Search and rescue crews in Las Vegas continue to have a busy start to 2025.

On Wednesday, February 6, members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s search and rescue squad saved a woman who had fallen from a climbing area in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

According to a , the woman, who was not named, had fallen while climbing near the White Rock Hills hiking and climbing area. She landed in a boulder field and was unable to hike out.

“The victim fell while climbing and was unable to move due to a back injury,” read a statement from the department.

White Rock Hills is located in a remote corner of the park, approximately 6 miles past the park entrance, down a dirt road. The area is ringed by a four-mile trail that takes climbers to several different climbing routes.

Rangers from the Bureau of Land Management hiked in to the area and made contact with the victim, but they were unable to bring her to safety on foot. Officials decided to send an emergency helicopter to the area. According to the release, three search and rescue officials flew in on the helicopter and helped the ground crews move her to a suitable extraction point.

Dramatic photos showed the helicopter removing the injured climber. According to the release, she was taken to a ground ambulance.

The rescue was the third major lifesaving mission in Red Rock Canyon this year involving rock climbers. On Saturday, January 18, crews responded to near the Pine Creek area of the park.

One rescue involved four climbers who became stranded on the “Cat in the Hat” climbing route after their ropes became entwined. The four were preparing to rappel the route when the incident happened, and they retreated to a ledge. One of the climbers, Joe De Luca, was able to call rescuers from his cell phone.

As De Luca was waiting for rescue crews to reach his party, he witnessed the other incident 100 or so yards away. A climber named Micah Manalese, 30, fell from a route and hit the rocks approximately 130 feet below.

“It was evident to me that the chance of life was zero, or at least very low, if we didn’t do something quickly,” De Luca told Climbing.

De Luca called rescuers after the fall occurred, but they were unable to save Manalese.

Her partner, Robert Hiett, ŽÚŽÇ°ùÌę°ä±ôŸ±łŸČúŸ±ČÔČ”.Ìę

“With her training, she somehow still managed to squeeze in time with her family and friends. She could do it all,” Hiett wrote.

Red Rock Canyon is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the Southwestern U.S., and climbers and hikers flock to the destination in the winter and early spring, before temperatures begin to soar in late April. The canyon’s famed Navajo Sandstone formations are traversed by several dozen climbing routes.

The post Rescue Crews Saved Another Climber in Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Ìęexcels at a number of outdoor pursuits, from surfing big waves to climbing exposed peaks. But it wasn’t until after meetingÌę—a fellow surfer, accomplished rock climber, and runner-up in Max’s inaugural season of the reality competitionÌęThe Climb—that his skill and love for sport climbing grew to new heights.

“We’ve come so far working together,” says King, who’s originally from Detroit. “And now I sport-climb in all parts of the world. I’ve done things I didn’t think I could have done.”

Both King and Barry are drawn to aesthetically beautiful climbs, which they find on the Shark’s Fin Arete in California’s Alabama Hills wilderness. They’re reminded that being a solid climbing partner goes beyond the obvious belayer-climber dynamic that’s inherent to climbing. It’s knowing exactly what to say and when to say it—or saying nothing at all—and ultimately bringing each other home safely.

“It’s nice to be able to see these things on your own, but when you get to bring people you care about into these spaces and see how it affects them, it just makes it that much better and that much more profound,” Barry adds, noting a shared desire with King to inspire the next generation of climbers.

Nissan North America, Inc., headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, delivers innovative automotive products and services that inspire and move people. As a global leader in electric vehicles and advanced automotive technology, Nissan offers a full lineup of vehicles, highlighted by the new . Driven by a commitment to sustainable mobility and thrilling performance, Nissan aims to transform the way people live and drive. For more information, please visit .

The post Partners in the Outdoors: Rock Climbing appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

On Monday, January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump to rename Alaska’s 20,310-foot Denali, the highest peak in North America. The mountain’s name will revert to Mount McKinley, named for William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, who was assassinated on September 14, 1901.

The decree undoes the work of former President Barack Obama, who, in 2015 officially changed the name from Mount McKinley to Denali, the peak’s traditional name from the Koyukon Athabascan language, which is spoken by Alaska’s Native inhabitants. Denali translates as “the high one” or “the great one.”

The name change will take effect within 30 days. The name of Denali National Park and Preserve, where the mountain sits, will not change.

Policy wonks (and ) know that there has been infighting in Congress about the name of North America’s highest peak since at least 1975. That was the first year the state of Alaska petitioned to use the local name Denali instead of McKinley. Lawmakers from Ohio, McKinley’s home state, pushed back.

But how do the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on the mountain feel about Denali’s name change? We asked some of Denali’s, er McKinley’s, most prominent athletes, guides, and rangers.

Why Alaskans Prefer the Name Denali

The guides and mountaineers who spoke to șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű for this story expressed dismay at the name change.

“It’s worth mentioning that the President suggested doing this about six years ago,” says Mark Westman, an Alaska resident and former ranger on the mountain. “And he was told by Alaska’s two senators—both of whom are Republicans and both who are still the current senators—not to do that.”

Indeed, on Monday, January 21, Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, : “Our nation’s tallest mountain, which has been called Denali for thousands of years, must continue to be known by the rightful name bestowed by Alaska Koyukon Athabascans, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial.”

Guides and climbers echoed Murkowski’s sentiment—the importance of the name Denali lies in its connection to Alaska’s precolonialÌęhistory, they said.

“The name Denali reflects a local cultural heritage here that predates the United States,” Westman says. “The name McKinley was an arbitrary name given for someone who had never even set foot here. He was from Ohio.”

Conrad Anker, who began climbing in the Alaska Range in 1987, said he was overjoyed when the peak’s Indigenous name was officially restored in 2015. Changing the name back, he said, makes no sense to outdoor enthusiasts, local Alaskans, or the region’s Indigenous population.

“It was fitting to honor the people of Alaska with the rightful name,” he said. “I think it’s worth noting that the vast majority of peaks in the Himalayas have local names.”

Guide Melissa Arnot Reid, the first American woman to ascend and descend Everest without supplemental oxygen, said that precolonial names such as Denali enhance a visitor’s connection to a place. That’s why she encourages her climbing clients to refer to peaks and regions by traditional names.

“Discovering what the local people call a place, and why, enhances our connection to that place,” she says.

Does Anyone Even Use the Name Mount McKinley?

Even before the 2015 name change, climbers and guides frequently used the peak’s Native name, guides told us. Westman, who first came to the peak in 1994, said that while the names were used interchangeably by locals back then, the preference was to call it Denali.

