Climbing Culture

Shop our redesigned Dirtbag State of Mind design in hoodies, shirts, and stickers. Design by Mallory Logan.

Banner photo: The author on her winter project, Crystal Dawn (5.13d), Red Rocks, Nevada by Max Barlerin Waiting for a…

At some point in my early to midtwenties, I came to the conclusion that life is not about rock climbing.…

Words are from the traditional song “Wild Mountain Thyme.” The basis of this trip was simple: climb rocks and drink…

Jimmie Dunn is perhaps the first person who envisioned single-pitch climbing in Indian Creek. In the mid-1970s, he walked up…

The Dirtbag is Dead, the second version by The Dead Dirtbag, Mike Handzlik. Stickers are available to order now. Shirts,…

Yeah, we are star matter from the big bang And that love ain’t far behind you Love ain’t…

I was tempted to stop climbing altogether. At the very least, I wanted to quit off-width. I lost a lot…

“There were no girls when I started climbing [in England],” Alan said, in a tone more serious than joking. I’d…

As I’ve said and written before, my favorite thing about publishing The Zine is the connections it helps create. I…

UPDATE: the paperback edition of Squeak! has been released. You can get a copy of the book here. Longtime Zine…

Dear Kurt, This is a letter I don’t want to write. Writing is often difficult to get started, but this…

“If this climb doesn’t blow you away, nothing will,” James ventured as he hit the brakes. “I still can’t believe…

Dearest Luke, I have been meaning to write to you for some time, but I have Zine 23 fresh on…

I’m in the back of an orange Skoda Fabia, with the white-and-green license plate that marks us as Palestinians, cruising…