Don’t you put any more stress on yourself It’s one day at a time —Mac Miller, “Circles” Part of me always thought I’d die young. I had this feeling even before I was a climber, long before I took the risks with our lives that we climbers take. It was probably related to the depression…
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…
Me and my higher self, We often would speak Somehow we lost the connection, Might meet at Joshua Tree —Nas, “Nobody” Banner photo of Hobo Greg by Emmie Snead My greatest fear as a climber is becoming crusty. Not the good kind of crusty but the bad kind of crusty. The crust that…
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…
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…
I started listening to the Grateful Dead a week before Jerry Garcia died. The year was 1995 and it happened as it always happened then: a friend played me some Dead tunes, and then I made a tape recording of the ones I liked. I played Uncle John’s Band, over and over again, entranced by…
In my body, I’m a climber; in my imagination, I’m a rapper. The poets of my generation are MCs—embodiments of the modern American Dream—and the music of hip-hop is so ubiquitous with our culture that it’s hard to imagine life without them. I don’t just listen to hip-hop; it bleeds into my soul. All music…
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…