“There’s been a difference in the name Denali for, well, forever,” he said. “Native Alaskans were calling it Denali for thousands of years before anybody else came here. In the climbing community, it’s almost universal—I almost never hear anybody call it McKinley.”

In the days following the announcement, many Alaskan residents appear to agree. On Tuesday, January 21, the group asked 1,816 adults in Alaska about the proposed name change. The survey found that 54 percent opposed it, while just 26 percent supported the change.

Ski mountaineer Kit DesLauriers, the first person to hike and then ski the Seven Summits, pointed out that even Alaska’s political leaders have used the name Denali publicly for decades. “With Denali, the traditional name has been the choice not only of Alaskan Native people, but also of the entire state including its political leadership since at least 1975,” she says.

Dave Hahn of RMI Mountain Guides, who has ascended the peak 25 times, said that the mountain is “big enough to handle however many names you want to throw at it.”

But he stressed that Denali felt like it was always the appropriate title within the climbing community. “I never felt that McKinley was wrong—it honored a president that was assassinated while in office,” he said. “But I think that Denali is truer to where the mountain is, and who the people around the mountain are, recognizing that it’s an Alaskan mountain and not a Washington D.C. mountain.”

Most People Will Still Say Denali

The sources who spoke to șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű for this story agreed on one thing: they will continue to call the peak by its Native name going forward.

“I intend to continue to refer to the great mountain as Denali for as long as I’m alive, and I encourage every other climber to do the same,” wrote authorÌęJon KrakauerÌęin an email. “Trump might be able to officially rename it, but he will never be able to force me to call it anything except Denali.”

Ultrarunner Jack Kuenzle, who in 2023 set the fastest known time for ascending the peak, echoed the sentiment.

“I can’t imagine anybody will be actually utilizing McKinley,” he said. “I’ve never heard it called that.”

Keith Sidle, who teaches mountaineering courses with the Alaska Mountaineering School, said the only thing he expects to see change is how the mountain is named on maps and signs. Sidle said his climbing buddies are already saying online that they will continue to use the Native name.

“It’s changing a name on a piece of paper, it’s not changing the mountain,” he said. “To the people that it really matters to, it’s not changing anything.”

The post Trump Just Renamed North America’s Highest Peak. These Climbers Will Still Call It “Denali.” appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

My whole perspective on “belaytionships” (and how to improve them) changed when a friend referred to the task as a “sacred duty.” It’s common to view our turn on the ground as nothing more than filler time between pitches, or worse: a burden that we must bear in exchange for the joys of climbing. But belaying is more than just a necessary evil. The special relationship between belay partners is what elevates climbing from a myopic pursuit of personal excellence to a reciprocal experience. Supporting someone else on their journey toward the send can feel just as powerful as making that journey ourselves.Ìę

The best belaytionships have respect for both sides of the equation. Not only that, both parties put in the effort to learn and implement what their partner needs from a belayer to feel safe and secure while climbing. That’s no easy feat, considering how vulnerable the act of pushing limits high off the deck can leave a climber. The barrage of emotion often amplifies our fears and needs far beyond what they would be on the ground. A strong belaytionship takes all the havoc in stride.Ìę

But it doesn’t happen overnight. Just like in any other relationship, climbing partners have to go through their fair share of struggles in order to reach a state of mutual respect and support. Learn from some of the most long-standing belaytionships in the sport about how to weather the storms that plague even the most dynamic of duos in the sport, and foster the kind of partnership that will last as long as your love for climbing.Ìę

1. Prioritize the Person

Yes, your project is important. It’s what motivates you to crawl out of your cozy bed in time to catch the cool morning temps, stay out late until the sun sets over the cliff, and dedicate every spare hour to deciphering its coded messages. But we’d all do well to remember one thing: it’s still just a rock.Ìę

“At the end of the day,” says climber Andy Salo, “you’re going home with your partner—not your project. Whatever emotions and stresses you’re dealing with as a result of your project bounces off on your partner, and they have to carry that.”

Salo and his partner Whitney Boland have been climbing together for over a decade. They’re able to support each other best when the one on the wall exercises enough restraint to keep their worst wobblers in check. A charged reaction to what happens on your project may not be a personal attack on your belayer, but it sure can feel that way to them. Taking their presence for granted will inevitably push them away. Rocks are great and all, but they’ve got nothing on real live human beings. No project is worth losing your partner over.Ìę

2. Let It Go

That being said, wobblers will happen. Even the most restrained among us isn’t immune to the frustrations involved in climbing. When your partner’s feelings come out in a big way, stay grounded. Maggie and Chuck Odette, Maple Canyon legends who have been steadfast partners in all things climbing and life for the past 14 years, suggest “putting up a force-field” when emotions run high.Ìę

“It’s not about ignoring the other person’s feelings,” Maggie clarifies, “but more about protecting your own emotional state. It’s basically an agreement that just because I’m having a low-confidence or less-than-optimal day, I don’t expect you to join in!”Ìę

In that sense, belayers might have to take one for the team sometimes. Pick your battles. Some things are worth addressing with your climbing partner for the sake of improving your dynamic. Other gripes might be better kept silent if they’re more likely to cause trouble than good once they’re out in the open. In the wise words of good ol’ Dr. Phil: Do you want to be right, or do you want to be together?Ìę

3. Trust Their Tactics

It’s not just the climber that experiences heightened emotions. Belayers often go through their own emotional rollercoasters, especially when they’re in charge of protecting someone they care deeply about. You want to support them in their efforts
but you also want to get them back down to the ground safely. And in a sport like climbing, where there are very real risks involved, the two don’t always mix.

Salo and Boland emphasize the importance of trusting your partner’s instincts. “Whitney learned that if I felt confident enough for a scary lead, she could trust that I was going to be as safe as possible doing it—even though that was nerve-wracking for her,” says Salo. “Any fear she felt for me was best kept to herself,” he explains, because the expression of it would throw off the focus and confidence he needed to climb safely.Ìę

Trust is the foundation of any stable relationship, belaytionships included. Talk to your climber ahead of time about their expectations for the route and affirm your belief in their ability to make sound decisions. Address any concerns before they ever leave the ground. Then, when they’re off, follow through with that trust. It’s key to ensuring their safety.Ìę

4. Plan Ahead

Just because you’re climbing together doesn’t mean that your agendas will always align. Be careful not to assume that you and your partner have the exact same plan in mind. The Odette’s learned early on that they don’t tend to wake up at the same pace in the morning. Rather than let that turn into a chronic disagreement, they make sure to make a game plan for what the next day will look like before going to bed the night before.Ìę

Do your best to line up your ideal day with your partner’s. If possible, find climbs that are close enough to each other at the crag so that you can both have equal time on your projects. “If it’s impossible to hit both in the same day,” adds Salo, “give up one weekend day to your partner and trade off the next day. You might not send as quick, but you’ll keep from burning out your belaytionship.”

