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Talking Environmentalism at the Summer Outdoor Retailer 2016

by Erin Monahan

At the 2016 Summer Outdoor Retailer trade show, Erin Monahan wonders how far leaders in the outdoor gear industry are really willing to take their… Read More »Talking Environmentalism at the Summer Outdoor Retailer 2016

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… Read More »Two Americans climb three new routes in Nepal’s Rolwaling Valley

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.… Read More »Small Australian-Chinese team explores new ground in Tibet

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… Read More »Tom Ballard finishes the year with back-to-back rope-solo ascents

This aerial shot shows the magnitude of the Eiger North Face (3970m). Metanoia (VII 5.10 M6 A4, 1800m) takes a central line up the shadowy face. [Photo] Archive Metanoia

Huber, Schaeli and Siegrist complete the second ascent of Eiger’s Metanoia

by Derek Franz

Thomas Huber, Roger Schaeli and Stephan Siegrist complete the second ascent of Metanoia (VII 5.10 M6 A4, 1800m) on the Eiger North Face (3970m), more… Read More »Huber, Schaeli and Siegrist complete the second ascent of Eiger’s Metanoia

Marcin Tomaszewksi leads a pitch during the first ascent of Titanic (M5 5.10c A3 WI4, 1800m) on the North Face of the Eiger (3970m), which he completed with Tom Ballard on November 30 to December 6. [Photo] Tom Ballard

First ascent of ‘Titanic’ adds another chapter to the Eiger North Face

by Derek Franz

Tom Ballard and Marcin Tomaszewksi have only climbed together three times, but all those climbs have been first ascents. They added another hard new route… Read More »First ascent of ‘Titanic’ adds another chapter to the Eiger North Face

[Photo] Alberto Cafferata/Wikipedia Commons

After the Expedition

by David Stevenson

In this work of short fiction from Alpinist 18, Stevenson weaves a tale about a driftless climbing guide balancing his successes “against an unwritten page… Read More »After the Expedition

Snowy Range Medicine Bow Mountains from Bellevue, Colorado. [Photo] Wikipedia Commons

Axe of Contrition

by David Stevenson

Stevenson contemplates the axe of God in this Climbing Life story from Alpinist 20.

Mount St. Helens [Photo] Lyn Topinka/Wikipedia Commons

Lives of the Volcano Poets

by David Stevenson

The author climbs after the volcano poets. This piece originally appeared in Alpinist 40.