The Climbing Zine is a creative collective fueled by passion, dirt, and rocks.
Note: this piece was originally published in the Durango Telegraph newspaper. After a decade plus of writing for The Telegraph, Mehall is stepping away from writing his monthly column, to put his energy into other writing and creative projects. (Banner photo of the author by Greg Cairns.) When I was first asked by Missy Votel…
My 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…
For this episode, we look back at a classic chapter from American Climber, Luke Mehall’s 2016 memoir, and the subject of Season 1 of the DSOM podcast. Check out our KEEP THE ZINE ALIVE campaign: www.climbingzine.com Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theclimbingzine Discount link for 15% off anything in our online store: https://shop.climbingzine.com/discount/DIRTBAGPODCAST15 Photo of the North Six…
Editor’s note: Longtime Climbing Zine contributor D Scott Borden wrote this piece for Volume 7, and sadly as the Zine was going to press Rasta passed away. Our thoughts are with you and your family at this time Scott. Thanks for such an inspiring piece! -LM We have all seen some cray-cray stuff when it…
Remember when, a while back, some prominent climbers were proclaiming, “the dirtbag is dead”? Well, they were right, it is. Gratefully, of course. We teamed up with Mike Handzlik, and are offering the first couple renditions in the form of stickers and shirts. The stickers are now available, and the shirts are now available to…
Luke sits down with Scott Borden, a friend and climbing partner of 20 years. Scott is a prolific contributor to The Climbing Zine, and his writing first appeared way back in Volume 2. This conversation was recorded at Western Colorado University, where they both graduated from, and where Borden currently is the director of the…
If there’s a hill I’m willing to die on, it’s in the land we call Indian Creek, a part of Bears Ears National Monument. With all the insanity in our country during the past five years, I’ve really focused on this single place. Like many outdoor athletes, I am an obsessive. I need something to…
What once started as a stapled together black and white zine, has evolved into the last independent rock climbing print publication in the United States. And, it all started in Gunnison, Colorado. After 10 years, and 21 volumes Luke Mehall is returning to Gunnison to celebrate The Climbing Zine at Western Colorado University on Thursday, March…