Articles Index

1924: First Ascent of Ellingwood Ledges

In 1924, pioneer climbers Albert Ellingwood, Eleanor Davis, Stephen Hart, and Marion Warner made the first ascent of one of Colorado's classic and most beautiful alpine routes up a prow on the North Face of Crestone Needle. Read about their landmark first ascent, creating perhaps America's hardest long climbing route at the time.

Colorado's Fourteeners

Colorado has 55 Fourteeners or 14,000-foot mountains in its many mountain ranges. Learn all about Colorado's Fourteeners and how to climb them.

1916: First Ascent of Classic Colorado Peaks

In 1916 pioneer climbers Albert Ellingwood, Eleanor Davis, and two others made the first ascents of Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle, the last two of Colorado's 54 Fourteeners or 14,000-foot peaks to be climbed. Read about the landmark ascent and two great American climbers.

Nuts, Chocks, and Wired Nuts

Definition of Nuts, a climbing equipment word for metal devices wedged in cracks.

Hexentric Nut

Definition of Hexentric Nut, a climbing equipment word for a 6-sided nut that is wedged in a crack for protection by a lead climber.

All About Nuts, Chocks, Wired Nuts, and Micro Nuts

Nuts, also called wired nuts, chocks, artificial chockstones, and micro nuts, are essential pieces of climbing equipment. Nuts are simply small pieces of metal that are wedged and slotted into cracks. A climber then attaches a rope or a knot to the nut with a carabiner, creating a solid and secure anchor. Find out all about nuts, what they are, and why nuts are important climbig tools.

Mount Everest: Highest Mountain in the World

Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, stretches along the border of Nepal and Tibet/China in southern Asia. Find out lots of interesting facts about Mount Everest, including its first ascent, the usual climbing routes, and strange feats on the roof of the world.

Mount Vinson: Highest Mountain in Antarctica

Mount Vinson in the Ellsworth Mountains is the highest mountain in Antarctica and one of the Seven Summits, the highest points on the Seven Continents. Discover lots of interesting facts about Mount Vinson, including its discovery in 1957, first ascent by Americans in 1966, and how to climb Mount Vinson now.

Climbing The 7 Summits

How much does it cost to climb The Seven Summits, the seven highest mountains on the seven continents? You know it will cost a lot of money, find out here how much it costs to climb all seven mountains.

The Seven Summits

The Seven Summits, a well-known mountaineering objective, are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. Learn here about these seven mountains and climbing them.

Facts About Capitol Peak

Capitol Peak in the Elk Range in west-central Colorado is one of the hardest Fourteeners to climb in the state. The stately peak offers sweeping buttresses, towering granite walls, and a great climbing route that culminates with the famed Knife Edge ridge. Learn all about Capitol Peak, how it was named, who did the first ascent, how many fatalities it's claimed, and its climbing routes.

How To Avoid Ticks

Ticks are pesky little arachnids that are often encountered when you're approaching cliffs or on cliff-tops after you've climbed. Learn all about ticks and seven tips on how to avoid ticks and keep from getting bitten by ticks when you're climbing.

Facts About Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta towers majestically above northern California. This massive stratovolcano, one of California's Fourteeners, has a long colorful history and is a popular mountain for climbers. Find out lots of interesting facts and Mount Shasta's geology, volcanism, history, ascents, and how to climb it.

Grand Teton: Wyoming’s Second Highest Mountain

The Grand Teton, the second highest mountain in Wyoming, is one of America's most famous mountains with over 85 climbing routes and variations to its rocky 13,775-foot summit. Learn lots of interesting facts about the Grand Teton, including its name, geology, historic ascents, the peak's two most popular routes, and the controversy over its first ascent.

How to Find and Use Climbing Rests

Finding and using rests while you're rock climbing is just as important as the moves you make using handholds and footholds. Learn all about rests, what a resting point is on a climb, and a couple basic rest techniques to help you rest and recover if you get pumped climbing.

The Updated Ten Essentials

Here's a list of the updated Ten Essentials and why you should carry them. The Ten Essentials will help you in emergency situations when you're climbing.

Jon Krakauer Quote

Here's a quote from writer and climber Jon Krakauer, author of "Into Thin Air," about his attempt to solo climb a fearsome wall on Devil Thumb in Alaska.

Climbing Helmets Wear Out

Climbing helmets wear out from regular use and from exposure to UV light. Learn when you should retire your helmet and buy a new one, and how to take care of your helmet to make it last longer.

Facts About Mount Sneffels

Mount Sneffels in the San Juan Range in southwestern Colorado is one of the state's most recognizable and beautiful mountains. Sneffels, a Fourteener or 14,000-foot peak, boasts an interesting climbing history. Read all about Mount Sneffels and four of the best routes up it.

Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum

The Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum in Golden, Colorado is devoted to mountains, mountaineering, and rock climbing with lots of informative and historical exhibits and displays about mountain culture, geography, geology, and climbing around the world.

Use Slings for Fast Anchors

Speed Climbing Tip #5 — Use pre-rigged slings to clip into anchors for a faster turn-around at belays.

Leave No Trace Climbing Ethic

Climbing has become very popular. There are lots of climbers at the crags these days. We need to practice a Leave No Trace climbing ethic to reduce our impact on fragile climbing areas. Follow these guidelines from The Access Fund to protect climbing areas.

Take Better Climbing Photos

Climbing is one of the most photogenic sports. Find out about climbing photography and how to make better photos of your climbing and mountaineering experiences from climbing guide Stewart Green, a long-time professional adventure photographer.

Climbing Causes Rotator Cuff Injuries

Rotator cuff injuries are the most common shoulder injury that occurs in climbers, especially sport climbers who crank steep overhanging routes. Learn all about the rotator cuff, how it is injured, how to self-assess a cuff injury, how to treat a rotator cuff strain, how a doctor treats a rotator cuff tear, and how to rehab an injured rotator cuff.

Avoid Climbing Injuries by Climbing Smart

Climbing is a physical sport so you can injure your fingers, elbows, and shoulders if you're not careful when you climb and train. Most climbing injuries are due to overuse and to accident. Learn how to avoid climbing injuries from overuse and what to do if are injured rock climbing by following my smart climbing tips.