Climbing

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web An error in the press: News outlets around the world misreported Emily Harrington's El Cap record last week, incorrectly stating that she was the first woman to free climb the iconic big wall in less than 24 hours. In ...read more

Access Fund, the national climbing advocacy organization based in Boulder, Colorado, made the announcement last week that four new members have joined the organization's board of directors, bringing the group's total directors to 13. The new members are Abby Dione, Tom Adams, ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Tommy Caldwell bashes Trump: The president is going to “ruin rock climbing,” the pro climber wrote in a recent op-ed. [Rock and Ice] The North Face invests in diversity: The brand has put $7 million into a new initiative ...read more

Pocket Outdoor Media, the Colorado-based market leader in active lifestyle publishing (and SNEWS’ parent company), announced today the acquisition of three new properties: the decades-old climbing magazine Rock and Ice, Trail Runner, and Gym Climber, all formerly produced by Big ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web MEC forges ahead with sale: Defying the pleas of co-op members who oppose the company’s sale to an American investment firm, MEC leaders pushed ahead with the acquisition this week, saying the deal must close. [Coast ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web REI bets on itself: The retailer is expanding its house-branded line to include bikes and potentially footwear. [StoreBrands] Using crags as demonstration tools: Do climbers have a right to hang Pride and Black Lives Matter ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Climbing chalk is safe: A new study suggests powdered climbing chalk is unlikely to transmit the coronavirus. [Climbing] Patagonia’s new film: Don’t miss “Public Trust,” premiering September 25, about the ongoing battle for ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web How to build diversity in camping: Start by taking a hard look at access (or lack thereof) to gear. [Los Angeles Times] Climbing in China: American climber Mike Dobie has been trying to promote his sport in China for years. ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web VF’s social consciousness: The parent company of The North Face and Smartwool snagged the top spot on Barron’s List of Most Socially Conscious Companies. Representation on public lands: Surveys of national parks show that ...read more

What’s in a name: Racist climbing route names, tone-deaf brand terminology, and other instances of offensive language across the outdoor space are being examined anew. [The Colorado Sun] Speaking of language: It’s time to rethink how we talk about skiing, and the subtle ways our ...read more

The system for naming climbing routes is about as unofficial as it could possibly be. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the first person to climb a new route simply makes up a moniker, starts using it, and eventually it catches on. There is no vetting process, no checks and ...read more

Color the Crag, a climbing festival for communities of color hosted at Horse Pens 40 in Alabama, isn't the most storied or historic event on the industry's climbing calendar—it was founded just three years ago, in 2017—but it's unquestionably one of the most unique and ...read more

Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Words require action: A wonderful reminder to the outdoor industry that, when it comes to supporting BIPOC members of your community, hashtags and black squares on Instagram are not enough. [Medium] Save the travel photo ...read more

When it comes to ecommerce, few factors influence buying decisions as powerfully as reviews. Studies have shown that 95 percent of consumers read online testimonials before making final purchases. Traditionally, those reviews have existed in different channels—consumer reviews in ...read more

In a crazy way, remote working has brought us here at SNEWS and Active Interest Media (our parent company) even closer together. Throughout the crisis, our CEO, Andy Clurman, has hosted weekly town hall meetings to keep us all up to speed on everything from media industry trends, ...read more

Coronavirus news Your local gear shop needs your help: Here at SNEWS we've started a new campaign, #SaveYourLocalGearShop, to help specialty independent retailers through difficult times. The outdoor industry speaks up: OIA and 23 other trade associations sent a letter to ...read more

This story is the second of three examining how the path to equity and inclusivity in the outdoor industry is full of halting steps. Diversity is an easy sell. Make the outdoors more welcoming? Sure thing. Be more progressive? Done. Widen the industry's consumer base? But of ...read more

Keep up with all the important outdoor news by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. Stay up to date and get Industry Buzz delivered to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter. New blood at Camber: Meet ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. Huge win for climbing: Access Fund helped get Hell’s Kitchen bouldering area outside Chattanooga, Tennessee permanently protected as part of Cumberland Trail ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. Attention Plastic Impact Alliance members: If you're exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer, please click here to get your PIA booth signage. We'll deliver it at the ...read more

For anyone climbing in the Shawangunk Mountains in New York, stopping at Rock and Snow in New Paltz isn't an option—it's mandatory. As one of the oldest specialty climbing gear shops in the country, only minutes from The Gunks, it's an important piece of climbing history. The ...read more

If you were to combine the style of chino pants and the comfort of pajama bottoms into a single pair, you would get the North Dome pants from The North Face. But, there’s more to the story: They're actually climbing pants. Made of a cotton blend, these pants are comfortable and ...read more

During an attempt to free climb the Golden Gate Route on Sunday, professional climber Emily Harrington took a 40-foot fall down El Capitan. Harrington said in an Instagram post that she pin-balled down the rock and then hit the rope with her neck. She is "banged up, but gonna ...read more

On June 6, 2018, Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold set the sub-two-hour speed record on the 3,000-foot Nose of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The duo took the title from Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds, who set it at just under 2:20. The rivalry is captured in the hour-long ...read more