Harnesses are a spectacular piece of human innovation that have enabled us to achieve the unthinkable. Rock climbing is one of the many activities that would be impossible without them (minus bouldering, of course). They hold our lives, our gear, and many great memories. Believe it or not, climbing harnesses did not even exist until […]
Author Archives: Melissa Kochanowsky
Beginner Rock Climbing Shoes: Best Choices When You’re Starting Off
Looking for the absolute best beginner climbing shoes out there? You’re in the right place. Let’s face the facts – climbing in tennis shoes is only fun on V0 and most gyms don’t want your sweaty bare feet smooshing into the handholds. Likewise, climbing barefoot outdoors can give you some gnarly toe calluses. If you […]
Potrero Chico El Búho: The Climber Café That Could
“Quien no vive para servir, no sirve para vivir.” When Gena and Andrew Thomas first moved to Mexico to teach English in 2009, they did not have plans to stay in one spot for long. They worked at a school and served as youth pastors in El Carmen, a small town which they quickly realized […]
Best Carabiners for Rock Climbing & Mountaineering
There are three essential pieces of gear that modern rock climbing would be impossible without: harness, rope, and of course your rock climbing carabiner. It is amazing that these simple items have evolved over the past few decades to enable people to scale thousands of feet with minimal risk, to save lives, and to push […]