The 10 Most-Read Climbing Articles of 2018
#10. The Hidden Environmental Cost of Climbing Chalk
Andrew Burr
"The biggest problem with [magnesite) mines is the dust, and that dust has a huge impact on the environment and local people."
#9. Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell Set Sub-2-Hour Nose Speed Record
Photo: russellstreet/Flickr; CC BY-SA 2.0
"For their third time breaking the Nose speed record (in a row), Honnold and Caldwell have achieved their goal of taking it under 2 hours."
#8. Opinion: The Free Solo Documentary Addressed Some Uncomfortable Truths, But Ignored Others
Courtesy National Geographic
"For most of the documentary, the filmmakers do an admirable job of scrutinizing Honnold's plan, which is why it's so jarring when they stop."
#7. Unsent: The Ultimate Belay Test
"See that card zip-tied to that man’s harness so he can’t remove it, ever? That mean’s he’s belay certified. You’re not. If you climb, you’ll die."
#6. In Defense of the “Soft”: A Response to Cedar Wright
Andrew Burr
In a piece for Outside Online, Cedar Wright lamented what our sport is losing as it grows. Mason Voehl argues that he's missing what it's gained.
#5. Your First 7 Climbing Partners
Bailey Batchelor
From the Insta-Sender to the Guide, you'll climb with at least a few of these seven climbing archetypes in your early days of getting outside.
#4. Obituary: Jim “The Bird” Bridwell (1944-2018)
Jay Fiske / Eric Kohl Collection
Bridwell was one of the great innovators of the modern climbing era, bringing a tech-savvy meticulousness coupled with a go-for-it attitude to his countless first ascents.
#3. Jonathan Siegrist: Climb to Train—How to Improve by Simply Climbing
Andrew Burr
"Climbers often ask me, 'What’s the secret!?' They expect that some savage hangboarding routine is the key. But my suggestions tend to be simple."
#2. Unsent: Why I’m Gonna Chop the Bolts on Adam Ondra’s Silence
Shutterstock
Overbolted. Contrived. Climbed in poor style. Should have gone on gear. The crustiest trad dad explains why Adam Ondra's landmark 5.15d should be erased.
#1. Two Expert Climbers Killed in Fall From El Cap’s Freeblast
Greg Murphy
Our most-read story of the year was a sad one. When Jason Wells and Tim Klein, two extremely experienced El Cap climbers, were killed in an accident on Freeblast, it left the community wondering, what happened?
