profile
Ice gargoyles, serac mazes and legendary epics.... Few mountains haunt their climbers as much as Robson does. Since the early twentieth century, aspirants have struggled up the highest point of the Canadian Rockies; relatively few succeed. Barry Blanchard looks behind the mists, while Don Gordon, Ron Perla, Tom Spencer, Pat Callis, Jim Logan and Steve House contribute more gothic tales of the "King." Barry Blanchard
features
Many young East Coast climbers migrate West for the "real mountains." Colorado author Majka Burhardt tries the opposite direction. Exploring classic New England icefalls and learning from hard-core locals, she discovers that sometimes you have to go small to "go big." Majka Burhardt
When his mother dies after a long illness, a young Cascades alpinist realizes he has sacrificed too much for his dreams. In search of healing, he ventures into the Alaskan wild. Among the Stikine Icefield's unclimbed peaks—and through the friendship of his partner, Max Hasson—Jens Holsten finds his way back home. Jens Holsten
Tired of enhanced colors, beautiful bodies, blank expressions and posed moves? Photographer Andrew Querner ties in with his friends and stops preplanning his shots. The resulting images portray self-doubt, questioning and leaps of faith—the uncensored, emotional realities of the alpine world. Andrew Querner
sharp end
A fail-proof weather forecast. The Editors
The makings of our dreams. Michael Kennedy
In Through the Out Door. Casey Smith and Skyler Pauli
The portaledge: an inevitable cure for insomnia. The Editors
contributors
climbing life
Observations from the field.
wired
Free soloing often brings its practitoners to unusual mental states. But what if your supposed hallucination turns out to be real? Cedar Wright
Why call for help when one leg still works—and when you still haven't told your climbing partner all your circumcision jokes? Jeff Apple Benowitz
Jeremy Collins paints the mountain of lies. Jeremy Collins
In today's rapidly evolving alpine world, an American climbing writer has one question: What would Messner do? Chris Weidner
local heroes
Alaskan hardman Mark Westman finds his inspirations in the journey—and in the bush pilot, Paul Roderick, who sees him safely there and back again. Mark Westman
new sharp end
Mick Fowler deflowers the UK's virgin summits. Lisa Hathaway follows trails of bones to the micro-featured walls of Mill Creek, Utah. Mick Fowler and Lisa Hathaway
