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Score 50% off any of our paperback titles. Use the link below. Discount is applied at checkout. Applies to all of our Climbing Zine Books and Luke Mehall’s titles. https://shop.climbingzine.com/discount/NEWSLETTER50BOOKS https://climbingzine.com/50-off-paperback-book-sale/

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Goerte I grew up in the traditions of western science and puritan pragmatism. Success is earned through work, luck is the sum of preparation, a penny saved is a penny earned. Claims that the universe provides if… https://climbingzine.com/flirting-with-the-nose-in-a-day-in-the-valley-of-stone/

I was tempted to stop climbing altogether. At the very least, I wanted to quit off-width. I lost a lot of enthusiasm for wide climbing and felt like my naïve, hopeful “gumby” phase was over. That phase is special to me because being new at something was all about the experience, everything is awesome, and… https://climbingzine.com/wide-tour-by-mary-eden-a-second-excerpt-from-volume-25/

At some point in my early to midtwenties, I came to the conclusion that life is not about rock climbing. There’s just too much other crazy shit happening every day on this beautiful clump of space dust. The older I get, however, the more I realize that climbing is most certainly about life. At the… https://climbingzine.com/going-alone-vic-zeilman/

The beauty is in the simplicity. A hunger fed by nature, a modern way of experiencing nature. We were driven out there for different reasons—some of us introduced to rock climbing at a young age, in a responsible manner. For others, including myself, it was trial by fire. note: this is an excerpt from American… https://climbingzine.com/climbing-mount-analogue-an-excerpt-from-american-climber/

I won’t say that I’m afraid of heights, but to be standing on the edge of anything looking down more than 50 feet or so gives me a funny feeling in the abdomen from just below the sternum all the way down to where the feeling translates into a moderate concern about bladder control. It’s… https://climbingzine.com/holding-the-rock-together/

Curled into the bench seat like astronauts they hurtled through the dark, stars hanging low outside the dust-dimmed beam of her headlights, his eyes twinned planets in her mirror. This poem is published in Volume 23. Art by Rhiannon Williams Rambling conversation, comfortable strangers, that strange intimacy of predawn, those trickling hours that bathe any… https://climbingzine.com/tides-by-sarah-carr-a-poem/

Another conversation where Luke is the guest. This episode is from the “Dirtbag Rich” podcast, hosted by Blake Boles. 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 Jake Burchmore https://climbingzine.com/dirtbag-rich-and-the-american-dream-with-blake-boles/

“You’re on belay, Mom.”  “What does that mean?” she replied.  “You’re safe, Mom. Climb when ready.” Over the last five-plus years of her life, before she passed away from complications caused by dementia, we’d often say, “You’re safe, Mom,” in an effort to calm a growing sense of restlessness and panic. Story by D Scott… https://climbingzine.com/youre-safe-mom-climb-when-ready-by-d-scott-borden/

It’s the same story the crow told me It’s the only one he knows Like the morning sun you’ll come And like the wind you’ll go   —Grateful Dead, “Uncle John’s Band”   Hunched over, I begin to carve the plaque for the climb I’ve been obsessing over for the last five years. In that… https://climbingzine.com/the-art-of-the-plaque-by-luke-mehall/

The Korean folklore goes: the Creator called upon all domes and boulders of Korea to gather up north, where they would join to form the two thousand peaks of the Geumgansan mountain range (금강산). Ulsanbawi (울산바위) headed north as well, but moved very slowly as it was one of the largest domes in the country.… https://climbingzine.com/parallel-traditions-by-angela-lee/

The tables are turned on our host, Luke Mehall, as we share this episode of his appearance on The Struggle Climbing Show, hosted by Ryan Devlin. 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/ https://climbingzine.com/life-is-a-beautiful-struggle-ryan-devlin-and-luke-mehall/

Mudstrosity Yes, it wobbled. Three feet high, one foot wide, a foot deep, probably outweighing me, the block sat at arm’s reach above my head. No way to avoid tangling with it—I was standing in aiders, hanging from a piton. I should bolt around it… by Steve “Crusher” Bartlett (Note: this is an excerpt from… https://climbingzine.com/talk-talk-choss-steve-crusher-bartlett/

Journal entry from 10/15/2014 Zion is the word. Despite all of our differences, to so many people the meaning of Zion remains the same: a place of refuge, a utopian ideal of peace, unity, and freedom. We may not be religious pilgrims, but even as travelers, as climbers, as humans, when anyone asks where we’re… https://climbingzine.com/approach-pilgrimage-tim-rogers/

Our premiere for Season 7: a conversation with Andy Vo. Our sponsors for Season 6:  Kilter: http://settercloset.com (email holds@kiltergrips.com for more information) Scarpa: www.scarpa.com Osprey: https://www.osprey.com/ https://climbingzine.com/the-art-of-the-belaytionship-with-andy-vo/

The Climbing Zine is now accepting stories, photography, and art for our 2025 volume. Below are our loose guidelines. Words The Climbing Zine publishes thought provoking essays, stories, and poetry. Word count can be anywhere from 200 to 10,000. Our aim to publish work that focuses on the essence of climbing; we’ll publish accounts of… https://climbingzine.com/write-climbing-zine/

A second preseason episode before we kick off Season 7. A letter and poem for our dear friend Kurt Blair, who passed away last year. Poem read by Marcus Garcia, and letter read by host Luke Mehall. https://climbingzine.com/a-letter-and-poem-for-kurt-blair/

The young buck who offers to take us up Time Wave Zero instead drinks twenty-eight Tecates and keeps the hot tub party going until 2am;   The silent and slight European who walks slumped and duck-footed seamlessly climbs 12a and slouches away, unexpectedly the most badass climber in Virgin Canyon;   The excitable new guy… https://climbingzine.com/along-the-sendero-by-bailey-williams-from-volume-25/

The Climbing Zine is celebrating 15 years of being in print, and we’re kicking off this year’s “Zine Things” in our hometown of Durango, Colorado. Come join us for this free event on Thursday, April 24th. Banner photo of Adam Ferro on the second ascent of “The Love Movement” at East Animas, Durango, Colorado. Photo:… https://climbingzine.com/zine-thing-at-marias-bookshop-in-durango-colorado-april-24th/

A preseason episode before we launch Season 7. Originally aired in 2020 near the end of Season 1. Season 7 kicks off later this month. https://climbingzine.com/everybody-climbs-in-indian-creek-with-tim-foulkes/