Flight of the Wood Nymphs

here I thought it was going to be about all the babes splitting as soon as the dirtbags showed up

“Climbing is becoming obsolete for men,” says Claassen. “I think it’s going to become a women’s-only sport.”

here I thought it was going to be about all the babes splitting as soon as the dirtbags showed up

I think it's important, at least for myself, to stay focused on why I love, why I climb, because it's what I love – and when I look at a route, you know, it doesn't matter what the grade is: if it's a beautiful line and you know, it excites you, then you should just go for it.

It sounds very cliché but honestly, having fun is the most important and I think at least in myself I always climb my best when I'm happy. Maybe I'm a little frustrated [when] I want to send a route or I want to make a move, but I think that's more just determination, but really when it comes down to it, my best days are when I'm happy and excited and enjoying the time with the people around me. So I just … Put yourself in the environment that you love and that makes you the most joyful and then I think that's where you can really excel and you can really learn from others.

For me I've had so many men and women which have really inspired me to train and to try harder and to go on trips, and you know, explore areas I haven't explored before. And in the future I'm hoping that I can be a role model for young girls like myself at this point, um, to keep climbing and to follow their passion no matter what it is, if it's ballet or if it's rockclimbing. I think it's important to have a role model. So, it'd be an honor at some point if people saw me how I see a lot of the women I've always looked up to.

Over the past few years the gender gap has really narrowed and for the years coming I think that it's going to, there's going to be a big change and more women, more young girls are coming up in rockclimbing, so, watch out boys, ha ha!

And I really really like how Matt and Will re-tool the Old School.

This thread gives hope that young people may save the world. Not climbers, but other young people. The young climbers kind of give me an idea of how rad the non-climbers could be, though.

Today the delegates met with representatives, senators and other government officials to discuss matters pertaining to the Recreation Not Red Tape Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (which expires this October), the Antiquities Act and energy development.

Last year, 2017, the collaborative event grew to a veritable mob of over 50, including AAC and AF staff and board members, and such visible climbers as Alex Honnold, Libby Sauter, Kai Lightner, Sasha DiGiulian and Tommy Caldwell. This week at least 65 persons will take part, from May 9 to 11. This year’s crew of influential climbers includes repeaters such as Honnold, Sauter, Caldwell and DiGiulian, also Quinn Brett, Lynn Hill, Margo Hayes, Bethany Lebewitz, Mikhail Martin and Maricela Rosales. (See full list below.)

We envision a community in which kids receive the education necessary to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Jon and I visited Wesley Memorial Primary School, a rural elementary school whose library is supported by Room to Read, our non-profit partner in South Africa. By releasing this video, and other content about our time in South Africa, we hope to raise $10,000 for Room to Read.

I built this mythical route up in my mind, which Andrew referred to as the Digital Warfare Project for the strain it puts on one’s ‘digits’ – 15 degrees overhung, smooth, orange and grey streaked sandstone with just enough shallow pockets and thin edges to go. Hard, just my style, perfect. Andrew generously passed this golden prize, the opportunity to make a first ascent of the world’s coolest route, off to a random girl from the States (a million thanks Andrew!).

While in Russia, we’re supporting Women’s World Banking, which helps low income women access financial services, including small business microloans so they can independently support their families. Due to NGO restrictions, Women’s World Banking is not currently active in Russia, however they are the only global network that focuses on women. Women’s World Banking has served over 19 million clients, and 73% of those are women who now benefit from insurance, savings, and small business loans.

While in Italy, I’m supporting Save the Children, which helps children around the world access nutritious foods so they have the energy to study, play, and grow.

I’m a sport climber. More specifically, I like climbing clean faces with thin crimps and delicate feet, preferably 10 degrees overhanging.
However, part of my goal in Italy was to gain experience on multi pitch and traditional routes, things I don’t make time for at home, thanks to tunnel vision for sport routes. While I love sport climbing and plan to continue pushing myself on difficult sport routes, I think it’s important to have an understanding and respect for all types of climbing.

I’ve learned a few important things from these experiences. Most obviously, I enjoyed setting up belay stations and placing cams more than I actually enjoyed the climbing.

Sometimes, miracles happen. Making the second ascent of Art Attack, an 8c (5.14b) granite slab in northern Italy’s Val Masino, was nothing short of a miracle. Since Simone Pedeferri established the route in 2004, Art Attack hasn’t seen a repeat, likely because not many people enjoy slab climbing.