The Top 3 Things to Look For in a Rock Gym
By Daniel L Dutton

I've been climbing for about 5 years. I live in Houston so rock formations are scarce. I have climbed at rock gyms from Houston to Austin and all in between, and there are certain things to look for in a good rock gym.

People

The people at a rock gym make a huge difference in the progress you make and the fun you have. If the owner and employees are experienced climbers, then they have a lot to offer to you as a customer in regards to advice and training. If they are down to earth and friendly, then they will help you enjoy yourself and you will be more eager to improve. And if the staff meets this criteria, then the other people who climb there are sure to be similar.

Alex Honnold Solos Route on Half Dome!
By Ryan Coisson

Half-Dome's Regular Northwest Face. These words are enough to inspire awe and wonder, in many avid rock climbers.

Just the idea of being in Yosemite Valley can get a climber revved up. However, Half Domes Regular Northwest Face stands at 2000 feet or so with 23 pitches, this bad-boy is quite the feat for any climber to be proud of. While some rock-climbers take up to 3 days to obtain that amazing view from the top, some incredibly gifted climbers have been known to be doing their victory dance in less than 2 hours.

That is, it was worthy of bragging rights up until September 06, 2008. That was the day that Half-Dome's Regular Northwest Face was soloed by Alex Honnold in just a few hours. Other people have attempted to free-solo this incredible route before, but none of them could quite manage it, all of them needing rope lines in at least one of the 23 pitches. Alex rehearsed the route once or twice before the solo and then went for it.

Rock Climbing Vacations Are the Best!
By Ted Ibougen

Many times when people start planning vacations, they dream of many things. However, many people have images of pitons, ropes, and other gear when they see rocks! Therefore, many people spend their holiday climbing rocks!

What a climber wears during climbing is the most important thing he/she can do! In fact, during climbing clothes are not meant to be stylish, they are to be protective. When it comes to climbing clothes, it starts form the skin. By that, in rock climbing it is essential to have good "breathing" clothes that allow the sweat to move outward and to let air to flow. The bottom layer is usually thermal clothing.

How to Care For Your Carabiners
By Jeffry Evans

Your carabiners may not be one of the larger or even one of the most expensive pieces of climbing gear that you'll have, but that does not mean that they are unimportant. Carabiners are used to link climbers to their safety devices, other kinds of climbing gear, or even other climbers in a belay. Using a faulty or damaged carabiner is dangerous. Always remember that keeping your climbing gear in good working order is an excellent way to avoid accident or injury. Here are some basic tips and maintenance care guidelines for keeping your carabiners in tip top shape.

Cleaning your Carabiners

Getting There: For the East Ridge trailhead, travel south on Hwy. 9 about 7.5 miles from the last Breckenridge traffic light. Turn right on Blue Lakes Road, and then take another right on No. 851. You'll find the trailhead in just about a mile, but you'll have to park parallel to the road as there is no parking lot for hikers.

The Trail: Like many of Colorado's fourteeners, there are different routes you can take to summit Quandary depending on your skill level. If you're a beginner, the East Ridge is your best bet, offering broad slopes that aren't quite as dramatic as other routes. The West Ridge, conversely, offers a more complex and challenging class three route. For the most intense adventure seekers, Quandary's north face is most difficult and will require hikers to climb or scramble through challenging terrain to reach the top. Once you reach the summit, however, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Bross to the south and Mt. Grays and Mt. Torreys to the northeast. In addition, stellar views of the Blue Lakes at the base of Quandary are afforded from the summit.

"I felt very vulnerable at the summit"- Soeren Smidt of 7 Summits On Everest


EH had the opportunity to talk at length with Soeren Smidt of 7 Summits, on the 29th of May ,about his Everest summit and their(his & Henrik's plans and future goals). Here we reproduce the excerpt from the interview.

Chulu East in Nepal
By: Julien Van Loye


Nestled at an altitude of 6,584m/21,60ft, Chulu East is one of the adventurous and stimulating trekking and expedition destination. In 1955, a German expedition team pioneered and succeeded to summit Chulu East through North-East Ridge and thereafter its popularity gained twofold. Standing atop the Manage valley, Chulu East boasts outstanding views of Annapurnas II, III and IV, Gangapurna, Glacier Dome, Dhaulagiri, Tilicho Peak and Manaslu. Chulu East delights travelers with its surrounding scenery of terraced paddy fields, rich flora and fauna and its intrinsic landscape.

