Opinion

An op-ed from a climber aspiring to master the heel hook as he lose power with age

Op-ed: Think you can’t bear the extra weight of carrying a helmet up your project? Consider this: I am without a doubt more anal about weight than you.

Slash grades can be useful—they broaden the range of what a route might be, which means you can approach the climb with a broader range of expectations. I get, however, that not everyone feels this way

Because style matters.

Dry tooling is increasingly popular. Here’s why Will Gadd thinks this unique form of climbing may be the next big thing. 

If a hold is bigger than your hands, it’s a waste of materials and wall space. Also: I miss taped boulder problems.

Being alive is mortally dangerous. As climbers we regularly put ourselves at risk. Rocks fall, but miss. We run it out, but make it to the anchor. The avalanche sweeps camp right after we pack up. And hazards are not always occasioned by putting ourselves in harm’s way.

Opinion: Climbers through the ages have found value intentionally courting risk. There's a reason for that. 

To spray or not to spray... News of Shawn Raboutou's immediately classic V16 on the Dreamtime boulder has dropped months after the send.

Check out Mary Mathis's author page.