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The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

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…

Creeksgiving by Luke Mehall (Dirtbag Classic)

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

Note: 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…

We Take Climbing As Medicine by Fallon Rowe

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

The 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)

In 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…

Help On The Way at Cave Wall West

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

My 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)

You 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)

shooshing 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…

On Shooshing and Experience by Ana Ally

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

Part 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…

In Love with Climbing with Sonnie Trotter, Part 1

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

The 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)

I looked down at my Gri-Gri as a salty tear rolled off my cheek into a thousand feet of space and granite. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, black with sweat and dirt, and moved my ascender up the rope again. “I can’t believe I wanted to do this,” I thought…

Growing Up Skinner by Becca Skinner

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

A passion that fuels Is one that burns brightly   Words by Devin Dabney. Photos by Angelique Brown. Published in The Climbing Zine Book 2.    The small space Between boredom and anxiety Where we form notoriety for lack of sobriety and zero propriety for standard society   Many try to capture the essence— To…

An Existence of Persistence (a poem) by Devin Dabney

Devin Dabney’s An Existence of Persistence poem, published in The Climbing Zine Volume 13. Now out there on the internet and in stores.

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

A preview of our upcoming two part episode with Sonnie Trotter. Plus a poem “Climbing Romeo and Juliet” by Cliff Cash. Photo of Sonnie on Cobra Crack, Squamish by Paul Bride

Preview of our Sonnie Trotter Conversation (with Cliff Cash poetry)

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

“If you just stop for a second, I can show you there’s no road out there!” Ben said. “I know there’s a road there; we drove it a couple years ago!” I fired back. We hadn’t even started an ordeal that would surely drive us to our wits’ ends, and we were already lost and…

Linking 16 Towers in a Day with Matt Pickren and Ben Kiessel

Matt Pickren tells the story about climbing sixteen towers in Indian Creek and Castle Valley. With full stats on the breakdown of times.

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

A rerun of our conversation with Jimmie Dunn from 2022. 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/

https://climbingzine.com/the-low-key-legend-with-jimmie-dunn-dirtbag-classic/

As I’ve said and written before, my favorite thing about publishing The Zine is the connections it helps create. I am able to connect with people that I wouldn’t otherwise be connected to if I didn’t publish this zine. Thus is the case with the legendary climber Jimmie Dunn. by Luke Mehall          I met…

About The Jimmie Dunn Cover (The Climbing Zine Book)

Jimmie Dunn tells the epic story behind the cover shot for The Climbing Zine Book. The book contains our favorite essays from Volumes 1-11.

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

UPDATE: the paperback edition of Squeak! has been released. You can get a copy of the book here.  Longtime Zine contributor and all around good guy, D Scott Borden announced the release of his children’s book, Squeak Goes Climbing in Yosemite National Park. Borden wrote the story and our wonderful designer, Mallory Logan did the…

Squeak Goes Climbing in Yosemite National Park, A Children’s Book.

Announcing a children’s book from longtime Zine contributor D Scott Borden. The book is called Squeak Goes Climbing In Yosemite National Park.

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

This is part 2 of Pat Ament’s essay, published in Volume 17. If you missed part 1, you can read it here. If you enjoyed this story please subscribe, it’s what keeps the zine dream alive! Banner photo of Pratt by Glen Denny. The psychic storm of the 1960s included the beautiful revelations and also…

Part 2: Chuck Pratt, Liquid Sunshine by Pat Ament

Part 2 of the essay, Chuck Pratt, Liquid Sunshine by Pat Ament. Published in Volume 17 of The Climbing Zine. Banner photo by Glen Denny.

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

“Think we could throw a haul bag out of an airplane? That would make the approach really easy.” Kennan was looking at me and Jeff with a twinkle in his eye, and unsure if he was serious, I asked, “Can you even open a plane door in flight, and if you could, wouldn’t it destabilize…

Up (and over) the Pope’s Nose by Josh Smith

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)

A rerun of our conversation with Tommy Caldwell from 2022, recorded in his van in Estes Park, Colorado. Big thanks to Shaun Matusewicz for joining on the adventure and helping with the interview! 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…

TC The OG with Tommy Caldwell (Dirtbag Classic)

The Climbing Zine (climbingzine.com)