October 2010 - 289
FEATURES
GALLERYAlps inspiration, Phantom knobs, J-Tree jamming, Conchise plates, Squamish thrills
STONEY POINT The beauty of these tattooed L.A. boulders may be only in the minds of the beholders, but here's a fact: they've shaped and strengthened American climbing—and climbers—since the 1930s. By Cole Gibson
THE PROJECTTommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson are beginning year four of their attempt to free-climb El Capitan's tallest, smoothest sector: the Dawn Wall. Here's an inside look at the tactics, training, and mental preparation for the world's hardest rock climb—plus jaw-dropping photos. By Dougald MacDonald
THE COLOSSUSAfter 20 years of climbing desert towers, what could possibly offer a new challenge? How about an elegant, unclimbed, 450-foot tower... made of dirt? By Steve "Crusher" Bartlett
DEPARTMENTS
ContributorsMatt Skenazy, Cole Gibson, Crusher Bartlett
EditorialAn inspiring meeting prompts an ambitious agenda
Letters
Just OutAn innovative new line of cams, an ultralight harness, a healing balm, and a hot new parka
Hot FlashesThe first V13 by a woman, and the first free ascent of a legendary (and crumbling) Norwegian wall
Off the WallClimbing in Kurdistan; plus, a new hut for Alaskan climbers
Ten Things...Colorado's most famous slab: the Third Flatiron
PlayersMatt Maddaloni: inventor of the Anticam
Tech TipsRopework I: A clever coil and other anti-snarl tipsRopework II: Safer rappels; the rodeo clip
ReviewsClimbing philosophy, Crusher's Desert Towers, and French spiderman Alain Robert's autobiography
Classic ClimbsHalf Dome's legendary Snake Dike might just be the best 5.7 in the world
MileageRevealed: the beautiful (and uncrowded) granite bouldering on the Greek island of Tinos
AnchoredMicah Gentry cleans up the Dirty South
PerspectiveThe master speaks: Royal Robbins