5. Fail Together, Send Together

“Always remember that even though you and your partner are in the same place, at the same time, doing the same thing, it’s not very likely that you’re experiencing it exactly the same way,” says Odette.Ìę

To find common ground, treat climbing as a team effort. “Most of climbing is failing,” Odette reminds us. “If you’re going to fail in front of anyone, your person is the best choice. And when one of you sends, it’s a win for the team!”Ìę

Put yourself in their shoes. Take on their failures and celebrate their sends. You might not know exactly how they’re feeling, but the effort goes a long way. Ask them about their experience and absorb every nitty-gritty detail. The better you understand their emotional state while climbing, the better you can share in their journey and tackle each pitch in harmony.

6. Nurture the Relationship


not just the belaytionship. Salo firmly believes that “climbing will expose any shortcomings in the relationship between belay partners as a whole.” Whether you climb with your life partner or a close friend, your connection extends beyond the crag. Even if you only see your belay partner during climbing sessions, I’m willing to bet that your conversations between pitches go much deeper than “belay on, climb on.”

With that in mind, problems in a belaytionship often stem from elsewhere in the relationship. “If you haven’t figured out how to support your partner in other avenues of life, it likely will not happen in climbing either,” warns Salo. Dissect the conflicts that crop up with your partner while climbing. Are they really about the amount of slack in the rope or what your partner said while they were cruxing? Or do they have more to do with something going on at home? Try as you might, you can’t separate the two completely.Ìę

In the short-term, aim to resolve any outside disputes before you get to the crag—or at least press pause. The physical and emotional demands of climbing will only escalate those struggles until they’re worse than they were before. In the long-term, pick up on the patterns that dictate your crag conflicts. What do they say about more serious insecurities or disagreements plaguing your relationship? Get to the root of the issue. Nurture the relationship to save the belaytionship.Ìę

Also Read

The post How to Improve Your Belaytionship appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Diesel fumes. Cyanide. Falling dirt, laced with coal. Mysterious flecks of neon plastic.

These are a few of the things you might accidentally inhale while climbing Utah’s Pricecicle, a 60-foot pillar right off Highway 6.

If you like your ice like I like my martinis, then the Pricecicle will not disappoint. Is this the greatest dirtcicle in the West?

There are, in fact, more elements to the weirdness that is the Pricecicle. Take, for example, the adjacent graffiti-tagged bridge, or the drive-by spectators who stop to take a selfie while eyeing you with equal parts curiosity and bewilderment.

Then there’s the (circa 2009) between two decidedly sus contributors dubbed Bill Bones and Stevie Nacho regarding frozen poop and secret bolts. Or consider the who likes to swing her tools there, from time to time.

Weird or not, in the waning days of 2024, my husband Casey and I found ourselves driving two hours from the Park City area to the Pricecicle with our friends Vicki and Adam to catch some ice to close out the year.

I blame climate change, which delivered a balmy December. With a 50-degree high just a week or so earlier, the usually abundant ice up Provo Canyon was far from in. A sad, thin veneer of slush and drip clung to Provo’s rock face. Maple Canyon’s ice climbs weren’t in either. And the Great White Icicle was anything but.

In Utah, in addition to living in a literal desert that becomes more desert-y with each additional part per million of carbon dioxide added to our atmosphere, we also live in an ice park desert—at least compared to my former home of Colorado, where make ice climbing a reliably accessible pursuit.

So the Pricecicle it was.

Though we’d never climbed this WI3/4 pillar before, all of us had driven by it countless times, usually en route to Ouray. We never stop. Usually, because it looks not that good—and dirty. But had we written off the Pricecicle too quickly?

“Not as bad as people say,” writes Salt Lake City-based climber Alex Mankouski on . “Worth doing,” weighs in another local climber.

Generally speaking, we found these positive reviews to be accurate. Not only was the pillar in, but it was thick and the conditions were good: cold and dry.

Conveniently for time-strapped ice climbers with little kids like ourselves, the Pricecicle is just a 90-second approach from the pullout off Highway 6. The risk-averse will be happy to know that no avalanche risk exists. Top-ropers can take a muddy walk-up to the bolted anchors. And the nearest medical center lies just 17 miles to the south in the pillar’s eponymous town of Price.

As we swerved into the pullout at speed, we celebrated the absence of any other cars or parties on the pillar. Seconds later, a Toyota Tacoma pulled in ahead of us. Bummer! We rushed to pack up our gear and hike alongside the highway to reach the base of the climb first. But dude in the Tacoma shimmied up the walk-up, meaning he’d reach the anchors first.

Thankfully, our Pricecicle-mate was courteous and called down to see which side of the pillar we wanted. As Adam racked up screws to lead the right side, he rapped down the other side and cursed himself: He’d forgotten his tools up top! Luckily for him, we had three pairs to spare.

As it turned out, the other folks who had rolled up in the Tacoma were the climber’s family members and they were staying in the car while he sampled the Pricecicle. So he rope soloed himself up with a Grigri, then peaced out.

I don’t remember the last time I climbed in a belay jacket, but I needed one by my second lap up the roadside pillar. The temps were in the low 20s, with a wind chill of eight degrees Fahrenheit. Cold, but not as frigid as the prime screaming barfy conditions I’ve experienced on many an early Ouray morning. I blame the Pricecicle’s location in a little urban enclave, where the sun never shines. That, and the wind gusts that blew our way each time a semi roared by 30 feet behind us.

Shortly after we pointed the car north back toward home, Vicki was perusing the Utah Ice Climbers Facebook group. “That’s Adam!” she exclaimed. Dude in the Tacoma had snapped a photo of Adam climbing without any of us realizing it and posted it in real time.

At the end of the day, we were glad we’d made the trek to the Pricecicle, and finally climbed the pillar we’d passed on the highway so many times.

When the climate crisis means that none of the ice is in lower down, this weird pillar is a nice option to have in our back pockets. Yet between the questionable substances (cyanide, diesel, plastic, etc.), the proximity to the highway, the sneaky social media post, and the overarching vibe of the Pricecicle, it’s also the most dystopian place I’ve ever climbed.