Mt Kenya Sirimon Route - Guide To Trekking Mt Kenya Sirimon Trek
By Robert Muhoho

Sirimon Route

A popular alternative to Naro Moru, this route has more spectacular scenery, greater flexibility and a gentler rate of ascent; although it is still easy to climb too fast, so allow five days for the trek. It’s well worth considering combining it with the Chogoria Route for a six –to seven –day traverse that will really bring out the best of Mt Kenya.

Climbing Lhakpa Ri in Tibet
By Ju Lien

Lhakpa Ri, towering over Tibet mountain range at an elevation of 7,045 meters, divides the upper East Rongbuk glacier and upper Kharta glacier. It lies in proximity to mighty Mt Everest boasting mesmerizing sights of Nyonno Ri range in eastern Tibet, the north faces of Chomolonzo, Makalu and Pethangtse, Shartse, Kangshung (east) face of Everest, east face of Lhotse, the north east ridge of Everest, the North Col, Changtse, Cho Oyu and Shishapangma as stunning backdrops.

Rock Climbing - The Sport
By Arturo Ronzon

To participate in the sport of rock climbing, you don’t have to be a super athlete. It is more a sport of grace and balance rather than one of strength. What is the allure of rock climbing anyway? You will usually come away from an encounter with ripped hands and various scabby body parts and there will be times where you will be scared out of your wits. For many people it is about exploring the natural world around you and finding the strength and perseverance buried deep inside of you.

Southern California Indoor Rock Climbing Scene
By Arturo Ronzon

If you are new to the sport of rock climbing, a great place to learn is at a Southern California indoor rock climbing facility. If you know nothing at all or just a little bit, joining a Southern California indoor rock climbing gym can help you hone your skills and become more confident before you are ready to brave the real thing. You don’t have to be particularly strong to rock climb. It is more of a balance and grace sport. When you join a Southern California indoor rock climbing gym, an introductory class will give you all the basic information you will need to be an adept climber. Wear your usual clothing that you were when you normally workout.

Adventure Travel in Peru - Climbing 21,000-Foot Nevado Coropuna
By Vic Hanson

I really enjoy the mountains; maybe it's because I grew up in Minnesota where there aren't any. I praise God for being able to live in a beautiful canyon surrounded by high mountains. The problem with that is that I always want to climb them. Every time I go from Cotahuasi to Arequipa, there are Nevado Coropuna and Nevado Solimana tempting me. The road seems designed to give you as many tantalizing views of both mountains as possible, as it curves around them and between them.

Rock Climbing Gear
By John Furnem

There are a number of different outdoor sports that people enjoy. For those who enjoy adventure, Rock climbing offers the most challenging experience of all outdoor activities. An experienced rock climber knows how important it is to have good quality rock climbing gear.

Climbing Guides
By Dan Compton

The term climbing guides can be used in two differing but related ways - either experienced climbers with credentials who offer their services to novice or less experienced climbers or the printed guides to climbing routes at climbing sites the world over. This article deals with the first definition.

Rock Climbing - Why we Go:
By Chris Eckel

Now, most of us who read climbing articles all the time do so because we are excited by all the epic stories and travelogues. They remind us of experiences we have had and inspire our dreams of what is to come. Of course there are also those readers who (despite all our undue influence) are not climbers.

What is ice climbing?
Ice climbing is an extreme winter sport quickly gaining popularity in the United States. Ice climbers ascend ice formations such as frozen waterfalls, ice flows on craggy mountain faces and glacial icefalls. Climbers may also look for routes in steep, compact snow, and high mountain ice. While related to rock climbing, ice climbing differs in that climbers need to gauge the variable slope and texture of the ice and choose their gear accordingly. The two main pieces of gear are ice axes and crampons. The climber kicks the crampon into the ice, then swings the axe into the ice above him.

Ice Climbing Gear List
This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but as a starting point for tackling ice climbing as your new winter hobby.

Mica Heli Guides stands alone in the world of powder for two simple but obvious reasons: its terrain (which is massive and private) and its helicopters (which are small and also private). Ski Canada editor Iain and I made a weekend visit to the only heli-operation in the Rockies last April to check out the sometimes chest-deep (not so difficult when you're Iain's size, but even I disappeared occasionally) snow that draws skiers from around the world.

