Climbing Magazine

Published September 4, 2026 11:32AM About our reporting: Associate Editor Sam MacIlwaine reviewed dozens of court documents dating back to 2007 and spoke with former Hazel Green resident Ken Yager to unearth new details, including the location, of the controversial Yosemite land swap proposal. It’s 2026, and unfortunately, the sudden downsizing of public lands has become a routine occasion. But sometimes journalists get ahead of it.

Published September 4, 2026 03:02AM While working a new line in a quarry in Scotland, professional climber Mat Wright fell an estimated 26 feet (8m) onto his belayer on the evening of August 29. He slipped at the worst possible time—while attempting to clip his next piece of protection. His fall ripped the cam below out of the crack. While the following piece of protection held, it still resulted in Wright crashing onto his belayer—and fiancée—Anna Taylor.

Published September 3, 2026 02:48PM Editor’s note: Steven Potter draws on two-and-a-half decades of climbing to analyze the recent Simon Boes controversy. Potter spent a month researching the history of lying in climbing, referencing countless magazine and journal articles, dusty internet forums, and his own experience as a wide-eyed teenager. I.

Published September 3, 2026 11:52AM About our reporting: To investigate the sudden death of a 27-year-old American climber, reporter Natalie Berry spoke with IMFGA guide Calum Muskett, expert alpinist Colin Haley, and a close friend of the deceased. The results exposed a subtle but fatal rappelling mistake that most climbers don’t train to avoid.

News On September 2, Access Fund filed a motion to re-open its lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling its Bears Ears downsizing “illegal.” Published September 2, 2026 10:06AM Editor’s note: In reporting this story, we interviewed representatives of Access Fund.

Published September 1, 2026 04:38PM Short climbers are constantly developing creative beta, pulling harder, and moving more dynamically than our taller partners. Although there are moments when our size works to our advantage—like fitting comfortably into sit-starts—we often must approach climbs differently. But don’t despair! There are several strategies to help shorter climbers perform at their best and make the most of our unique skillsets.

Gear “This is in the top five most comfortable shoes I’ve worn," wrote one field tester. Published August 31, 2026 03:32PM Searching for a good gym climbing shoe in the $100 price range? Normally, we’d say you might be out of luck. But right now, with Labor Day Sales going on, you can get yourself a pair of Ocun’s new Jett S climbing shoes for a cool $104.96—barely more than a Benjamin. Normally retailing for $139.95, these shoes are currently marked 25% off at Backcountry.

Published August 31, 2026 12:17PM It didn’t sound weird until the barista asked me where I was going. “I’m flying to Berlin to climb this very specific bridge,” I told him. “Under a highway.” “Berlin?” I felt his surprise. “Yeah. Well, a few miles north of Berlin.” It was six A.M. on a Tuesday, and this coffee shop was the only one open in Moab, Utah.

Published August 31, 2026 03:00AM In June, we launched a Summer Photo Contest to showcase the most outstanding images that capture the beauty, emotion, culture, breadth, and power of our sport. We called upon professionals and amateurs alike to share the shots they waited patiently for, whether on the ground or thousands of feet up. We received nearly 250 submissions from all corners of the globe, from seaside cliffs in Portugal to alpine climbs in Greenland.

Published August 31, 2026 03:00AM In a sense, it’s the core of our sport: the crux. It’s the hardest moves on a climb, the moment of truth, and the split-second where you launch from one timeline into the next. In our experience, the crux is something that you can’t study for or train into autopilot. Often, the real crux is a piece of the puzzle that you’d never expect. In the Crux category of our 2026 Summer Photo Contest, we chose nine photos that visually capture the essence of a crux.