But as Bill Bones of the climb’s storied Mountain Project comments says, for us Utahns, “Ice is too rare to be picky.”

The post Is This the Most Dystopian Climb in the US? appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Back before climbing went mainstream (Olympics, gyms, Hollywood documentaries, , yippee!), we climbers were known for our social awkwardness and unapologetic penury. The community was an eclectic mix of rule-following problem-solvers (e.g., mathematicians and engineers) and barely functioning societal dropouts who survived on peanut butter and ramen while sleeping in caves, stripped-down cargo vans, or passenger cars with plywood “box springs” in lieu of seats.

So perhaps a good joke, playing off the classic riff about engineers, might have been:

Q: How do you know when a climber likes you?

A: She stares at your rock shoes instead of her own when she’s talking to you.

With such an oddball crew, there were (and remain) Yet the good news—I guess?—with the sport’s recent boom is that there are more of us than ever, expanding the pool of eligible single climbers.

This also means that there are now at least 10 reasons why dating a climber might possibly be a good idea.

1. Climbers Are Low-Cost/Low-Maintenance

Climbers have traditionally been non-materialistic; the thinking was that we’d rather be poor and have the free time to climb than labor away earning enough cheddar to slurp consommĂ© alongside tiny-fork bluebloods at some Michelin-starred snob-hole. On the one hand, this is great news. Our low-overhead minimalism makes us cheap dates. Want to stage a “romantic” “picnic” with a moldy loaf of French bread, spray-can cheese, and gooey tomatoes harvested from a dumpsterÌę (“it’s caprese!”) while watching pirated Netflix on a phone using the free Wi-Fi in the McDonald’s parking lot? We’re all-in—and easily impressed—as long as it doesn’t overlap with good condies.

The con? Any money we do have—or that we siphon off you—usually goes right back into the sport: These days, most climbers easily drop a few thousand bucks a year on gym memberships, shoes, chalk, pants, cams, ropes, pads, fingerboards, fans, travel, and skin care.

2. We Like to Travel (To Rocks)

Another thing traditionally associated with climbers: wanderlust. And since travel is the glue that binds many a relationship, we’re a catch. The only caveat is that there needs to be rock (or a gym) at our destination or we go full “Torrance,” like Jack Nicholson in The Shining. For instance, if you told me I had a once-in-a-lifetime, all-expenses-paid trip to Fiji, where I’d be taught surfing by Laird Hamilton, my first question would be, “Is there any rock in Fiji?” And my second would be, “Or at least a doorjamb in the bungalow for my hangboard?”

As a further example: years ago, after a month of Eurail touristing around Europe, I landed on the Greek isle of Paros (where the Euros gaily tan and windsurf during their August holidays). At that point, I was so hard up to touch rock that I did pointless traverses in a crumbly beachside cave right where everyone takes a dump
 in the 100-degree heat. Talk about a “shitty” landing—and a near-psychotic desperation to clamber.

3. We’re Fit

Climbers must be some of the most training-obsessed athletes around, even at the amateur level where literally nothing is at stake. Witness the endless training ateliers, podcasts, apps and tools, and our obsession with etc. We end up with toned, attractive, eminently datable physiques, even if all we’re doing is eking out sad, expensive, barely noticeable one-percent gains after months of self-flagellation. The downside: We are so rigid about our workouts that we do weird things like fingerboard while riding as passengers in cars, or even “car-king”: ARC endurance training by squeezing a grip ring while driving.

4. We Know How to Do Proper Pull-ups

Unlike CrossFitters, whose half-assed “pull-ups” make them look like fish death-flopping in a dinghy (see video below) and will never get them stronger, our rizz us up with sexy, well-defined shoulders and backs (see reason No. 3).

Also, I may be biased (I probably am), but I feel like our sport is smarter than CrossFit: We need to execute complex, choreographed beta under the pressure and duress of facing a fall, whereas all CrossFitters need to do is figure out how to roll a tractor tire around an office-industrial parking lot without getting rhabdo.

5. We’re Good at Communicating

At least on a rope, since we need to be clear with our belay commands in a life-or-death situation. How well we express our needs off the rock will vary. Everyone’s different! Plus we tend to forget that the non-climbing public won’t always understand our lingo. So if your climber boo says, “My feelings for you are deeper than the anchor jug on ł§Ÿ±±ô±đČÔłŠ±đ,” they love you. But if they say, “Hanging out with you is worse than a front-team double split on a greasy Bishop afternoon,” they hate your stupid face.

6. We’re Really into Skin Care

Other than models, actors, and perfectly complected skinfluencers, climbers might be than anyone on Earth. If you date a climber, you’ll never need to buy balm, salve, lotion, ointment, emery boards, nail files, tape, Band-Aids, or nail clippers again. We have all that stuff stashed in multiple spots—medicine cabinet, cragging pack, gym pack, and cars. It’s not all designed for making your face radiant and free of age lines, but you will most definitely have the best finger and palm skin in town.

7. You’ll Be Plugged into an Instant Community

Just as , , usually from our apparel, veiny forearms, and chalky, hands. In this way, we tend to bond quickly, forming communities and networks both large and small. So if you pair up with a climber, you will be plugged in to a big family, which is great if you are a social person, but perhaps not so great if you’d rather not see your guest room turned into a hostel for a rotating cast of aromatic vagabonds who range from lost skatepunk bouldering kids, to dreadlocked Germans chain-smoking Drum cigarettes, to penny-pinching bro-grammers soaking up all your Wi-Fi while they work on rest days.

8. We’re Youthful and Free-Spirited

Climbers are often accused of hiding from real life by being out at the rock all day, which is 100 percent true. But this carefree lifestyle also keeps us young at heart and fun to be around. Thus, while some might call us immature, I prefer to think of climbers as ČâŽÇłÜłÙłóŽÚłÜ±ô.Ìę

Take it from me. At age 53, I can spend all day bolting choss, stop in at the gym to train, come home and pop in a frozen pizza and wash off some baby carrots for the kids like the “World’s Greatest Dad” that I am. Then trade wiener, butt, and fart jokes with my boys at the dinner table much to my wife’s chagrin. And still wake up the next morning with enough energy to put in a two-hour workday and then MoonBoard. I mean, if I were single, I’d be a major catch!

9. We Always Know the Weather

No one is as obsessed with the weather as rock climbers, who schedule our lives around when it’s ideal to climb. Condies are king, and we stay up to date—via multiple apps and websites—at least a week out on the weather, including wind, humidity, chances of precipitation, etc. So, if you never want to have to check the forecast again, date a climber.