About Rock Climbing
By John Furnem

Ready to take on Rock Climbing? It is one of the fastest growing sports around, indoor as well as outdoors a lot of people are now joining what seems to be the new way to work out, and to strengthen yourself both physically and mentally. Rock climbing is no longer reserved to the professionals, even thought they are very much respected and looked up because of their amazing achievements and skills the art of climbing now belongs to the masses and it seems they love it.

20th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon 2006
By Ruhaizad Daud

They call it 'the world's toughest mountain race'. It takes a grueling soul to run, race and climb Mount Kinabalu with a total distance of 21 kilometers for both men and women. Takes place in Malaysia's first World Heritage Site, Mount Kinabalu (4095.2 meters) International Climbathon is a true challenge to the spirit of human endurance.

Introduction to Mountain Climbing
By Michael Russell

Generations and generations of people have lived in the mountains all over the world. They have learned and mastered the ways of these mountains. These people have come to live easily in them and have developed techniques in order to move safely through and over them. These people are called "mountaineers" and this exercise of their skills is called "mountaineering". When these mountaineers climb a particular mountain with the aim of reaching its summit, they become "mountain climbers".

A Day of Climbing
By Michael Russell

A typical climb starts early in the day. A group of climbers might follow a trail up through pastures and woodlands. Some groups prefer to stay on the trails all the way to the top of the mountain. These groups do not need special equipment; they just need a pair of good lungs and strong legs. But still, good climbers would bring along a pack containing first aid supplies, warm clothing and extra food.

Rock Climbing Gear
By Thomas Morva

Most people consider rock climbing as an extreme sport, meaning it entails a lot of risks. Nevertheless, the sport draws a lot of enthusiasts. And the advancements in technology used to ensure the safety of the climber encourages more to engage in the sport. Rocking climbing gear has to pass stringent quality controls and checks. There are constant improvements to make sure the gear holds its weight against pressure and wear and tear.

Mount Chimborazo: Climbing Glaciers Near The Equator
By Steven Gillman

The climb up the glaciers to the summit of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador isn't considered highly technical. Technically, it is mountaineering, but how hard could it be, considering that I went to 20,600 feet the first time I used crampons and an ice axe? Okay, I had used them once for practice, on a sledding hill near my house. I climbed almost forty feet while people walked by with their sleds, warning their kids to stay away from me.

Rock Climbing Shoes
By Thomas Morva

One of the most important gears a climber should have is a good pair of shoes. As any experienced enthusiast of the sport would advise, you need to have comfortably tight fitting rock climbing shoes. Ordinary rubber shoes may work for easy climbs, but you need shoes that are specifically made for rock surfaces if you intend to be serious about the sport and your safety.

Cat Litter on Mount Shasta
By Steven Gillman

Climbing Mount Shasta

Topped by snow and glaciers, Mount Shasta rises up above everything else when you approach it from the north.

As soon as I saw it, I wanted to be up there. We were coming south from Oregon, after driving across the country from Michigan. A detour to northern California before heading home seemed like a good idea to both of us.

Mount Kenya - Up High at God's Mountain
By Andrew Muigai

Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain, after Kilimanjaro. It is estimated to be 2.5 million years old, and Kilimanjaro at 750,00 years of age is really an upstart. Time has really taken its toll, and the peak is thought to have dropped from 6,500 m those millions of years ago to 5,199 m today. The mountain is an extinct volcano, whose plug forms what is today the peak area. The crater was long ago, done to death, by nature's untiring erosion agents.

Basic Rock Climbing Gear
By James Hunt

We’ve all seen rock climbers on television or in the movies. Climbing rocks and cliffs take skill and endurance. In case you were thinking about taking up rock climbing, a listing of the necessary equipment is outlined below.

Shoes: You can’t wear your everyday hiking boots to climb a rock. Your shoe should be stiff and fit like a glove. Snug but not too tight. Because comfort is a concern, it’s best not to mail order shoes for rock climbing, you’ll definitely want to try them on first.

Why sport climb?
The essence of sport climbing is that the challenge in ascending a route comes from the difficulty of the moves. In traditional climbing, the leader often has to tinker with gear in the middle of hard sections, or risk running it out to easier ground. On sport routes, the protection is fixed, and all the climber has to do is hang a quickdraw and snap in the rope. The security that reliable fixed gear offers is also appealing for many folks — few climbers have the skill and confidence to place removable protection while climbing at their full physical potential.