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5June’s humid breath settles in waves over the Mount Washington Valley as the sun dips low in the west. A shadow Cathedral Ledge pools at the base of the real one, growing long toward the chalets and the strawberry fields as I belay my partner up behind me. The air is heavy—with evening promising little… https://climbingzine.com/biophilia-on-the-rocks-by-birch-malotky/

It is like any other start to a day of climbing in the Black Canyon. Dave and I are up before the sun, throwing down coffee and a quick breakfast, and assembling all the hardware needed for the day’s climb. We gently descend down the Cruise Gully, careful not to dislodge any loose rocks, with… https://climbingzine.com/painted-wall-luke-mehall/

by Lucas Roman. This story is published in Volume 18. Banner photo by Hobo Greg Brad Gobright is pure of heart. So pure, in fact, that he may never have faced a dilemma in all his life. That’s not exactly serving him well right now, as he’s stuck in a pickle of his own making,… https://climbingzine.com/brad-gobright-pure-of-heart-by-lucas-roman-full-story/

Luke’s conversation with Sam MacIlwaine, who contributed the poem “Dirtbag” to Volume 25 of The Climbing Zine, and is also featured on the back cover of that issue. Subscribe/ score some books/clothes/stickers: https://shop.climbingzine.com/ Our sponsors for Season 7:  Kilter: http://settercloset.com (email holds@kiltergrips.com for more information) Scarpa: www.scarpa.com Osprey: https://www.osprey.com/ photo by Jordi Llauradó https://climbingzine.com/from-tech-to-tolstoy-and-trad-climbing-with-sam-macilwaine/

Typical Sunday used gear peruse. Filing through overpriced  ultralights. Old green rock empire robot. Outdated, unwanted, undervalued…   “Perfect.”   This cam had chemistry, To be there for someone in the  thinnest of situations, In the wildest of areas, Attached at the hip.   Now devoid of adventure, Grown apart, Told that it’s not the… https://climbingzine.com/ass-color-ass-cam-10-by-stefanos-apostle-a-poem/

Screams are a colorful thing. Each one has its own distinct message. An anger, a joy, a pain. The nature of each rings clear somewhere deep in our instincts. From the sound alone, you can practically see the scrunched nose and raised upper lip of a shout delivered in loud fury. Yet slightly muffled as… https://climbingzine.com/seventeen-times-alive-by-dakota-walz/

In Memory of Towyn Williams (1926 – 2016) I associate much of my childhood with a little white farmhouse in the Welsh countryside. My roots are firmly planted there. Planted between the rows of strawberries and the tunnels of raspberry bushes. by Rhiannon Williams note: this piece is an excerpt from The Climbing Zine Book,… https://climbingzine.com/venture-backward-inward-upward-rhiannon-williams/

The next “Zine Thing” will be on Friday July 25th at the Gravity Lab climbing gym in Durango, Colorado. As always this is a free event featuring stories, poetry, film, and a slideshow. If you’ve got something to share please send a message to luke@climbingzine.com. Word. https://climbingzine.com/zine-thing-at-the-gravity-lab-climbing-gym-july-25th/

It’s your mom’s minivan pimped out And only seats two Because if it wasn’t hard enough to live in a van It’s way harder to hook up in one   This poem is published in The Climbing Zine Book 2, now available. Banner photo by: Kristen Hughes   With a full set of seats in… https://climbingzine.com/dirtbag-paradise-amber-roepke-poem/

Is climbing as innate as sharing, copulating, greed, or even walking? Many evolutionary biologists would offer that the essence of climbing can be found in our DNA. It is hardwired into us, this desire to be in the vertical world. And beyond that desire, our bodies are built for the physical challenges of climbing. by… https://climbingzine.com/are-we-born-to-climb-by-d-scott-borden/

Score a Climbing Zine subscription using the discount link below. Good for 50% off your first year, and the other half is covered by an anonymous donor. We have 25 total available, with 11 left. https://shop.climbingzine.com/discount/JULYFIFTY https://climbingzine.com/50-off-climbing-zine-subscription-supported-by-anonymous-donor/

And as you journey into outerspace May the angels help to lead the way May the prayers that our families made Shine up on your soul to keep you safe —Scarface, “Smile”   It was a splitter summer day in Boulder, Colorado, with blue skies above and beautiful people all around. I was sitting across… https://climbingzine.com/smile-introduction-from-volume-25-by-luke-mehall/

Banner photo: The author on her winter project, Crystal Dawn (5.13d), Red Rocks, Nevada by Max Barlerin  Waiting for a storm to go or the sun to come, or the doubt to go or new shoes to come, or the pump to go or a move to stick, or the snow to snow or waiting… https://climbingzine.com/projecting-is-just-waiting-by-brittany-goris-a-poem/

To kick off Luke’s summer climbing road trip, he stopped in Moab, Utah for this conversation with Mary Eden, also known as the Trad Princess. Our sponsors for Season 7:  Kilter: http://settercloset.com (email holds@kiltergrips.com for more information) Scarpa: www.scarpa.com Osprey: https://www.osprey.com/ Subscribe/ score some books/clothes/stickers: https://shop.climbingzine.com/ photo by Spencer McKay https://climbingzine.com/dont-be-a-trad-princess-with-mary-eden/

The reflection targets my disfigurement. If only the borders of this mirror could protect the rest of the world from my hideousness. My life’s insignificance rampages through my thoughts like an atrociously loud party that never ends. Nothing I do is good enough. I want to expunge my existence on a daily basis. Not even… https://climbingzine.com/fill-void-shay-skinner/

Acknowledging the roots and conceptualizations of the outdoor activities that we so passionately pursue enriches our participation and ties us to the land, as well as to one another. When we view our industry through a historical lens, we inevitably hear about John Muir, Sir Edmund Hillary, Royal Robbins, and other giants of outdoor recreation.… https://climbingzine.com/navajo-rising-by-aaron-mike/

You can do it, climber girl. No matter what they say You may not be as tall You may not be as strong You may not feel as seen But you have bravery that they can never know You have a tenacity unlike anything they’ve ever seen You have heart, you have courage, and you… https://climbingzine.com/climber-girl-by-kaya-lindsay/

Back in May, while hanging out in El Cap Meadow, I overheard a friend talking about Leah’s goal to climb The Nose naked, and instantly I wanted to be a part of that climb. A couple weeks later, sure enough, we set off at 4:38 a.m. After about ten minutes of climbing, I pretty much… https://climbingzine.com/off-route-naked-nose-day-jonathan-fleury/

The Factory Bouldering Gym in Orange, California, was by no means small, but it felt small that day. In addition to us thirty-one routesetters, there were about thirty or so people that were siphoning in for their late-afternoon sessions. The judges had just passed out our results and were preparing to announce the winners and… https://climbingzine.com/show-up-as-you-are-the-rise-of-a-routesetter-by-devin-dabney/

For Sara Rosecrans, banner photo of Sara by Meg LaHatte   Give me the words to describe the blue I see when my eyes are barely cracked.   Give me the tools to plaster my body to the desert wall and watch for centuries as the world is eroded into new meaning.   Give me… https://climbingzine.com/a-new-set-of-eyes-by-turner-wyatt-a-poem-for-sara-rosecrans/