10. Lots of Us Are Secret Trust-Funders

Despite our and our apparent poverty (worn, soiled clothing; blown-out rock shoes; guerilla camping; etc.), many of us are actually secret trust-funders. I mean, how else do you think that buddy of yours who never works somehow manages to spend three months a year in Spain and three months at Rocklands while also basing out of a high-end condo in an expensive mountain town and shopping exclusively at Whole Foods? It’s because he has a secret income he might be ashamed to talk about, e.g., a trust fund. If you play your cards right, you, too, can share in that bounty, trading the stress and tedium of work for the delicious apathy of
 “not work.”

Matt Samet is a freelance writer and editor based in Boulder, Colorado. He is the author of the and the memoir Ìę

The post 10 Reasons Why You Should Only Date Climbers appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

This past fall,ÌęConnor Herson decided to take a four-month break from his studies at Stanford University to go rock climbing. Herson, 21, is pursuing a degree in engineering, but his studies have often butted up against his desire to climb the toughest ascents in the country.

For the past three years, balancing college and climbing has meant squeezing as much of the latter as possible into winter, spring, and summer breaks—plus the occasional weekend trip to Yosemite during the school year. At age 15, Herson became the youngest person to free climb the Nose route on El Capitan.

“I’ve always balanced school and climbing but it’s gotten a lot trickier as I’ve gotten deeper into both worlds,” Herson told șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű. “I really wanted to see what I could do in a full season of Yosemite climbing.”

Herson made the most of this most recent break from class. In November, he free climbed one of the hardest routes up 3,000-foot El CapitanÌęalongside famed American climber Tommy Caldwell. The ascent—which only a handful of other climbers have done before as a free climb—cemented Herson as Yosemite’s next great star.

“Connor is part of this super young generation that’s incredibly strong from having been brought up in modern-day climbing gyms,” Caldwell told șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű. “But he’s also an outlier among people his age in that he’s chosen to apply that strength and skill to big-wall climbing, which is so awesome to see.”

On El Capitan, Herson and Caldwell free climbed a route known as the Heart, one of the most technically difficult lines up the granite behemoth. Of the Heart’s 31 pitches, a whopping eight of them are at the 5.13 level. Ìę

The Heart was first free climbed in 2015 by Mason Earle and Brad Gobright, following five years of planning and attempts. Free climbing is a style that requires climbers to rely on ropes and equipment only for safety—they cannot haul themselves up the route with gear. Other than Gobright, Earle, Caldwell, and Herson, the only other person to have successfully free climbed the Heart is Alex Honnold, in 2023.

Herson and Caldwell spent three days ascending the Heart, hauling their food, water, and portaledgesÌęas they went. Herson told șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű that free climbing on El Capitan with Caldwell was the realization of a lifelong dream.

“He was one of my heroes growing up,” Herson said. “Of all the El Cap legends, no one stands out as much as Tommy Caldwell.”

Herson grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. His parents were avid climbers, and theyÌębrought Herson and his sister, Kara, to the local climbing gym from the time they were toddlers. Herson started participating in competitive climbing events in middle school, and holds three national titles in sport climbing at the youth and collegiate levels.

He and his family also regularly traveled to Yosemite on weekends, and they took vacations to classic crags all across the U.S. Herson learned to trad climb (short for “traditional”) on these trips, placing his own gear for protection on the rock. His parents also introduced him to big-wall climbing—multi-pitch routes that cover thousands of verticalÌęfeet. Herson was just 12 years old when he first climbed Yosemite’s 2,000-foot Half Dome alongside his dad, Jim, who is a robotics engineer.

“My parents give me a lot of support with life in general and in climbing,” Herson told Climbing in 2022. “They have made a lot of sacrifices. There are times when we go to crags which might not have the best routes for them.”

Herson’s classes in engineering at Stanford don’t leave him as much time as he’d like to devote to big-wall climbing. He prepared for what he called his “gap quarter” this fall in Yosemite by cramming in a weekend of climbing there with Alex Honnold in May. Among other projects, the two completed the second free ascent of a route called New Leaf. Afterward, Herson had to hurry back to school for a midterm exam.

“Being in physical shape is one thing,” Herson said. “But more for me is the mental stress of school assignments or just anything school-related.”

He added, “Even if I’m not overtly thinking about that while climbing, it’s in the back of my mind.”

Herson spent the spent the past two summers in Canada’s climbing capital of Squamish, British Columbia, a world-renowned destination with multiple big walls. By the time he roped up with Caldwell for the Heart, Herson was already in very elite company, having ticked off all of the hardest single-pitch trad climbs in both Squamish and Yosemite, including Squamish’s iconic Cobra Crack. His preparations paid off on El Capitan.

“He was the most solid person I’ve ever seen climbing up there,” Caldwell said. “He’s also very level-headed and safe—like he wore a helmet all the time.”

Caldwell also started climbing big walls in Yosemite as a teenager with his dad. But that was 30 years ago, when rock climbingÌęwas much more of a fringe sport. “He’s just so much more advanced than I was,” Caldwell said.

Still, some things never change. Big-wall climbing comes with logistical challenges, particularly how to haul your food and supplies up the route. Herson was eager to learn Caldwell’s best practices. “There are a lot of small tactical strategies that he’s such a master at,” Herson said. “It was so cool to be able to climb with him and leverage that, and just learn so much from him.”

One of Herson’s biggest takeaways from the experience is that even Caldwell struggles on El Cap. “He doesn’t struggle that much, but when he does, and it was something I struggled on too, it’s just really validating,” said Herson.

Herson plans to resume his studies at Stanford in January, following the holiday break. In the meantime, he’ll continue climbing in Yosemite until the snow starts to fall. After the Heart, Herson told șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű that he would like to try every free-climbing route on El Capitan. “Not all in one season or anything,” he said. “Just slowly working away at trying all of them.”

“The combination of challenges on El Cap, of placing your own protection to keep it safe while at the same time pulling moves that are close to your limit, really speaks to me,” he added.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Caldwell can’t help but wonder what Herson would be able to accomplish in Yosemite if he pursued climbing full-time. “Up on the ledge [on El Cap], we mostly discussed how many semesters to take off from Stanford to climb,” Caldwell said. “As a parent, I’m in this weird position because I’m sure his parents don’t want him to drop out of school.”

Caldwell added, “But I’m also like, you could change climbing forever.”

