Big Wall Life, Double-Digit 8Bs, Competition Pressure
Issue two. Less preview, more signal. Big wall life, double-digit 8Bs, competition pressure, and early hints at where climbing might be heading in 2026. Same filter: relevance over noise.
This Week in Focus
The most relevant stories of the week, filtered by impact, not reach. Historic ascents, elite performance under pressure, and early signals pointing to where climbing and competition are heading in 2026. Less scrolling. More substance.
Janja Garnbret Aims for 10th World Title
Janja Garnbret is aiming for her 10th world title, and the pressure is unlike anything she's faced before. Can shifting her focus to the outdoors help her?
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Alexander Megos Fontainebleau Tick List - Multiple 8Bs
Force du Destin 8B+, Satan i Helvete 8B+, plus four more 8Bs. Back home and back to training for the Frankenjura Project.
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Simon Lorenzi Sends Shaolin - His Fifth 9A
Two years after Burden of Dreams, Simon Lorenzi ticks Shaolin (9A), tying Will Bosi for the most 9As and closing 2025 with a historic double.
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Is This the Future of Competition Climbing?
The Pro Climbing League, which will see climbers compete against each other side-by-side, kicks off in February.
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What Will Happen in 2026 in Climbing? Editors' Predictions
Aid climbing makes a comeback and more 2026 predictions from editors. Plus, the biggest trends of last year—including a few we hope will disappear.
Read article →Big Walls, Big Numbers, and Honest Perspective
Alex Honnold shares a raw look back on five nights on El Cap's Platinum Wall — less glory, more reality. Shawn Raboutou mixes BTS with power on Tierrany (V14). Megos dominates Fontainebleau with volume and consistency, while also poking fun at the very French idea of aller-retour boulders.
Alex Honnold & Tommy Caldwell - Platinum Wall Recap
After 5 nights on the wall and a morning spent rappelling with our bags we were looking pretty rugged. Such a fun adventure. Already hoping for another dads' trip next season.
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Shawn Raboutou on Tierrany V14
Some BTS and a little climbing on Tierrany V14. Power meets style in the backcountry.
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Megos Questions Aller-Retour Validity
La Coccinelle aller-retour 8A+? We need some locals to clarify if this was valid. Can't wait for the first aller-retour of Action Directe!
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Sin Porros V10 - The Strong-Guy Roof Finally Falls
Some years ago, I saw this roof and said 'that's the strong-guy roof.' At 36 years young, I managed to send the hardest line in just four sessions.
View post →Pressure, Tickets, and the Next Evolution
Janja Garnbret carries the weight of history into another season. The Pro Climbing League sells out London in minutes — demand is no longer the problem. Gripped looks ahead and asks whether today's formats are just a transition phase.
Pro Climbing League London Sold Out
2,300 tickets sold — with the first 1000 in under 30 minutes. The response from the climbing community has been incredible. See you at Magazine London in February.
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Apply Now for the Ultimate Mountain Athlete Competition
Think you have what it takes to be the next Ultimate Mountain Athlete? Apply for a chance to compete for $20,000.
Read article →New to climbing?
Start with our guides
Plain English explainers on gear, grades and skills, so every edition makes sense from the first read.
All guides →Technique Beats Hype — But Gear Still Matters
Petzl breaks down ice screw placement into three clear steps. No gimmicks, just fundamentals. Meanwhile, experimental shoe rubber sparks a real debate: better friction with zero residue. Innovation or aid?
Petzl Tips: Ice Screw Placement in 3 Steps
Set the screw, give it a few half-turns, and then drive the screw into the ice using the crank. Dial in this technique for your next day of ice climbing.
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Experimental Shoe Rubber Sparks 'Is It Aid?' Debate
GP1 rubber sticks to the glassiest footholds and leaves no residue on the rocks. Should this be considered aid? The comments are worth reading.
View post →Mountains Don't Care About Categories
Kings & Queens of Corbet's returns with a weather window and a stacked field. Nathaniel Coleman quietly adds a V11 second ascent in Peru. Elsewhere: community days in Martinique, a century-old Everest gear experiment, and sharp predictions about where climbing culture is heading next.
Kings and Queens of Corbet's Returns February 7-14
We're bringing a new stacked roster of competitors all reaching for the crown. Stay tuned and get ready to tune in LIVE. Weather window opens one month from today.
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Nathaniel Coleman Second Ascent of Between the Trees V11 in Peru
When he wasn't gazing at the llamas in the Peruvian backcountry, Nathaniel Coleman earned the second ascent of 'Between the Trees' (V11).
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Community Climbing Day at Rocher Zombi in Martinique
A community climbing day at Rocher Zombi brought 35+ participants together, offering a safe, inclusive first taste of outdoor climbing.
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100 Years Later, George Mallory's Primitive Everest Gear Takes on a Himalayan Peak
The results may surprise you. A mountaineer braves the Himalayas with 100-year-old gear from the legendary Everest climber.
Read article →Don't miss the next edition
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