Writings in this category focus on rock climbing in alpine settings or conditions.

Listed alphabetically:

• A Chamonix Initiation (By Keith Bell) - ​​An experienced Aussie rock climber goes to Chamonix for some world class alpine climbing and encounters some rather unfortunate - and sometimes hilarious - events. Let's just say he gets quite the initiation. ​
• Backpacker/Trad Climber Tries Alpine: The Mt. Ogden Spanking (Part 1) (by Stefani Dawn, 2016) - An experienced backpacker and multipitch trad climber forays into to world of alpine climbing and learns that alpine climbing is more than the sum of its parts.
• Backpacker/Trad Climber Tries Alpine: The Mount Whitney Whipping (Part 2)​ (by Stefani Dawn, 2016) - Mt. Ogden (Part 1) was training for Mt. Whitney. The author applied what she learned from the Mt. Ogden experience to Whitney and... 
• Climbing is My Art (by Christine Kuebler) - "I never intended on becoming an alpine climber. If you went back in time and told me this is what I’d be doing in my life I would have laughed at you." An artist and mother redefines herself after some heart-breaking life-events. ​
• Elusive Ice - A Rare Tasmanian Treat (By Tionne Hilder) - A climbing couple chases ice in Tasmania and finds a rare opportunity in the mountains of Ben Lomond.
• Mt. Logan Solo: When Passion Overcomes Fear (by Monique Richard) - Monique is driven by the freedom of climbing and climbing solo is the ultimate freedom, which also bears the most risk. Monique shares her emotional and epic tale of tackling Mt. Logan, the tallest peak in Canada (19,551 ft/5959 m). In her words: "It was the culmination of all my ascents and expeditions to the four corners of the globe...in the most hostile conditions that I have encountered in my mountaineering life." ​
• The Dru Derby - A unique three-fer! In 1971, four young Aussie friends go to Chamonix, France to climb the North Face of the Petit Dru (among other things). The Petit Dru is an 800-meter (2,625-feet) mixed rock and ice climb. Keith Bell, John Fantini, Chris Baxter, and Howard Bevan pair up (Keith and John, Chris and Howard) and unknowingly enter into a no-holds-barred race to the top in this challenging terrain with 10+ other parties.  The friends end up losing track of each other while on the mountain and have completely different experiences - each described here in Common Climber in a unique "tale of three climbs" set of stories.  
  • ​Horses for Courses: The Dru Derby 1971 (By Keith Bell) - Keith Bells humorous version of the "Dru Derby."
  • My Drew Derby (By Howard Bevan) - Howard Bevan's light-hearted version of the race to the top - even though he is the one who was injured in the process.
  • The North Face of the Dru: A Reprint from Thrutch (By Chris Baxter) - Chris Baxter's shares a more detailed, more dramatic, account of the story - written not long after it happened. Common Climber is excited to have the originally published version for you here (from the climbing magazine Thrutch in 1971). 
• Vertical Ice Climbing in Ontario, Canada, eh? (By Debbie Fowler) - Debbie Fowler takes us on a tour of ice climbing spots in Ontario, Canada, and shares a few tips on some of the best. Armed with electric socks and gloves to stay warm and avoid the screaming barfies, Debbie has been a busy climber this year!