The Climbing Zine

Dancing With The Queen by Luke Mehall (excerpt)

Luke — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:35:17 +0000

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 does really, but there’s something about hip-hop that gets me fired up like nothing else.

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Climbing En Plein Air by Birch Malotky

Luke — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:55:57 +0000

The dance of renewal, the dance that made the world, was always danced here at the edge of things… —Ursula K. Le Guin, Dancing at the Edge of The World Note: this story is published in Volume 15 of The Climbing Zine My first sense of it is auditory. I am walking toward the rim, eyes straining to see over an edge I can’t yet comprehend beyond expectation, when I hear a noise…

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The Art of The First Ascent by Luke Mehall

Luke — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:25:00 +0000

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 available. Banner photo of Dave Marcinowski on the first ascent of Real Sports…

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Love Your Friends Today, Volume 26 Introduction by Luke Mehall

Luke — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 07:37:59 +0000

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. The Climbing Zine is now 164 pages. Score a copy subscribe We’ve got many reasons to make this shift…

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Upside Down and Unconscious by Shay Skinner

Luke — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:21:01 +0000

I remember arguing with my partner about wearing his helmet before starting a climb for the day. “It’s only 5.9,” he said. “I’ll be fine.” I insisted that wearing a helmet on a multipitch trad climb shouldn’t be up for discussion. After a few more tries at explaining my discomfort, he started up the climb. Helmetless. “Oh fuck,” he said. This piece is published in the new issue…

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My Helmet by David Rozul

Luke — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:00:20 +0000

I hold and turn my helmet like a classroom globe, dragging my fingers over each mark, each sign of wear. Every indent, every groove represents a route, a pitch, a move, a memory. Note: this piece is published in the new Zine, Volume 17, now available to order. In my hands is my beaten-up shield. It’s lightweight gray plastic with a foam interior and a back that is ventilated…

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Gravity Is A Law with Barry Blanchard

Luke — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:03:42 +0000

Luke speaks with Barry Blanchard, a veteran climber, alpinist, and mountain guide. He is also a founder of Mountain Muskox. Blanchard’s new book: The Echo, Stories From The Edge of Survival was just published. He kicks off his book tour at the Yosemite Facelift this week. ——- OG Dirtbag Is Dead tie dye shirts: https://shop.climbingzine.com/collections/new-dirtbag-clothing-lines Subscribe…

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Vol. 1,4,6,7,8 Auction of The Climbing Zine

Luke — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:27:32 +0000

All of these zines are now posted up on eBay and will be there for a week. They are all in near mint condition. Good luck! Vol. 1: https://ebay.io/m/9tNu35 Vol. 4: https://ebay.io/m/PrMw1r Vol. 6: https://ebay.io/m/SdErZH Vol. 7: https://ebay.io/m/DNIeXC Vol. 8: https://ebay.io/m/oNHnZO Zaz and “The Baguette” I am continually amazed and supported by the collectors of The Climbing…

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The Long Run, a profile of Alan Carne by Luke Mehall

Luke — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:45:38 +0000

“There were no girls when I started climbing [in England],” Alan said, in a tone more serious than joking. I’d just met Alan Carne only twenty-four hours before, on a warm September day seeking refuge in the shade of the 4×4 Wall at Indian Creek, and we instantly became friends, that kind of instant friendship that only the climbing community provides. He was rolling solo, and we had a little…

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Parallel Traditions by Yeongju Lee

Luke — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 07:06:48 +0000

The Korean folklore goes: the Creator called upon all domes and boulders of Korea to gather up north, where they would join to form the two thousand peaks of the Geumgansan mountain range (금강산). Ulsanbawi (울산바위) headed north as well, but moved very slowly as it was one of the largest domes in the country. By the time Ulsanbawi reached Seorak Mountain, it heard that the range had already formed…

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