Climbing Staff

Patagonia’s new film, ‘Ascend’, follows three women who escaped from the Taliban and rediscovered climbing and community in Yosemite

A Goldilocks catch: soft, airy, and just right.

How did he get away with that?

An incomplete (but very long) list of the best films streaming online right now, organized by streaming service. Updated March 22, 2023.

We’ve endeavored to recognize the climbers who lost their lives in the war effort

“He was completely fine, in a shock to us all.”

Lesson learned: “Clip the rope as soon as possible and don't do a figure four with the rope between the legs.”

Here are the coolest new lines (and repeats) of late.

We haven’t heard this one before.

Here are the coolest new routes (and repeats) of late.

The video picks up as Pearson half-crimps some miserable sandstone divots, trying to punch it to the arête.

No hate on the belayer here—just a cautionary tale.

“Neither of us anticipated that I would fall to the height her head was … and absolutely boot her into the edge of a flake.”

Just because the rock is bomber doesn’t mean the fixed gear is. 

One very real concern, the filmer said, was the climber’s rope cutting over the sharp ironstone edge.

Second Choice (5.11) is a striking splitter with its steepest moves near the top.

“Woo was pretty pumped and fixated on the final hard sequence. He forgot to clip the bolt, did the moves, and then slipped off.”

Many sport pitches can be fallen from with abandon. Not this one.

The climber, miraculously, walks away without a scratch.

Even if caves and steep routes aren't your thing, one can never have enough core strength.

“The movement was fun—until it wasn't anymore.”

Most whippees are on their way up before they hurtle down. But that’s not always the case.

The “Dodo’s Delight” crew is back for more sail-to-climb adventures, this time on the east coast of Greenland.

A proper warmup will help you make the most of your climbing session and prevent long- and short-term injuries. Here's how to get started.

“I realized there was no foothold to move across to the bolt and I took a 30-foot whip, face down, one-foot from the ground.”

From the archive: an incomplete list of classic routes climbed by our sport's wealthiest (at least until he gave his fortune away) and second most famous (though actually he may rival the Honnold in overall name recognition) dirtbag.

“Needless to say I lowered off to check if any icing was taken off the cake.”

"What Beth did in 2008... was way ahead of the times"

Return of the Jedi is found in an abandoned gritstone quarry in the Peak District and is an unmistakable line: a sharpened prow that is intimidatingly tall and “that requires quite a few pads to make safe.”

Sport climbing trip coming up? Dreams of long trad routes? Here are 9 tips to help you achieve your rope-stretching, enduro-climbing goals.

The filmer breaks down exactly what happened—and what went wrong.

'Love as a Weapon' is a stiff new route in Squamish, BC.

Those “easy sends” can still leave a mark. 

“I personally felt that ‘Honey Badger’ (V16) was more of a challenge for me.”

Some say the most dangerous section of a sport climb is between the second and third bolts.

Surprise, surprise, France has yet another barely-touched limestone mecca.

In not wearing her hijab, Elnaz Rekabi has become a symbol for the anti-regime movement. We hope she is safe and that her wellbeing is unthreatened, but we fear the worst. 

That could have been a lot worse.

New goodies are coming to the market soon!

"The [route] description ironically says something like 'Don't blow the mantle at the top...' "

This one's got to hurt.

About as clean as any gear-ripper can be, anyway.

"It took me a few attempts of climbing higher and higher above the last two pieces to eventually feel confident to commit to the final runout."

Did anyone else feel their ankle snap just watching that? No? Just us? No matter—the climber, Maissa, is A-OK.

This belayer had the best of intentions. At least the only victim was himself—and his lawn chair.

"Other than almost decking this is a phenomenal route."

Steep, sandy jugs—what could be better?

A small cam provided a secure catch for five sessions. The #0.2 was bomber, until it wasn't.

The Scottish climber has just opened what may be one of three V16s in the UK.

Who said sport climbers can't take gear rippers?

Climbing is a jargon-filled sport. And sometimes the jargon isn't even a complete word—it's an abbreviation.

The Gorge is a "wild land of superb and serious climbing where every climb is unique, and demands technical skill, unadulterated burliness, and usually a key piece of gear that keeps it G rated."

What bouldering is, how to do it, why, and what the future of bouldering looks like.

We hate to lay blame. But it couldn't have hurt...

This is a contender for "best whip of the year."

The climber walked away unscathed, much to our surprise.

Indeed, all is well until it’s not.

Climbing is a skill sport and resting is a skill. Better learn it.

Will Bosi, 23, completed a long-standing 5.15a project at Dumbarton.

In the first installment of his “Hidden Gems” series, the French rock star does hard first ascents at Thaurac. Never heard of it? It's home to something like 1,000 limestone sport routes.

Eight tips for climbing safely in loose terrain.

Hand-placed beaks, anyone?

Core exercises⁠—you love to hate them! But your climbing will thank you.

⁠The end of a climbing trip can be a glorious, chain-slapping time—but there's another side to this romanticism.

The second Paraclimbing World Cup of the year took place in Innsbruck, Austria June 21 and 22.

Pulling the lip is widely considered to be the crux, but it's only until you've nailed the sneaky right-to-left crack switch that you are in the clear.

On top of the sustained and low-percentage 5.14 climbing, the crux comes at the very top⁠—the final four moves⁠—while facing a gut-wrenching fall.

Father's Day is just around the corner. It's not too late to order your dad something awesome.

This isn't a guide to 2022's newest approach shoes—it's the pairs we return to time and again.

All the things you absolutely should not say in response to the question “What is that thing on your back?”

A failed clip, an inverted whip, nearly decks ... what the heck?

This is pure climbing footage; there is no story, no interview, and no posing. And it's beautiful.

All the things all your non-climbing friends and family have ever said to you. Enjoy!

EBGB'S (5.10d) is no death route, but it's not a clip-up, either.

This fall logs about as many air miles as one could hope for while still walking away intact.

Beginning Tuesday, May 24, the first Paraclimbing World Cup of the year took place in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Two routes, two climbers, and a shared finish. What could go wrong?

“Road-Trip-Itus” is a well-known condition caused by spending too much time in close proximity to the same person. Here's how to prevent it.

"The South is full of these quiet figures in the climbing community—people who have put up some hard, scary, beautiful, hard-to-find routes and problems. I think there is something special about recognizing these folks."

"A hodgepodge of slightly newer hardware dots the cliff, a marker of all the old bolts that have ripped and needed replacement over the years.”