We Wish We Could Always Take
Although staying upright would be nice.
Meet the Young Ice Climber Putting The US Team on the Map
In 2023, Catalina Shirley took a life-threatening fall and questioned whether she’d ever lead again. This year, she returned to the site—and became the first American to podium in an Ice Climbing Lead World Cup.
Why Do Impossible Moves Feel Easy After Multiple Attempts?
Heed these 10 principles of neuroplasticity and motor learning to increase your performance. Ignore them and you can expect to languish in a never-ending plateau.
Climber Charles Barrett Found Guilty on Three Counts of Sexual Assault
The trial will be followed by a sentencing hearing, scheduled for May 21. Barrett faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
10 Reasons to Never Date a Climber
Our weirdness also makes us odd dating material, both within our community and with the non-climbing normies, baffled by our filthy, impoverished, obsessive ways
The Outside Festival is the Gathering the Outdoor Community Needs
By bringing together incredible music, inspiring speakers, riveting adventure films, sports and wellness activities, outdoor industry leaders, and a whole lot of gear, Outside has created a celebratory event with real purpose
How the Evolution of Climbing Holds Changed the Way We Move
Climbing holds were once shaped to mimic holds in nature. Now they shape our choice of movement outside.
Hangboarding Is For Everyone. Get Started Now.
Five ways to customize hangboard training to make it easier or harder.
Kai Lightner Thinks We Can Do Better
We chatted with Kai Lightner about diversity in the climbing world; misconceptions about how accessible climbing is for people of color; his nonprofit Climbing For Change; and—of course—his current climbing and training goals
Weekend Whipper: Poorly Placed Arm—Yes, Arm!—Flips Unfortunate Climber
This climber totally mismanaged his rope’s position.
Climber Falls 50 Feet After Failing to Clip in on Speed Route
Miraculously, he is expected to make a full recovery
Tickets to the Outside Festival Are on Sale Now, with Amazing Bands Headlining This Unique Gathering
The inaugural event in Denver features Fleet Foxes, Thundercat, Lettuce, Andrew Bird, Say She She, and The Heavy Heavy, with adventure films, an ideas summit, and climbing competitions also in the mix
Belay Device Unclipped Itself … And Leader Fell
It's a fantastical, unbelievable story, but the unbelievable really happened.
Magnus Midtbø Starts Online Coaching Platform With Some of the World’s Best Climbers
This first course opened today—it’s taught by Adam Ondra.
How Did This Climber Get Away with So Much for So Long?
Federal prosecutors allege that Charles Barrett—a prominent member of the Northern California climbing community who goes to trial for sexual assault next week—is a serial offender with a shocking history of violence, harassment, and intimidation. An exclusive investigation into his life and alleged actions raises troubling questions about the dangers women continue to face in the outdoors.
“That isn’t for Black People”: A Conversation on Climbing’s Diversity Problem
Picture a climber in your head. What does that person look like? The institutions that caused this gap in the first place are deeply entrenched and won’t just go away.
Brette Harrington’s Love Affair with the Chinese Puzzle Wall
Brette Harrington and Marc-André Leclerc were the first to climb the stunning granite wall. After Leclerc died, Harrington kept going back.
Patagonia’s Cragsmith 45L is the Ultimate Sport Climbing Pack
A longtime favorite in the Patagonia line, the Cragsmith (which comes in 32L and 45L) has gotten some updates.
How a Climber With Parkinson’s Launched a Movement
A retired physician's efforts to mitigate his Parkinson’s symptoms catalyzed a program that would turn a climbing gym into a research facility.
Weekend Whipper: Crumbly Rock + Slab = Bad Time
“I guess the lesson learned is: Can never be too careful on runout slab.”
Lynn Hill’s Tips For Dyno Success
Think you're too short to make the move, then heed the advice from a world-class climber who stands just over five feet tall.
The El Cap-Sized First Ascent in Remote Greenland
Six climbers spent 65 days in Greenland, first kayaking hundreds of kilometers then climbing 'Sea Barge Circus' (VI 5.11+; 900m) over 20 days.
The NPS Wants to Effectively Ban Wilderness Climbing. Here’s What That Means.
If the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service proposals pass, fixed anchors in wilderness will be considered illegal unless granted special permission.
How Climbing’s Culture of Blind Trust Led to Sexual Abuse
If there had been established norms of boundaries, reporting, and education during my childhood, Alex Fritz wouldn't have had the opportunity or access to exploit me.
Understanding SafeSport Policies and Why Climbers Need to Take Them Seriously
This overview aims to shed light on SafeSport’s policies and processes, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adhering to them to create a safe environment for young climbers.
American Climbs the World’s Hardest Dry Tooling Route
Kevin Lindlau has made the first repeat of a D16 route in Italy, solidifying the lofty grade.
6 Stunning Moderate Climbs for Your First Trip to the Alps
Ready to climb in the Alps, but don't know where to start? Don't miss these six multi-pitch routes—all between 5.8 and 5.11.
USA Climbing Plans to Build a National Training Center. Gym Owners Are Pissed.
“There’s a pretty strong consensus from gym owners that the business side of this just doesn’t make any sense, and USA Climbing is going to bankrupt [themselves].”
Access Fund Announces Heather Thorne as New Executive Director
Thorne is a climber of 30 years and has decades of experience as a strategic and collaborative leader.
You Know You’re a Climber When…
Because climbing isn’t a sport—it's a lifestyle