The post Connor Herson Took a Break from Stanford to Climb One of Yosemite’s Hardest Routes appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Alex Honnold’s latest climbing project has taken him back to Yosemite National Park.

Honnold, star of the Oscar-winning 2018 climbing film Free Solo has spent the last few weeks attempting to free climb El Capitan’s famed route The Nose, the 2,900-foot vertical climb that is among the most famous routes in American rockÌęclimbing.

You might be wondering:ÌęHasn’t Alex Honnold already climbed The Nose? He has, maybe 50 times by his estimation. Honnold actually set the speed record on the route with Tommy Caldwell (1 hour, 58 minutes, 7 seconds) in 2018. But Honnold has never free climbed the route—a style that allows climbers to use ropes and climbing gear for protection but not to aid the ascent.

Since Lynn Hill first freed the Nose in 1993, about 15 other climbers have ascended it in this style, including Caldwell. Honnold has been working on the endeavor for one month now, climbing with a variety of different partners. He caused a big reaction on Instagram on November 29 when he posted photos of his attempt to free climb the Nose with the actor Jared Leto.

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű caught up with Honnold in Yosemite while he was hunkered down in his van with his family, waiting out a storm. He opened up about his latest project, why he roped up with a Hollywood heartthrob, and why the Nose remains the greatest big-wall climb in the world.

OUTSIDE: What was the catalyst for you to attempt to free the Nose? It’s been done more than a dozen times before so it’s obviously not a world first. Is this personal?
Honnold: It gets done and it’s certainly doable, but it’s still a very significant thing in climbing. The Nose means a lot to me personally. It’s been there throughout my entire climbing life. It was my first El Cap route; I aid climbed it in 2005 or 2006. I started working on the speed record with Hans Florine in 2012, and then working on the speed record again with Tommy Ìęyears later. The Nose is part of big linkups I’ve done like the Triple Crown.

It’s been this yardstick against which I can measure my own progress as a climber, starting from just the aspiration of climbing the Nose, and then trying to climb it faster, and then trying to climb it free. There’s always something hard you can do on the Nose.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

It’s also sort of unfinished business. I made some preliminary attempts to free it the same season that Tommy and I were working on the speed record. I thought it would make sense to try to work on a free climb at the same time. But it turns out they’re mutually exclusive goals because the style of climbing is so different [speed climbing the Nose involves aid climbing, among other tactics]. It’s too hard to train for both at the same time. So I focused on the speed record. This season, I’m re-focusing on free climbing it.

You’ve been posting photos to Instagram of some of the people you’ve crossed paths with on the Nose while attempting to free climb it. There’s a lot of them. How do you manage that?
It was particularly crowded this fall season. I think there are more climbers now and the level of climbers is rising over time. People are just more able to do things like that. Which I think is great.

There’s definitely been some complaining about overcrowding on walls in Yosemite. It’s hard for me to say because I always have positive interactions with everybody on the wall. Climbers I encounter say, ‘Oh my God, can I take a selfie?’ And they’re all really nice. It’s allÌęreally chill and fun. But I don’t know if that’s the experience that everybody has.

I think the key is clear communication, for passing parties, rappelling through parties, whatever. Just being like, ‘Hey, how are you guys doing? What are you planning to do? Here’s what we’re doing. How is that going to impact you? How can we work together to make sure that nobody is held up by the things that we’re each trying to do?’

In my experience on the Nose, everybody is up there having the big adventure of their life. And generally everybody wants to have a good time up there.

How do you prepare to free climb the Nose?
The main way I’ve been practicing is by rappelling it, and I did that mostly with Brette Harrington. She was also working on free climbing the Nose. Brette and I rappelled it together maybe like a half-dozen times. You rappel the whole wall, stopping to work on the key pitches as you go down.

There are two hard pitches: Changing Corners and the Great Roof. I mean, there are a lot of other pitches that are challenging in their own ways, but those two pitches are so much harder than the rest that they’re kind of the only two that matter.

I’m doing a variation on the Changing Corners which has never actually been done, which has a long and storied history of various people checking it out, but never quite committing to it. I did it on top rope years ago, so I know that it goes, but nobody’s quite done it that way yet.

Tommy gave me a lot of grief for it. Changing Corners is super historic, because that’s the way Lynn Hill did it. And there are iconic photos of her on it. There are iconic photos of Tommy Caldwell and Beth Rodden, when they did the second and third ascents. Everyone’s grown up seeing these cool images of the Changing Corners. So Tommy was like, What are you doing going around it? You’re ruining a classic! You’re destroying the Nose!

But then he belayed me on it [last week], and after watching me on it, he was like, Okay, you’re not destroying a classic. Because basically [the variation] is still very high quality, it’s still quite hard, and it looks pretty. It’s also really sharp granite that’s so far split open every one of my fingertips.

Has your perspective on the Nose changed at all since you’ve started trying to free climb it? Has it taught you anything new in these past four weeks?
It’s more that my perspective on it hasn’t changed, and that it hasn’t changed all that much in the not quite 20 years since I first climbed it. The thing with El Cap is that despite all the things that I’ve done on it over the years, you still look at the wall and you still think, Man, that is impossibly big and looks so hard. It’s just still so inspiring.

El Cap is still the most magnificent wall on Earth , and the Nose is still the most striking line up it, and when it really comes down to it, is still quite hard to climb. It always commands respect.

Okay so then how does Jared Leto fit into all this?
He’s always wanted to climb El Cap, and we were both in the Valley and it just kind of worked out. He’s been wanting to climb it in a day, but hasn’t had the time to get that kind of fitness. I was planning on going up wall-style [spending multiple days and nights camping on the wall] to try to free the Nose. I texted him, half-joking, Why don’t you join us? We can camp together. He texted back, ‘Wait, like actually, can I come?’

 

View this post on Instagram

 

We’ve been climbing together for almost ten years, just very sporadically. It started when he first got into rock climbing, which I think was 2015, and decided to make a little film project about it. He hired Renan Ozturk to film him going rock climbing around the West. One day Renan—he’s a friend—texted me, ‘Hey, would you go solo Matthes Crest with Jared?’ I was in Yosemite climbing anyway and was like, ‘Cool, an active rest day.’

At the time, Jared was training to be the Joker in a movie and was super fit for it. He was really muscular. And he had green hair. We had a great day climbing. Since then, we’ve climbed in the same places a few times. I took him up one of the Flatirons in Boulder once, because he was in Denver for a concert, things like that.

