Owen Clarke

Cassy Doolittle, 25, was caught in a storm on Christmas Day, returning to camp after a solo of Aguja Guillaumet.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Everyone knows about MoonBoards and Gripmasters… Here are a few under-the-radar, low-cost training products that the pros and I have used for years to get jacked. (Warning: humor column)

A new route on Minaret Peak led to an even great find with an ascent of Alam-Kuh (15,906 feet) in a country that for now is too dangerous to visit.

Climbing exists in a weird middle zone between solo and team sport. Sometimes climbing alone is the best way to go.

Twin brothers Damian and Willie Benegas, world-class Argentine alpine guides and mountaineering phenoms, sent this spectacular ice line on the North Face of Nuptse in 2003.

In his “Forgotten First Ascents” series for Rock and Ice, Owen Clarke dug up cool climbs from the past and talked to the climbers who made them happen. This one: Malaria, Rhumsiki Tower, Cameroon, 2007.

Rising over 19,000 feet, Africa’s tallest peak isn’t much of a “climb,” but makes for an excellent first trek at altitude.

An easy day's outing turned nearly deadly when the author set aside his own experience and instead trusted an inexperienced "guide"

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

Aconcagua is perhaps the easiest climb of its elevation, but kills climbers each year—and shouldn’t be underestimated.

From Red Rock to Acadia, Asheville to Maui, these climbing destination are unforgettable stocking stuffers.

Dressing up as a climber doesn’t have to be as bland as throwing on a harness and coiling a rope over your shoulder.

The American alpinist shares what it took to climb the 5,000-foot route on Cerro Chaltén.

The 8,000er has recently become mired in controversy, with photographic analysis revealing that few climbers claiming ascents have reached the actual summit.

Each January we post a farewell tribute to those members of our community lost in the year just past. Some of the people you may have heard of, some not. All are part of our community and contributed to climbing.

The mountain offers a blend of ferocious weather, altitude, and remote location, enough to challenge any climber.

The duo battled storms, rockfall, altitude sickness, and freezing temperatures to make the third free ascent of the 2,100-foot 5.13a, all in a continuous, no-falls push.

Three incidents in three days kept Aspen Mountain Rescue busy on Colorado's most difficult big peak.

Brian Kennedy and Jack Beard died in a fall, following a likely first ascent of a remote spire.

The world’s second highest peak remains much more difficult and dangerous than Everest, but it’s rapidly commercializing.

The volcanic peaks Carihuairazo, Cayambe, and Illiniza Sur each saw serious accidents on August 13.

New Zealand student Anna Parsons has broken nearly every bone in her body following a trad fall on Snake Dike (5.7 R).

Zofia Reych’s work spans the full gamut of climbing’s history and manifold disciplines, blended with engrossing anecdotes from their own climbing story.

The world’s highest mountain is a sought-after prize, though rampant commercialization has significantly changed the climbing experience.

Catalan climber Edu Marín made the second free ascent of the legendary Nameless Tower route Eternal Flame (VI 7c+/5.13a 2,100 feet) on July 20, supported by his brother and 70-year-old father.

The American is a pioneering mixed and alpine climber, and one of the best female free soloists of all time.

The Canadian climber was largely unknown for much of his short life, but was among the most bold, talented, and prolific solo alpinists of his generation.

Wes Schweitzer, a seven-year NFL offensive guard, began rock climbing five years into his professional career. He believes it’s had a remarkable effect.

Debris injures eight other climbers.

High in a remote alpine valley in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, the most pristine limestone in the Americas is at risk of being swallowed by a colossal open-pit mine.

The pioneering American sport climber is among the best to ever tie in, and was arguably the world’s strongest rock climber for almost 20 years.

The 3,500-foot 5.10d, Guaranteed Rugged, was a multi-year undertaking for Brent Nixon, Lisa Newhook, Sean Draper, and Kate Naus.

Quality rubber is the most important part of your crag bag

Unlock your project with this cragging gear

Jackson Marvell, Alan Rousseau, and Matt Cornell completed Denali’s 9,000-foot Slovak Direct in under 22 hours.

