Hard Lines, Clean Sends and Unfinished Stories
This edition skips gear and goes straight into climbing: big ascents, contested sends, World Cup energy, and culture stories with real weight. The week is less about volume and more about meaning.
Silence, Burden and Yosemite History
Will Bosi keeps moving closer on Silence, Noah Wheeler creates drama on Burden of Dreams, and the Yosemite Triple Crown gets a new youngest ascent. Add Alex Honnold's reflection on Dean Potter and Para Series action, and this is a strong week for stories beyond simple results.
Alex Honnold's Reflection on Dean Potter
Honnold shares his 2015 article on Dean Potter to push back on how HBO's The Dark Wizard framed their relationship as hyper-competitive. The reality: a shared decade in Yosemite, mutual respect, and quiet inspiration.
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Will Bosi: 3 Moves From Linking Silence's Main Crux
New high point — Bosi has added the hardest move to the link and is now only 3 OK moves from linking the entire crux of Silence 9c/5.15d. The new beta makes the crux feel possible. Two weeks left.
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Noah Wheeler Tops V17 Burden of Dreams — But Dabs the Pad
Wheeler topped Burden of Dreams, but his left foot grazed the crash pad mid-climb. His Instagram caption: "Good link." Possibly the most understated reaction to topping a V17 in history — the real send is still incoming.
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Para Series Salt Lake City Kicks Off With Strong Day One
A full day of qualification opens the World Climbing Para Series season in Salt Lake City — seen through the lens of official photographer Caleb Timmerman.
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Record: 22-Year-Old Becomes Youngest to Climb Yosemite Triple Crown
Chris Deuto (22) became the youngest person ever to climb Yosemite's three highest peaks in a single day. With Erik Andersen, the round trip — including 30km on foot — took 22 hours 16 minutes.
Read article →When the Send Is Not the Whole Story
This week brings everything from Michaela Kiersch's historic Dolby Surround ascent to Noah Wheeler's Burden of Dreams drama. The common thread: hard climbing is not only about topping out — it is about style, doubt, repetition, and whether the ascent feels clean.
Gavin Albright Styles Majestic V6 — No Pads
No pads? No problem. Gavin Albright styles Majestic, one of the most classic boulders in Squamish, British Columbia.
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Michaela Kiersch First Female Ascent of Dolby Surround
Only the second repeat since a key hold broke, pushing Dolby Surround towards 9a+. Around 20 sessions over two months on a historic Zillertal line. The crux: 11 powerful moves with no chalk or clip break, finishing with a dyno.
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Simon Lorenzi Sends Megos Proof 9a at Céüse
Back with a harness for a few weeks and feeling the progress. Two short sessions and one full-pump fight to close out a nice bouldery route — then Biographie work and pizza at Le Crux. The best Céüse experience.
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Jakob Schubert Flashes Airbag 8B in Maltatal
On the same day Schubert did Emotional Landscapes, he used the last light to try a new Maltatal addition by Nicolai and Tim Uznik. After a quick rock-paper-scissors with Michael Piccolruaz, Schubert went second and made it count — fumbling back in with two fingers on the big move.
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Noah Wheeler: First American on Burden of Dreams — 4 Months After Pulley Rupture
7 sessions across 2 trips — the 7th ascent ever of Burden of Dreams. His third V17, joining Return of the Sleepwalker and Shaolin. Came back to clean it after the foot dab, 6 hours before his flight home.
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Yannick Flohé Drops Bügeleisen Sit 8C Video
Yannick Flohé's video of Bügeleisen Sit 8C is out now.
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Jonathan Siegrist Sends Cornerstone 14c at Pine Creek
An Arc'teryx shoot at Pine Creek brought Siegrist to this insane Sharma arete. After his first day left him dumbfounded, he sent the route on day three — granite sensibilities clicking just in time. A bold, magical line.
View post →Video: Yannick Flohé on Excalibur (9b+)
Follow the story of Yannick sending one of the hardest climbing routes in the world. After 19 sessions of blood, pain and madness, he finally clipped the top of Excalibur.
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Kristin Harila Climbs Nuptse in 2026 Triple Crown Push
The world record holder for climbing all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in 92 days (2023) continues her 2026 Triple Crown campaign with an ascent of Nuptse.
Read article →Community, Para Climbing and World Cup Build-Up
China still echoes through the competition scene, Para Climbing starts strong in Salt Lake City, and Bern is already coming into focus. Between World Cup pressure and Crack Fest chaos, competition climbing feels broad, loud, and alive.
Janja Garnbret Says Goodbye to China — All Love
A perfect way to wrap up the China trip — passion for the sport, positive energy, and a reminder of how uniting climbing can be. Can't wait to be back.
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Crack of War Returns at Crack Fest Dortmund
Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall kick off this year's Wide Boyz Crack Fest at Boulderwelt Dortmund with another Crack of War battle. The table didn't stand a chance.
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Jakoba Rauter Wins Boulder Europe Series in Liptovský Mikuláš
Rauter takes the World Climbing Europe Series Liptovský Mikuláš 2026 in bouldering after a thrilling final. Adrian Kathan delivers a strong men's performance to finish fourth, missing the podium by the smallest of margins.
View post →World Climbing Series Bern 2026 — Facts and Stats
Full preview of the upcoming World Climbing Series stop in Bern, with statistics, athlete details, and key facts.
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Neo Suzuki Wins Gold at First Lead World Cup of the Season
The Team Japan climber takes the first of three Lead World Cup golds he aims to win this year.
Read article →Boulder World Cup Circus Heads to Bern
Following the China leg, the Boulder World Cup circuit moves to the Bern Expo site from May 22 to 24, 2026.
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 →Legacy, Media and the Weight of Stories
How climbing stories get shaped for maximum effect. Alongside Will Bosi's Silence progress and the Mellow Film Tour numbers, this section is about how climbing culture remembers, edits, and shares itself.
Toby Roberts Receives MBE at Windsor Castle
Roberts meets HRH Princess Anne at Windsor Castle to receive his MBE for services to Sport Climbing. He doesn't often stop to look back — or wear a suit — but this one felt surreal.
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2026 Mellow Film Tour Wraps With 15,000+ Attendees
Over a month after the tour, Mellow is still reflecting on the response. The official tour reached 11 US cities with 5,000+ attendees, then 110+ community screenings added 108 cities, 23 countries, 5 continents, and 10,000 more attendees.
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Yosemite Film Festival Kickstarter Nears $15K Goal
$13,863 raised, 115 backers, 12 days left. The Yosemite Film Festival & Storyteller Summit has gone from wild idea to genuinely real. Yosemite Facelift volunteer signups also opened with 80+ already in.
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