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New Year's Eve is a washing day for many. Old stuff gets thrown into conversations and new stuff comes out with promises of glory in the new year that beacons.
Thinking of 2023 I remember several first ascents, each with multiple sessions of cleaning and bolting. Each stolen moments of respite wedged between responsibilities of work, parenthood, and relationships. That I managed to complete those climbs is a miracle in and of itself. They are memories that make my year - nice. Dave Barnes' first ascents completed in 2023 at a new crag he is developing outside of Hobart, Tasmania, Genesis Crag: More broadly, I think of climbers around the world who did just the same. My favourite was Didier Berthod climbing, Crack of Destiny, located at Squamish, Canada (5.14a-b-c- who knows? It’s just a diabolical crack). Didier’s progress to sending this route is more spiritually enlightening than the climb itself. Common Climber reported it. I worked with Didier to explore that journey and the story featured in Gripped Magazine. And rightly so. A Canadian masterpiece featuring in a Canadian climbing magazine.
An Australian millstone was passed this year with Tom O'Halloran sending Australia’s hardest route, Hump of Trouble, coming in at 5.14/35 or something (the grade wasn’t confirmed as there was no other climb in Oz that hard to compare it to). What surprised me is how little people cared. It made headlines sure, but once that those were written, nothing much more has been said. I figure its Tom’s little interest in the spot light. Anyway, he broke new ground and kudos to him. |
Dave Barnes on the 2023 FA of "Edge of Eve" (19/5.10b), Genesis Crag, Hobart, Tasmania.
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Another aspect of climbing that caught my attention was climate change. The mountains are melting. Massive avalanches in Europe, receding glaciers in the Himalayas, shit is happening.
Above: Climbs Dave Barnes developed at the Genesis crag outside of Hobart, Tasmania
How this will affect climbers who play on the white stuff is evolving. Shorter approaches maybe but standing on sliding fortune will make ascents of trade routes different. The changing landscape and increasing popularity of climbing saw a rise in climber deaths. 17 killed on Mountain Everest alone. I think beyond 2023, reports of alpine routes will now feature the changing landscape as much as the climbing itself.
We celebrated the life of many climbers this year but one stands out for me, the biography of Royal Robbins - The American Climber by David Smart. This read was profound and inspiring. In one read I was wrapped in the cyclone of change of climbing in the post war era written by an author who cared for his subject and for history. See our review here.
https://www.commonclimber.com/book-review-royal-robbins.html
My favourite piece in CC this year was Bruce Burchell’s story of his climbing life. It’s written with dignity and humility, we had to encourage him to speak up on his achievements and what came out is a beautiful climbing life filled with wisdom. If you missed it, catch it here.
https://www.commonclimber.com/meditations-on-the-rope.html
What was your favourite piece or post from CC in 2023? If you aren't sure, you can find the Common Climber stories of 2023 here:
THEMED EDITIONS:
Humor
Strength
NON-THEMED EDITIONS:
January-February 2023
March-April 2023
September-October 2023
November-December 2023
And, how about the wider climbing media? 2023 saw a post-Olympic rise in climbing’s popularity globally. Streaming platforms now have climbing films as a staple, online is the place to go to for news, while print magazines clamber to find relevancy.
It’s difficult for photographers and writers who commit to bringing you vision and stories to make a buck. Magazines pay, the internet is just shinny. My fear is the quality of journalism will decrease and that is just sad as climbing has had some amazing writers who scribbled and edited away because they could fund their adventures. Our photographers are the same. Soon we will have just scribble and bum shots on i-phones. Mags have to find a bridge to tomorrow, so I expect plenty of stemming from them in 2024 and beyond.
Common Climber continues to stay focused on our mission; to make every day climbers the stars. We have had hundreds of contributors share their milestones, photographs, and observations. Yours are welcome. If you have something that you think may rock and or inspire others, send your story and images our way.
https://www.commonclimber.com/submissions.html or message Dave Barnes or Stefani Dawn ([email protected])
As the sun sets on 2023 and rises for 2024, wherever you are at in your climbing journey, enjoy it all. It’s a precious and precarious pasttime so to make a lifetime achievement out of it. Tie that bowline or eight, look up, tread lightly, make sound decisions, and don’t believe you are not worthy to try harder or push further.
Remember that adage, you get out what you put in.
We at CC hope that 2024 sends you breakthrough’s, a growing friendship with others, and a mind filled of memories of time spent on rope that you can use as campfire conversation on nights like tonight (or tomorrow night if you are on the other side of planet). Until then, from Stef and I, Happy New Year!
We celebrated the life of many climbers this year but one stands out for me, the biography of Royal Robbins - The American Climber by David Smart. This read was profound and inspiring. In one read I was wrapped in the cyclone of change of climbing in the post war era written by an author who cared for his subject and for history. See our review here.
https://www.commonclimber.com/book-review-royal-robbins.html
My favourite piece in CC this year was Bruce Burchell’s story of his climbing life. It’s written with dignity and humility, we had to encourage him to speak up on his achievements and what came out is a beautiful climbing life filled with wisdom. If you missed it, catch it here.
https://www.commonclimber.com/meditations-on-the-rope.html
What was your favourite piece or post from CC in 2023? If you aren't sure, you can find the Common Climber stories of 2023 here:
THEMED EDITIONS:
Humor
Strength
NON-THEMED EDITIONS:
January-February 2023
March-April 2023
September-October 2023
November-December 2023
And, how about the wider climbing media? 2023 saw a post-Olympic rise in climbing’s popularity globally. Streaming platforms now have climbing films as a staple, online is the place to go to for news, while print magazines clamber to find relevancy.
It’s difficult for photographers and writers who commit to bringing you vision and stories to make a buck. Magazines pay, the internet is just shinny. My fear is the quality of journalism will decrease and that is just sad as climbing has had some amazing writers who scribbled and edited away because they could fund their adventures. Our photographers are the same. Soon we will have just scribble and bum shots on i-phones. Mags have to find a bridge to tomorrow, so I expect plenty of stemming from them in 2024 and beyond.
Common Climber continues to stay focused on our mission; to make every day climbers the stars. We have had hundreds of contributors share their milestones, photographs, and observations. Yours are welcome. If you have something that you think may rock and or inspire others, send your story and images our way.
https://www.commonclimber.com/submissions.html or message Dave Barnes or Stefani Dawn ([email protected])
As the sun sets on 2023 and rises for 2024, wherever you are at in your climbing journey, enjoy it all. It’s a precious and precarious pasttime so to make a lifetime achievement out of it. Tie that bowline or eight, look up, tread lightly, make sound decisions, and don’t believe you are not worthy to try harder or push further.
Remember that adage, you get out what you put in.
We at CC hope that 2024 sends you breakthrough’s, a growing friendship with others, and a mind filled of memories of time spent on rope that you can use as campfire conversation on nights like tonight (or tomorrow night if you are on the other side of planet). Until then, from Stef and I, Happy New Year!