He was great on the Nose. It was awesome. He top-roped like ten of the 31 pitches and jugged the rest. It was pretty impressive. Nick Ehman, who was the third person climbing with us, commented, ‘Jared doesn’t get scared.’ There’s all these weird things on the Nose, like lower outs and swings, and one part where he was basically dangling on a rope in mid-air at the very top of El Cap. It just does not bother him at all.

Want more ofÌę°żłÜłÙČőŸ±»ć±đ’sÌęnews stories?Ìę

The post Alex Honnold Has “Unfinished Business” on this Iconic Yosemite Climb appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Last month, opened Boyce Bouldering Park—a 6,000-square-foot expanse of artificial boulders. Carved into the edge of Pittsburgh’s urban sprawl—just fifteen minutes from downtown—this free outdoor bouldering gym was designed with an ambitious vision: to bring outdoor adventure to all.

The park boasts more than 100 problems, ranging in difficulty from VB to V10+, which will be reset twice a year by professional setters. It is part of a $4.7 million project inspired by a 2020 Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) study, which highlighted a significant lack of accessible outdoor recreation in and around Pittsburgh. To address this need, planners chose to create a bouldering park and nearby pump track, paired with upgraded restrooms and other park facilities, aiming to foster a sense of community and adventure close to home.

From start to finish, the park revitalization project was designed with climbers in mind—but Dean Privett, a local gym owner, consultant, and longtime setter, did more to shape the park’s climbing functionality than anyone else.

Privett has been in the climbing industry for more than 13 years, designing climbing facilities worldwide, including one of his own in Pittsburgh. When he heard that Allegheny County had plans to build a free climbing-oriented outdoor park, he picked up the phone and got into the right room.

It was a good thing he did.

Lacking climbing expertise, the county was planning to install a 30-foot climbing tower with autobelays. But, in an 11th hour meeting, Privett convinced them that bouldering was a safer, more accessible, more affordable, and more climber-friendly alternative.

We aren’t motivated by profit; we’re motivated by getting folks outside.

“I knew I wanted to make sure whatever got built was as functional as possible,” he told Climbing. “Architect-led artificial climbing wall constructions tend to be more in the miss column than the hit column with true avid indoor and outdoor rock climbers.” His company, Boulder Solutions, ultimately consulted on the project— with ambitious, progress-oriented setting at the forefront of the design. By prioritizing wall shapes that support varied movement and difficulty, the wall design itself ensured that a dedicated team of setters could regularly rotate problems.

Privett and Allegheny County plan to update the routes at Boyce twice a year, aiming to keep the space fresh and challenging for climbers of all skill levels.

For Privett, this approach was crucial.

“I wanted to create a range of routes that catered to the existing climbing community and also welcomed the ‘stumble-up’ climber,” he said. “With the outdoor design, we could control that experience through the wall shapes and by balancing slabs with overhangs.”

The park currently boasts over 100 new climbs, ranging from the smaller, kid-oriented “June Boulder”—named after Privett’s daughter—to a V10+ set by IFSC World Cup route setter . Setters from , , , , and the former director of setting for the Cliffs, also contributed to the park’s initial setting.

“My goal was to provide Pittsburgh with a diverse palette of climbs from incredibly experienced setters,” Privett said. “So we set in a traditional commercial climbing gym methodology, maybe with a slight emphasis on fun over difficulty; we wanted to have things up there that would challenge people so they would come back.”

“My philosophy here was really to introduce people to it as physical problem-solving and not as a physical challenge,” he added, “to hopefully create that hook-line-and-sinker feel of having an enjoyment for solving a puzzle.”

His plan is working. On a recent visit to BBP, he heard a young girl, wearing sneakers, ask her parents to put climbing shoes on her Christmas list.

“There’s a bit of a mentorship barrier that’s been true of traditional rock climbing,” Privett said. “But here, there’s a nice crossover [between communities]. When climbing is in the public sphere, and in public spaces—it’s easier for people to give it a try.”

Since Boyce is within the jurisdiction of Allegheny County Parks, the challenges that traditional gyms face with liability insurance were minimal—it’s generally accepted that public areas operate with a “use at your own risk” legal structure.

“Within commercial climbing gyms, there’s a lot of liability that we’re obviously exposed to, but parks operate in a different realm,” Privett said. “There are federal laws that protect them. They have tolerances for those types of activities—and that allowed the upkeep and route setting to be a part of the overall budget.”

All of that allows the park to serve its primary goal: making outdoor recreation in Pittsburgh accessible to underserved communities.

“The climbing work is emblematic of that,” said Brett Hollern, Vice President for the PEC Western Pennsylvania Central Region. “So how does somebody without transportation, without equipment, having never done this before, how do they even approach recreating outdoors or climbing? We bring that experience to them.”

Privett echoed the sentiment: “In places like Pittsburgh, it’s just much less common to think about climbing as an activity that you would or could want to do. But our industry could benefit from more awareness around what climbing is. It’s all of our job to educate and introduce people to it.”

Hollern hopes that the Boyce Bouldering Park model can inspire other municipalities to consider climbing in their park budgets. “We operate on the premise that people who recreate on public lands will, in turn, become stewards of those lands. Outdoor spaces like this can activate communities, whether through economic development or quality of life, and Allegheny County really took that idea and ran with it.”

Joe Perkovich, the Allegheny County Landscape Architect who supported the project, said the proposal’s non-existent barrier to entry was a key reason for the county parks service involvement. “All of our parks are publicly funded assets and are there for people to use and enjoy,” he continued. “We aren’t motivated by profit; we’re motivated by getting folks outside.”

For most, the bouldering park is just another addition to Pittsburgh’s growing outdoor scene—but it’s a game-changer for advocates and climbers like Privett. It’s a space where the barriers to entry are lowered, and anyone, regardless of background or experience, can step up, fall down, and fall in love with the sport.

The post Pittsburgh Newest Bouldering Gym Is in a Public Park—and It’s Free appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Before you sneak away from your family to get after some early season ice or a gym session, do your future self a favor: Snag these Black Friday climbing deals. Whether it’s time to retire some questionable gear or you’ve had your eyes on a new addition to your climbing kit, you’ll probably find what you need on sale now through Cyber Monday.

In particular, there are a number of deals on climbing shoes we love through both REI and Backcountry, so this is a great chance to add another pair to your quiver. You’ll also find hardware, some ropes, ice gear—and scroll to the end for the MVP of deals for climbers who love multi-pitch and remote backcountry routes.