The staunch Yosemite hardman pioneered modern free climbing ethics, and accomplished first ascents of some of America’s most iconic climbs.

The American mountaineer is among the most famous all-around climbers in the world and a prominent activist.

Jackson Smith, a 33-year-old climber, has clipped the chains on his 5.11d project that he’s been telling everyone at the gym about for the past three months.

The 67-year-old died after a fall on Independence Monument's Otto’s Route (5.8+)

A few tips and tricks for your first day at the crag, from someone who learned all these lessons the hard way.

The actress, dancer, photographer, and Nazi filmmaker was a close friend of Hitler, and one of the progenitors of the mountain film industry.

The second iteration of this climbing game is decidedly more enjoyable than the first, though the formula remains largely the same.

The American climber pushed the boundaries of free soloing and speed soloing, and was a preeminent highliner and BASE jumper.

The New Zealand mountaineer achieved international fame after his summit of the world’s highest peak in 1953. He also visited the North and South Pole, among other ventures.

The Slovenian is climbing’s first female Olympic medalist, the first woman to onsight 5.14b, and perhaps our sport’s strongest overall competitor

29-year-old Dalton Snow was hospitalized after a trad fall while climbing on April 12, near Kings Bottom, Moab.

The 21-year-old was climbing V10 by the age of nine and was the USA’s first qualified Olympic climber.

Brent Barghahn and Amity Warme free climbed Freerider (VI 5.13a) in a day without any support or rehearsal.

By the time of his and Sir Edmund Hillary's successful Everest climb, Norgay had been to the mountain six times and was a prolific high-altitude climber, earning numerous prestigious awards.

Non-fungible Tokens give freelance photographers, videographers, writers, and other self-employed climbers a new market and method for sales.

Move over Speed. “Campusing” is the newest climbing category to feature in the upcoming Olympic Games.

Ever wanted to climb an 8,000er while watching Netflix and sipping hot cocoa? The AlpineComfortMAX is bridging the gap between luxury and alpine adventure.

The autonomous iSAVE-U drone is capable of long-lining climbers off walls up to 50 miles away.

Alison Hargreaves and her son Tom Ballard were two of the finest alpinists of their eras. “The Last Mountain” skillfully exposes the void formed in their wakes, though it diminishes Ballard’s climbing partner in the process.

Krakauer’s nonfiction works, such as Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, are among the world’s most widely-read pieces of outdoor literature.

He established 5.9 in the early 1900s at a time when that was likely the highest grade worldwide, and went on to pioneer what would become the Northeast Ridge route on Everest.

The nine-fingered Dawn Wall climber was one of climbing’s first celebrities and a pioneer of big wall Yosemite free ascents.

The Czech wunderkind is both a top-end sport climber and boulderer, and the only person in history to have sent a proposed 5.15d climb.

The 32-year-old American has over 30 V15 sends and several V16 first ascents.

Until Gill came along bouldering was regarded as a leisure activity. He brought it front and center, legitimizing what is today perhaps climbing's most popular discipline.

The fearless American free soloist brought climbing into the limelight, and upped the risk ante so high it may never be surpassed.

One of climbing's long-time pioneers, gear inventor and out-of-the-box thinker paved the way for modern competition, mixed and ice climbing.

The 200-page compendium highlights lesser-known crags in 50 countries around the world.

He made the first attempts on K2 and Kanchenjunga, and was a visionary rock climber putting up difficult routes in the late 1800s, but his climbing later took a backseat to his unsavory reputation as an occultist and sex fiend.

Check out Owen Clarke's author page.

Following his self-amputation and recovery, Ralston became a motivational speaker and continued climbing. Among other accomplishments, in 2005 Ralston became the first person to summit all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks alone and in winter.  

A lone climber took a fatal fall after finishing a rope solo in Colorado’s Clear Creek on Wednesday, January 19.

Check out Owen Clarke's author page.