“He always called me James instead of Jimmie.” Jimmie Dunn told me these words each time I’ve had a conversation with him about his dear friend, the late Ed Webster, over these last few months. Jimmie has thousands of climbing stories and has climbed with hundreds of people, but it’s not hard to tell that…
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ClimbingZine
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James and Ed by Luke Mehall
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Zine Thing for Volume 26 in Durango on April 2ndThe Zine will be celebrating the release of our new issue, Volume 26 with a “Zine Thing” at Maria’s Bookshop here in Durango, Colorado. The event is free to attend, and we’ll also be hosting an after party at Carver Brewing Co. just down the street. (banner photo of Luke Mehall and Jimmie Dunn at…
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Off Route by Kate Otte (from Volume 15)This cartoon is based on a memorable descent from Triassic Sands in the Black Velvet Canyon. We were climbing with two parties close behind us, party number two hot on our tails and party number three howling, screaming, and crying their way up the crux pitch. With all the commotion and yells echoing through the…
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Send Your Face Tie DyesWe’ve got three new designs of the Send Your Face shirt, now available for pre-order. Art by Mike Handzlik. Order here: https://shop.climbingzine.com/collections/new-dirtbag-clothing-lines Shop: https://shop.climbingzine.com/collections/new-dirtbag-clothing-lines
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Untroubled with Alex Honnold (Dirtbag Classic)Revisiting this “Dirtbag Classic” with Alex Honnold. Subscribe to The Zine: https://shop.climbingzine.com/ Check out our new Send Your Face shirts: https://shop.climbingzine.com/collections/new-dirtbag-clothing-lines
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Spring Cracks by Luke MehallMy friends are gettin’ older, So I guess I must be too. Without their loving kindness, I don’t know what I would do. —Greg Brown, “Spring Wind” This story can only begin in one way, and that is with tears. Whether they were the tears from heartbreak, loss, or just from when John…
Spring Cracks by Luke Mehall
Amidst a pandemic and a breakup, the author, Luke Mehall travels to Indian Creek in search of solace and head space.
The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)
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First “Zine Thing” of 2026, January 29th, in Potrero Chico, MexicoPlease join us for the first “Zine Thing” of 2026. Details below. Banner photo of Felipe Garcia by Ivan Iozza, which will be the back cover of Volume 26.
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Benighted in The Black Canyon – (excerpt from American Climber by Luke Mehall)My path as a climber had to face a most real enemy: pure unadulterated fear. This fear manifested itself in the biggest baddest canyon, nearby, the most intimidating chasm in Colorado, and even the entire United States, The Black Canyon. Excerpt from American Climber, a memoir by Luke Mehall “The Black” as we called it,…
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In Love with Climbing with Sonnie Trotter, Part 2Part 2 of our conversation with Sonnie Trotter, author of the new book “Uplifted” and host of the podcast “Stronger Than You Think”. Our sponsors for Season 7: Kilter: http://settercloset.com (email holds@kiltergrips.com for more information) Osprey: https://www.osprey.com/ Scarpa. Use this link to shop Scarpa products, and The Zine will get a portion of the sale: https://alnk.to/3ye6GT2 Subscribe/…
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Volume 26 Story List ReleasedWe are psyched to announce our story list for Volume 26! This will be our first ever “El Cap sized” issue – with more stories, photos, poetry, and art than ever before. Here’s a look at the list. Link here to subscribe/preorder. Cover photo by Tom Evans, back cover by Ivan Iozza A Shadow…
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New Dirtbag State of Mind hoodies + shirts + stickersShop our redesigned Dirtbag State of Mind design in hoodies, shirts, and stickers. Design by Mallory Logan.
