IMPULSE – Amateur Rock Climber Kit Wilson’s progression
Kit Wilson started rock climbing a year ago, and has jumped into trad climbing headfirst by taking on Impulse, a grade 24 (5.11d) trad route at Frog Buttress (Mount French) in Queensland, Australia. This is an area that Kit Wilson reported as having an "old school...
Gear Guide: What the Heck are Twin and Half Ropes?
If you’re at all like me, at some point you’ll go down the dark rabbit hole of watching rock climbing videos ad nauseam on YouTube. During this voyage, you’ll cross a high degree of alpine, ice, and British rock climbing videos. Looking closely, you may notice that in...
6 Tips to Improve Your Slab Rock Climbing Skills with Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson gives some tips on rock climbing skills Strength, Skill, and Mental capabilities sum together to determine your rock climbing ability. Few climbers properly train their strength--even fewer properly train their climbing skills. Here, Paul Robinson walks...
Gear Review: What You Need to Know about Belay Gloves
I used to think belay gloves were a frivolous accessory, worn only by people with too much money and free time for shopping. My opinion changed after demoing a pair at a climbing festival. I was surprised to discover the benefits of using gloves while belaying, and I...
How to Open a Climbing Gym Part 2: Obe Carrion and METHOD Climbing
In Part 1 of our series, we discussed the dream of opening a climbing gym; how to know if opening a gym, working at a gym, and managing a gym business is right for you. We also talked about the process of creating a business plan and financing. Pretty heavy stuff for...
Road to Tokyo #43: Breaking Point / Olympic Combined Qualifier
Adam Ondra audaciously (and presumptuously) named his latest YouTube series Road to Tokyo. In this episode we finally see Adam compete in the final qualifiers to see whether he will actually make it to Tokyo. The first [speed] comp try, I made a big mistake. I did 9.3...
How to Open a Climbing Gym: Part 1
In this series, Moja Gear is examining the process of opening a climbing gym business. Who among us hasn't thought about what it would be like to be a gym owner? In Part 1, we will be discussing the business fundamentals and how to decide whether owning a climbing gym...
Fringe to Mainstream: The Explosive Growth and Ethics of Climbing
Climbing was once the sport of outlaws, social rebels, and no-good bums who sponged off the dregs of hard-working, contributing members of society. That’s what we all loved about it. It was a counter-culture, frowned on by park rangers and picnicking families, and...
Climbing Gifts You Want Most: Survey Results
Moja Gear asked which rock climbing gifts you hope will come down the chimney this year, and you, our readers, have spoken! Here are the results from our 2019 Rock Climber’s Holiday Gift survey.Trad gear is this year’s most wanted gift! Read our guide on HOW TO BUILD...
Odyssee: Jacopo Larcher and Barbara Zangerl on Eiger
In August 2018, La Sportiva ambassadors Barbara Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher made a four-day ascent of Odyssee (8a+/5.13c), a 33-pitch, 1400 meter long route on the legendary Eiger north face, Switzerland. Check out our November 2019 interview with Barbara (Babsi)...
What’s in Your Pack? Big Walls and Projecting with Babsi Zangerl
Image: Barbara Zangerl on Pre-Muir (5.13d) on El Cap. Photo by Jacopo Larcher Named "Adventurer of the Year" by National Geographic, Barbara Zangerl is one of the most accomplished and inspiring European female rock climbers. Affectionately known as Babsi, Zangerl has...
Van Life Surprises: What You Should Know Before Taking the Plunge
Cutting loose from the tethers of modern life and setting off in a van isn't just an American phenomenon ... a sister community of secret dirtbags is exploring Europe, as well. Here, vanlifer Diana Veleva from Bulgaria, shares how taking the plunge into vanlife comes...
Remembering Brad Gobright
Image: Brad Gobright in Indian Creek, Utah. Photo from video by Samuel Crossley via Rock and Ice We are shocked and saddened to hear of Brad Gobright's passing while rappelling in Mexico. Rock and Ice is the leading source of breaking news as more information about...
Rotpunkt: Alex Megos
Watch the Patagonia film that's sweeping the climbing world this month. Alex Megos takes on his hardest project yet, a first rotpunkt (redpoint) ascent of Perfecto Mundo 5.15c. On the one hand he's a machine. On the other hand, just human. At 50 minutes, this is a bit...
Emily Harrington Takes 40 Foot Fall Down the Face of El Cap
On Sunday, November 24th, professional climber Emily Harrington was rescued after pinballing 40 feet down El Cap. Emily fell during her attempt to free climb the Golden Gate (5.13b) route on El Capitan in one day. She was released from the hospital for the holiday,...
Rock Climbing Training: 4 Steps to Overcome Your Fear of Falling
Photo: Author, Paul Roberts, on Highway Robbery 5.13a, Mt Charleston Nevada The first article in our Fear Review series, "Can You Trust Your Fear of Falling?" discussed how to identify your fears and distinguish whether they are rational or irrational. This...
I’ve Gone Up 8 Grades While Traveling The World – Here’s How (Chapter 3)
Image: Deep Water Solo at Halong Bay, Vietnam Check out Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of this three-part series by Jacob Bushmaker founder of TheWanderingClimber.com In 2016, I left my home in Seattle and my respectable career as an engineer to pursue different goals far...
Alex Honnold Climbs the Nose of El Cap at Night
In this week's Friday Flick Pick, OutsideTV and Reel Rock give us a quick glimpse of Alex Honnold in 2016 as he night climbs on El Cap (where else would he climb?). Our favorite Honnold quotes: Doing it at night is even more hardcore. As I was climbing the great...
Multi-Pitch Climbing? Ditch the PAS
Oh, the personal anchor system (PAS)! A piece of equipment that is viewed as essential, practical, and on the list of what every beginner should buy. It is a piece of climbing gear that is seen as being useful in almost every situation. Anchors can be cleaned with it,...
How To Belay In Guide Mode
The following content was originally at VDiff Climbing, which provides simple illustrations for safe climbing techniques. Use this guide as a basic introduction to belaying in guide mode. Remember, learning about rock climbing online serves as a tool, but in no way...
I’ve Gone Up 8 Grades While Traveling The World – Here’s How (Chapter 2)
Image: The author warming up on the Tyrolean Wall, in Tonsai, Thailand Check out Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 of this three-part series by Jacob Bushmaker, founder of TheWanderingClimber.com. In 2016, I left my home in Seattle and my respectable career as an engineer to...