Read on for the 14 Black Friday climbing deals that the editors atÌęClimbingÌęcan’t pass up this year.

ED NOTE: If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.ÌęLearn more.

REI’s Best Black Friday Deals for Climbers

REI launched its Cyber Deals on Tuesday, November 26. Since the co-op stages its annual #OptșÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű on Black Friday, the best deals will likely arrive on Saturday, November 30 and beyond. Here are a few we’re already eyeing and check back here on Sunday with some deeper discounts on climbing gear from REI to consider.

La Sportiva Miura VS Climbing Shoes

$148.93 ($199)

If your footwork repertoire involves pockets and micro edging, the La Sportiva Miura VS Climbing Shoe is among the best. We as the best tech shoe out there. With an aggressive downturn and semi-stiff, low-profile toe box, this shoe is perfect for precision climbing up slab and narrow cracks.

Update: The on-sale men’s version of this shoe is now sold out!Ìę

La Sportiva TX2 Evo Approach Shoes

$86.73 ($159)

With great grip and breathability, these approach shoes strike a near-perfect balance between nimble hiking and climbing performance—without the weight. That’s why we as our top pick for a lightweight approach shoe. We also love that La Sportiva crafts it with recycled materials and a sole designed for easy repairs. The upshot: You’d be hard-pressed to find an approach shoe of this quality for under $100—we’re adding it to our carts now.

Update: The men’s version of this shoe is no longer on sale. Check back Saturday as REI adds more deals to see which approach shoes are on sale.Ìę

The Best Black Friday Climbing Deals at Backcountry.com

If you’re looking for more techy climbing gear or alpine equipment and REI doesn’t carry it, try Backcountry.com, which is offering up to 50% off during its Black Friday Sale.

Scarpa Veloce L Climbing Shoe

$131.21 ($174.95)

Comfort meets performance in the Veloce line from Scarpa. This shoe also has an uncanny ability to mold to your foot, with its flexible and soft microsuede upper. That’s why, in our for every style, we chose the Scarpa Veloce L as the best training shoe. While the shoe is, according to Scarpa, purpose-built for the gym, we loved how it performed—and especially smeared—on real rock, too.

Scarpa Phantom Tech HD Mountaineering Boot

$674.21 ($898.95)

These solid boots got an update in 2023 and are now warmer, more durable, and more comfortable than ever. , these boots performed in downright frigid conditions. From long approaches to steep mixed climbs, these boots are a solid pick for your ice and alpine adventures—and over $200 off.

Petzl Sitta Harness

$131.21 ($174.95)

We love this versatile and lightweight harness for fast-and-light ice and mountaineering adventures—that’s in our recent roundup of the best ice gear. It also has two lateral ice-clipper slots for your screws and can fit a full rack of alpine gear. Impressively, the Sitta compressed down to the size of a bike water bottle, making it highly packable, too. A couple downsides to consider: the leg loops aren’t adjustable and the Sitta doesn’t provide enough cushioning to make it viable for hanging belays.

Petzl Sirocco Helmet

$97.46 ($129.95)

We’ve long been fans of this ultralight helmet from Petzl, and this year, it got some updates that make it an even more solid pick. Overall, the Sirocco got slimmed down for a better fit and field of vision, as well as a new ventilation design for more breathability. This helmet’s more comfortable than ever—and we think it , too.

Petzl Swift RL 1100 Headlamp

$104.96 $139.95

Super light and compact, this high-quality headlamp illuminates up to 155 meters (508+ feet). It’s a brilliant choice for night-time objectives or later-than-expected raps off that multi-pitch route. We haven’t field-tested the Swift RL, but we generally trust Petzl to effectively light the way on our nocturnal adventures.

Petzl NEOX Belay Device

$112.46 ($149.95)

If you’ve been less than stoked on dishing out slack to a lead climber using a Grigri, you’ve got to try the Petzl NEOX Belay Device. We’ve used it for rock, gym, and ice climbing and and .ÌęUsing the same cam-assisted blocking that makes the Grigri the safer choice over an ATC or other devices, the NEOX innovates with an integrated wheel that makes feeding out slack faster and smoother. Petzl also engineered the NEOX with recycled materials to reduce its environmental impact.

Edelrid Eagle Lite Protect Pro Dry – 9.5mm

$224.96-$247.46 ($329.95)

When we this year, this one was a clear favorite. In designing it, Edelrid drew upon material innovations in military and space engineering to make this rope super strong, heat-resistant, and abrasion-resistant. Did we mention it handles like a dream? Available in 60m and 70m.

The Best Black Friday Climbing Deals From More Brands

With Black Diamond dishing out up to 60% off, Rocky Talkie offering a flat 20% off everything, and the Canadians up at Arc’teryx getting in on the Black Friday fun with up to 30% off, the big retailers aren’t the only places to seek out climbing deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Black Diamond Ultralight Ice Screw

$72.21-$76.46 ($84.95-$89.95)

BD’s got a few ice screws on sale and for fast-and-light missions. Not only is this aluminum-steel hybrid screw super lightweight, but it handles beautifully, which we definitely appreciate when the cold is getting the better of our digits.

Black Diamond Camalot Z4

$75.46 ($89.95)

Build out your trad rack with these BD cams on sale—a . You can save on sizes ranging from 0 to .75 for bomber protection in small cracks—then pencil in that Indian Creek trip for spring.

Black Diamond Crack Gloves

$37.46 ($49.95)

Less tape, less waste, more time. These gloves might just be the answer to your crack climbing woes (from a few years ago when these gloves were first released). These sticky gloves are abrasion-resistant thanks to synthetic suede that makes cruising up that hand crack a relative breeze. We also think these make nice stocking stuffers for the trad enthusiast in your life.

Arc’teryx Alpha Parka

$700 ($1,000)

Dress warmer, belay longer (without shivering). This is our go-to belay jacket, but it comes at the premium you’d expect from one of the most trusted names in alpine outerwear. Now’s your chance to invest in your warmth at a discount as hefty as the 850-fill down inside this parka. Mapped synthetic insulation and a Gore-Tex Infinium shell also help keep you dry if snow starts falling.

Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio

$88 ($110)

20% off an award-winning communication device that makes belayer/climber comms a breeze on long routes or days in the backcountry? We’ll take it. We’ve of this tricked-out walkie-talkie for multi-pitch climbs and long days out there. With a max range of 35-plus miles and a rock-solid battery life, the Rocky Talkie is a climber’s (and skier’s) best friend.

The post The 14 Best Holiday Climbing Deals appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.