Route Development

The American alpinist has established and freed her hardest multi-pitch sport route yet.

"Grades don’t matter as much as we tend to think they do, but at a certain point they have an impact."

The National Park Service has acquired 105 acres of land, and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation purchased 260 acres, all land that had previously been privately owned and had limited access for use.

Climbing in Sri Lanka, a nation of 22 million people, is so under-developed that it largely owes its existence to one man... who of course hopes to change that.

We polled 1,080 climbers to find a community consensus about what constitutes unacceptable "manufacturing" of routes.

Check out Alben Osaki's author page.

Check out Mayan Smith-Gobat's author page.

Dakota Walz set out in 2019 to climb 5,280 vertical feet of first ascents in the American Southwest. Along the way, he faced uncertainty, fear, doubt, loose rock, and runouts—and many times wondered: Is the project even worth it? In the end, he learned it was the process that mattered—not just the summits.

The price of freedom on the East Face of Washington’s Liberty Bell

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out Matt Samet's author page.

Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.

Local route developers have renamed several routes on Ten Sleep Canyon’s controversial “Slavery Wall.”

Meet the tireless climbers establishing moderate sport routes around the country.

Check out Aaron Gerry's author page.

Bali, Indonesia, is known for its vibrant culture, yoga retreats, epic surf breaks, and lush jungle. However, there’s also a thriving climbing scene in this most unlikely of venues, proving that climbers will find community the world over.

Check out Mario Esquivel's author page.

Check out Marion Renault's author page.

Check out Hannah Gartner's author page.

Check out Matt Samet's author page.

A firsthand look at the little-understood art of establishing new sport climbs.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out Megan Walsh's author page.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out Bailey Batchelor's author page.

A new, monster 5.9 sport route in the North Cascades, Flyboys, soars high.

After the indigenous people of Indonesia’s West Timor prevented miners from destroying their sacred mountains, they sought sustainable forms of revenue. A team of kayakers and climbers traveled here with one question: Could climbing and adventure tourism be it?

Top-shelf bouldering in the middle of somewhere.

6 Selfless Climbers Working Hard to Keep Our Crags Safe, Healthy, and Open

Check out Jenny Abegg's author page.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out Jenny Abegg's author page.

Check out Ula Chrobak's author page.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out The Editors's author page.

Check out Matt Rhodin's author page.

An experienced sport climber teams up with a veteran route developer to learn new skills, push her limits, and discover adventure in North Africa.

He knows climbing. And he KNOWS it.