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Creeksgiving by Luke Mehall (Dirtbag Classic)Luke Mehall reads his essay “Creeksgiving” originally published in The Alpinist, issue 48. Our sponsors for Season 7: Kilter: http://settercloset.com (email holds@kiltergrips.com for more information) Osprey: https://www.osprey.com/ Scarpa. Use this link to shop Scarpa products, and The Zine will get a portion of the sale: https://alnk.to/3ye6GT2 Subscribe/ score some books/clothes/stickers: https://shop.climbingzine.com/ Photo of Uncle Samson and Tim Foulkes…
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We Take Climbing As Medicine by Fallon RoweNote: this poem is published in Volume 20 of The Zine. Photo by the author. we take climbing as medicine: you insist, but your pill bottles shrink four… three… two and you’re gone lost as the gear we bailed on during solemn retreat after groveling, questing up & up & up until our callused hands…
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Going Out To Come Home by Stacy BareThe night was cold, and where the moon and stars shone around patches of clouds, they were incredibly bright. There was no ambient light out here. I was standing on a half-finished patio attached to a half-finished house in an otherwise empty summer-herding village. It was early March, months before the village would be occupied.…
Going Out To Come Home by Stacy Bare
Stacy Bare climbs in Angola with Alex Honnold and skis the tallest peak in Iraq. The Adventure Not War founder reflects on this for Volume 12. #readthezine
The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)
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Help On The Way at Cave Wall WestIn celebration of the 10th anniversary of the first route at Cave Wall, a story read by Luke Mehall Our sponsors for Season 7: Kilter: http://settercloset.com (email holds@kiltergrips.com for more information) Osprey: https://www.osprey.com/ Scarpa. Use this link to shop Scarpa products, and The Zine will get a portion of the sale: https://alnk.to/3ye6GT2 Subscribe/ score some books/clothes/stickers: https://shop.climbingzine.com/ Photo…
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Suicide and Pirates by Andrew AllportMy father taught me how to climb, just as he taught me how to play guitar and ski—badly, I could say. But that isn’t quite right. Perhaps impatiently or unevenly. As a teacher, he managed to combine a sense of high expectations with a stunning lack of actual instruction. I would follow his skin track…
Suicide and Pirates by Andrew Allport
Andrew Allport reflects on his climbing mentor, his father, and the journeys they went on together. Suicide and Pirates from Volume 12 of The Climbing Zine.
The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)
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The Art of The First Ascent by Luke MehallYou know you’re getting old when they start replacing the bolts you used for a first ascent. That was my first thought when I heard that an anchor I’d placed, over in my old stomping grounds of Gunnison, Colorado, was getting an update. Story by Luke Mehall. This piece is published in Volume 15, now…
The Art of The First Ascent by Luke Mehall
Luke Mehall writes about the art of the first ascent, and learns from some lessons; often by making some mistakes, both in real life and online.
The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)
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On Shooshing and Experience by Ana Allyshooshing v. 1. Acting cowardly while climbing for no tangible reason. Note this piece is published in Volume 18 of The Climbing Zine fingers gripping, slipping soft grains of sand against rubber a brief slide of foot down rock breath tightens, body clenches doubt seeps in it’s all too much I…
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In Love with Climbing with Sonnie Trotter, Part 1Part 1 of our conversation with Sonnie Trotter, author of the new book “Uplifted”. Our sponsors for Season 7: Kilter: http://settercloset.com (email holds@kiltergrips.com for more information) Osprey: https://www.osprey.com/ Scarpa. Use this link to shop Scarpa products, and The Zine will get a portion of the sale: https://alnk.to/3ye6GT2 Subscribe/ score some books/clothes/stickers: https://shop.climbingzine.com/ Photo of Sonnie on Cobra Crack…
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Where The Winds Hit Heavy by Matt SpohnThe granite escarpments of Castle Crags silhouetted the western skyway, massive gargoyles hunched and staring. I thought of my mother’s words: “Don’t do that. You’ll get hurt. Be safe. You’re going to die.” Sentences that salted every conversation I had with her. I revved the engine and accelerated. I’d intended to get on the road…
Where The Winds Hit Heavy by Matt Spohn
Matt Spohn’s “Where The Winds Hit Heavy” published in The Climbing Zine, Volume 14. Benightment, longing, and partnership on Yosemite’s Half Dome.
The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)
