“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…
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…
Yeah, we are star matter from the big bang And that love ain’t far behind you Love ain’t far behind —Ani DiFranco, “Star Matter” We looked for god in the wet heather, the crumbling talus, the heinous gully, and the father-son fishing trip. How can the same god that crafts this…
Luke is joined by Shaun Matusewicz, Tim Foulkes, and Dave Marcinowski for a podcast on the rituals of Creeksgiving. Most notably the Turkey Shooter, half marathon race, which includes the South Six Shooter tower. Our sponsors for this episode: Patagonia: Check out the new Big Wall Kit http://www.patagonia.com/ Kilter: https://settercloset.com/ Use code “zine” at checkout…
Maybe the answer’s not up there Maybe it’s on the ground somewhere —A Tribe Called Quest, featuring Anderson .Paak, “Movin Backwards” Welcome to The Climbing Zine Volume 26. We’re in a new era of our publication: From here on out, we’ll be publishing one larger-sized zine per year. We’ve got many reasons to make this…
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,…
This is an excerpt from Volume 26 of The Climbing Zine. Banner photo of the author by Travis Perkins We lay next to her, infantilized by moonshadows cast swaddled tight in the present, future, and past Her wisdom sews folds of time not held in line Her patience shelters youth and her silence…
“If this climb doesn’t blow you away, nothing will,” James ventured as he hit the brakes. “I still can’t believe that Earl and I did it.” We hopped out of the Youth Challenge Bus and ambled over to the abrupt rim of a dark abyss at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River. Never in…