Derek Franz

Alex Honnold speaks to a crowd of Save Red Rock supporters and media outside the Clark County Government Center before the February 22 hearing in which the County Zoning Commission ruled in favor of the concept plan for the Blue Diamond Hill development. Regardless of the outcome, the event was awesome--tons of support for our side, said Chris Weidner, a climber and freelance writer who attended the hearing. [Photo] Heather Weidner

Clark County approves concept plan for development near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

by Derek Franz

Clark County Commissioners allow a 2011 concept plan to proceed for a 5,000-home development on Blue Diamond Hill near Red Rock National Conservation Area, which

Marek Raganowicz soloing Suser gjennom Harryland (VI 5.10b A3, 650m) on Norway's Troll Wall (1742m). He spent 16 days on the wall with only two ropes and no fixed lines. [Photo] Marek Raganowicz

Marek Raganowicz completes the first winter solo of a route on the Troll Wall

by Derek Franz

Polish climber Marek Raganowicz spent 16 days soloing Suser gjennom Harryland (VI 5.10b A3, 650m) on Norway’s Troll Wall from January 11 to 26. The

The jury panel recently announced the first recipients for the Grit and Rock First Ascent Expedition Award. [Photo] Grit and Rock Foundation

First round of female recipients announced for Grit & Rock First Ascent Expedition Award

by Derek Franz

The inaugural First Ascent Expedition Award is giving grants to four teams across three categories. The Grit and Rock Foundation created the award last September

A climber nears the top of Rim Shot (5.11-, 400'), Bridger Jack Butte, Indian Creek, Utah. The area is included in the new Bears Ears National Monument, which Utah lawmakers are asking President Donald Trump to rescind. [Photo] Derek Franz

Arc’teryx, Ibex and Polartec join Patagonia’s movement to pressure Utah over Bears Ears

by Derek Franz

Arc’teryx, Ibex and Polartec join Patagonia to oppose Utah’s efforts to rescind Bears Ears National Monument. The tactics range from boycotting the Salt Lake City

The Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, hosts the Outdoor Retailer. [Photo] hakkun, Wikimedia

Patagonia withdraws from Outdoor Retailer shows in Utah over threats to Bears Ears

by Derek Franz

On February 3, Utah legislators moved to rescind Bears Ears National Monument. In response, Patagonia announced the company will stop attending the Outdoor Retailer trade

Looking east from the summit of North Six Shooter in Indian Creek, Utah, provides a glimpse of the 1.35-million-acre Bears Ears National Monument. South Six Shooter is in the foreground and Bridger Jack Butte and pinnacles are in the middle ground. The Abajo Mountains are in the background to the right and the La Sal Mountains are just out of view to the left. Canyonlands National Park lies behind the photographer, just a few miles to the west. [Photo] Derek Franz

Bears Ears, federal lands and the new US administration

by Derek Franz

Now that President Donald Trump is in office, and a new, Republican majority controls both the U.S. House and Senate, discussions about federal land management

Rudugaira Peak (5819m) is one of the mountains being promoted with lower permit fees this year by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. [Photo] Courtesy of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation

Indian Mountaineering Foundation lowers 2017 permit fees to promote select peaks

by Derek Franz

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation offers reduced permit fees on 81 select mountains for the 2017 season. The goal is to encourage foreign expeditions and disperse

This photo shows Gimmigela East (7005m) from a vantage point above the team's base camp. Auer wrote, Our plan of putting up a base camp with a direct view to the mountain was shut down by our porters. They all stopped in Camp Pangpema, the base camp for Kangchenjunga (8586m). We convinced five of them to shuttle up our loads a little bit higher during a few days. [Photo] Elias Holzkenecht

Alpine Style: Two Austrians make the first ascent of Gimmigela East’s North Face

by Derek Franz

When Hansjorg Auer and Alex Blumel couldn’t get a permit for their original objective last November they were pointed to Gimmigela East (7005m). It turned

Bachelor Party: After a typical Black Canyon approach, the author (right) prepares to climb back to the rim with his buddies Jack Cody (middle) and Todd Preston (left), in June 2015, the day before the author's wedding. [Photo] Derek Franz

La Sportiva TX2: Blurring the line between climbing and approach shoes

by Derek Franz

The La Sportiva TX2 approach shoes shine brightly on fast-and-light rock missions when you need to carry your approach shoes with you on the climb.

Nik Mirhashemi and Mark Pugliese climbed a route they called Wrong Way Bud (5.6 M4, 500m) on Norbu Peak (5634m) on October 23. [Photo] Nik Mirhashemi

Two Americans climb three new routes in Nepal’s Rolwaling Valley

by Derek Franz

Americans Nik Mirhashemi and Mark Pugliese made three probable first ascents on three peaks in Nepal’s Rolwaling Valley on their first trip to the Himalaya

The red line shows the approximate route of Standing Room Only (Russian Alpine Grade 5a, Scottish IV, M4, 650m) on the West Face of Xialongrezha (5678m). The first four pitches are obscured below the fin of rock. [Photo] Rob Baker

Small Australian-Chinese team explores new ground in Tibet

by Derek Franz

A team of five friends self-fund an expedition to a rarely visited area of Tibet and climb a previously unnamed 5678-meter peak they named Xialongrezha.

Tom Ballard makes the first ascent of Dust in the Wind (M8, 100m), Val di Fassa, Italy, while rope-soloing. [Photo] Tom Ballard

Tom Ballard finishes the year with back-to-back rope-solo ascents

by Derek Franz

Tom Ballard closes out the year in the Dolomites with a rope-solo first ascent of Dust in the Wind (M8, 100m) and a casual multiday