Climbing Explained to Non-Climbers
The following content was originally published on VDiff Climbing, which provides simple illustrations for safe climbing techniques. VDiff owners and founders, Neil & Maria, have climbed over 25 big walls, including solo and first ascents, enough alpine summits to...
Daila Ojeda’s First Multi-Pitch Experience
Despite having traveled and lived in the sport climbing meccas of Spain and France, talented climber Daila Ojeda had never—until recently—climbed a route over two pitches long. This changed when she returned to the beautiful walls of Spain's Montserrat to tackle La...
Notes from a First-Time Ice Climber
My crampons do not fit, and they have somehow turned into 4-inch platform clogs of packed snow. Their points are dull. My boots are too small. My toenails are bruised. My harness carries only a single ice clipper, and my gloves are hopelessly wet. My partner turns to...
Without a Partner: On Pete Whittaker Climbing El Capitan Alone
On November 11-12, 2016, Pete Whittaker became the first person to rope solo and free climb every pitch of a route on El Capitan in a day. Pete chose Freerider (5.13a) ... finishing the entire route in just 20 hours and six minutes. For those who aren't exactly sure...
Book Review: Chris Noble’s Why We Climb
From competition climbers to the most dedicated dirtbags on the planet—one way or another—we all come to realize that rock climbing is far more than a sport. Aside from its obvious physical virtues felt from a simple visit to the climbing gym, climbing provides far...
A Recap of the 2017 Flash Foxy Women’s Climbing Festival
Meandering down the sandy trail of the Happy Boulders this past Sunday, I stopped to take in one last sweeping vista before hopping into my car to leave Bishop—a goodbye I always dread. Snow and rain were falling from every angle of the sky, while the relentless wind...
Strategies for Safer Rappelling
A quick read through Accidents in North American Climbing reveals that many climbing accidents occur not while going up, but while going down. Why is this? Why do most accidents occur not during moments of physical exertion, but in the exact opposite? Part of the...
Community Poll: A Push for Safety and the Metric System
Editor's note: Please add your input in the 1-question poll at the bottom of this post. Results can be viewed upon submission. I recently bought a new climbing rope. A beautiful 9.5mm, 70-meter that I plan on taking up some of the multi-pitch climbs here in Red Rock,...
MAD in Madagascar—Climbing with Sean Villanueva & Siebe Vanhee
This week's Friday Flick Pick follows Sean Villanueva and Siebe Vanhee's 2015 expedition on the Tsaranoro massif in Madagascar, where they embark on a ground-up ascent on an unclimbed vertical ocean of granite. And in typical Sean Villanueva fashion, this trip is...
Climbing News: A Roundup of What’s Happening Out There
Story 1: Margo Hayes sends 5.15a In case you missed the viral frenzy of social media sharing a few days ago, you may not have heard: Margo Hayes, 19, became the first woman ever to climb 5.15a (9a+) with her ascent of La Rambla in Siurana, Spain. Hayes climbed her...
A Tale of 10,000 Crags: Guide for How (and Where) to Rock Climb in Spain
I was lucky enough to live in Spain for five years. I learned a lot about Spanish rock, and I’d like to share some of my insights with you. But first, my backstory: my climbing developed in parallel with a teaching career in big cities, so I was always a weekend...
What’s In Your Pack: An Interview with Ben Rueck and Delaney Miller
Delaney Miller and Ben Rueck couldn't be more different in their styles and experiences with rock climbing—yet both are incredibly accomplished climbers in their own right. Delaney is an exceptionally graceful climber recognized for her success in the competition...
Gear Giveaway: Sterling Evolution Velocity 9.8mm x 70m Rope
New to Moja Gear by user request, we're beginning monthly giveaways of our favorite gear. Each giveaway will run for two weeks, and the winner will be notified and posted to this page. This giveaway runs through Tuesday, March 14th, 2017. Editor’s note: this giveaway...
A Profile on Seb Bouin: The Silent Crusher
Meet Seb Bouin—a 5.15 climber you probably haven't even heard of. When Seb's not busy teaching in Paris, he gets on the road with his trailer, Fleurette, and heads to the crag to take on some of the world's hardest climbs. And who's his greatest climbing partner? His...
The Delicate Dance of Multi-Pitch Passing
Multi-pitch passing can put you in a tricky situation. Being passed or trying to pass another party while climbing multi-pitch routes can be a stressful scenario, and more than once has been a point of contention between climbers. Use these best practices and tips to...
Two Effective Fingerboard Training Protocols from Eric Hörst
You see hangboards in just about every gym and in any dedicated climber's home, but why do we care so much about finger strength as climbers? Here's what training guru Eric Hörst has to say on the matter—along with his recommendations for two training protocols....
“I Will Climb, Too” — A Story on Mentorship and Responsible Climbing
In January 2016, my husband, Josh, and I are in Gêtu Valley, China, on a rock-climbing trip. We were told that in January, it would be too rainy to climb in Gêtu, but for the last week, we’ve been outside in short-sleeve shirts. We walk along a sparsely trafficked...
The Brothers of Climbing: Breaking Down Barriers for Minorities in the Outdoors
Black people don't climb. That's what a Google search told Mikhail Martin, co-founder of Brothers of Climbing (BOC). From that point on, Mikhail made it his mission to challenge that misconception. By promoting a more welcoming environment for people of color to...
Climbing News: A Roundup of What’s Happening Out There
Story 1: Big brands divided over Outdoor Retailer tradeshow In response to the state of Utah's initiative to rescind the designation of Bears Ears National Monument, a number of high-profile brands within the outdoor industry have decided to boycott the summer Outdoor...
2017 Bouldering Open National Championship Highlights
See highlights from the 2017 Bouldering Open National Championship, showcasing the most explosive dynos, unfathomable sloper moves, and other beastly displays of bouldering prowess. Top men's finishers Nathaniel Coleman Kai Lightner...
Adventure Lust Leads to Beta Bust: A Story of Risk and Reward
It had rained the last three weekends, a rarity in central Arizona. I was sick of the same old plastic and was determined to get outside. The nine-to-five lifestyle had begun to eat away at my recently graduated soul, and there was only a slight chance of rain anyway....
