A showcase of photos revealing a woman’s perspective, voice, or position in the climbing world.
Caterina Maiullari meets slopers of la mMrte Dei Viaggiatori (7B/V8), Pietra del Toro, Basilicata, Italy. Maiullari, 27, began climbing five years ago, and is the first Southern Italian woman to climb 8A/V11. “Climbing to me is a need, beyond just a passion,” says Maiullari. “It helps me to channel and filter out emotions. It may sound surreal, but climbing is the only thing that helps me to meditate and live happily." Photo by Francesco Guerra.
Published April 8, 2021 03:27PM
Moving Mountains, a gallery supported by Mammut, showcases the world of climbing from a woman’s perspective, voice or position in the climbing community. We received 172 amazing photos, so many that we’ve expanded the program, which was to be in print only, to include a series of online galleries—this is the first installment. Photographers please stay tuned for information on how to continue to submit your images for summer 2020.
Lillian Situ grapples with Razors Edge (V6), Zahnd Natural Area, Georgia. “At five feet tall, I used to view my height as a setback; a personal adversity to defeat,” says Situ. “But now, I understand it is a tool that forces me to be more thoughtful about how I approach a climb. In many ways, it’s not unlike being a female minority. Some view it as a hindrance to overcome, but I see it as an extra challenge that ultimately makes the whole experience so much more worthwhile.” Photo by Shuan LimCaterina Maiullari meets slopers of la M0rte Dei Viaggiatori (7B/V8), Pietra del Toro, Basilicata, Italy. Maiullari, 27, began climbing five years ago, and is the first Southern Italian woman to climb 8A/V11. “Climbing to me is a need, beyond just a passion,” says Maiullari. “It helps me to channel and filter out emotions. It may sound surreal, but climbing is the only thing that helps me to meditate and live happily.” Photo by Francesco Guerra
Encopresis (M8 WI 6 35m) is a brand-new by Jason Nelson and Charles Faust in Ouray, Colorado, at the Charmin Tube. Beth Goralski takes a seat during an early repeat. Encopresis, she says, “was terrifying, super technical, kinda chossy, at times run out and a totally AWESOME climb. The biggest challenge in climbing for me is managing my fear and my ego. In many ways, both fear and ego keep me frozen in place, unable to move. Letting go of expectations, embracing the process, taking it one move at a time while keeping it fun allows me to keep showing up and tying in. Photo: Jason NelsonJenni Brunn tops out Poker Chips (V1), Kraft Boulders, Red Rock, Nevada. Photo by Brooke RasinaSusanne Vuori on the king line Aegialis (7c/5.12d)at Kalymnos, Greece, this winter. “Vuori is an adorable spirit full of positivity and thriving energy. She is a founding partner of a research company a passionate climber and a real badass,” says photographer Klara Steinwender. “Aegialis is one of my favorite climbs at this magical place, and was bolted by the one and only Giorgos Kopali.” Steinwender notes that as a female climbing photographer she is “often not taken as seriously when it comes to working. I`ve heard things like ‘ahh but you know you need to know how to work with ropes to take nice photos. blablabla.’ As if a woman wouldn’t know about stuff like ropes. Or when they had comps in the gym I used to work and the gyms prefer the guys to shoot. It is not an easy market but I love it and I really enjoy capturing individuals and being so close to their personal challenge.” Photo by Klara SteinwenderSolveig Korherr flashes Kaleidoscope (5.13c), Drive-By Crag, Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Korherr is a professional climber from Germany who visited the Red River Gorge twice in 2019 and amassed a very impressive tick list, including Lucifer (5.14c) and Southern Smoke (5.14c). She has been traveling all over since then, climbing in some of the most beautiful venues across the globe. Photoby Billy SimekMelissa Kochanowsky seals the Twist of Fate (5.11d), Mileski Wall, El Potrero Chico, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Originally from Florida, Kochanowsky has split her recent years between the Red River Gorge and El Potrero climbing rocks, living in a van, and freelance writing. She and her partner, Frank, took a big step away from climbing this year to pursue a very long approach to no crag at all—a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. The Mileski Wall is named as a tribute to Jack Mileski, who coined the climbing term “beta” back in the 1980s when he and friends were Gunks locals. To unlock moves they’d shoot video on a Betamax recorder at the crag, then watch it later for the “beta.” Photo by Billy SimekJenni Brunn, pulls Southeast Face, (V4-5) Kraft Boulders, Red Rock, Nevada. Brunn is a NICU travel nurse currently living in San Diego. She began climbing back in college, and it has been a great way for her to connect with people in the community as she changes cities for work. Photo by Brooke RasinaIsabelle Kraus dispatches Waikiki (5.11-) Indian Creek, Utah. Kraus, a medical speech-language pathologist, aspiring consignment gear nerd, outdoor lover, and dog mom says that her “identity as a climber has been challenging. Yet the rewards are worth the struggle, as climbing manages to brings me into the living present unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced.” Photo by Zach Joing
