Featured Photographer - Jim Lin
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How much do you know about the rock climbing in Taiwan? It looks pretty incredible if we say so ourselves!
Our Featured Photographer, Jim Lin shares his story and incredible climbing photos of this island - his home - and where/how to climb in Taiwan. Enjoy the adventure! |
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From Gortex to Camouflage:
The story of climber, Irina Galay and climbing’s responses to
the war in Ukraine
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Last year in 2021, Irina Galay climbed K2. This year she swapped Gortex for comouflage and is serving in the Home Guard in defense of her people in Ukraine. This Common Climber feature by CC Assistant Editor Dave Barnes is a dive into a climber's life in this war. It reflects the history of climbing and war and examines the climbing industry and climber's responses to the war in Ukraine. It presents questions that each of us has to answer for ourselves. Learn about the impact that the war in Ukraine is having on the greater climbing community - particularly in mountaineering - and be moved by Irina, who shares her experience and what can be done to defeat tyranny and to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
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Editorial
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Welcome to the March/April Edition of Common Climber!
First and foremost, Common Climber wishes to extend our love and support to the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives, land, and democratic way of life. Our Assistant Editor, Dave Barnes, has been communicating with some climbers in Ukraine and sharing posts and reports on our Facebook page. Dave also wrote a moving article about a notable Ukranian climber, Irina Galay, who has put her life and climbing on hold to defend her country and is making a call to the climbing expedition community No Peace No Climb. Check out Dave's article to learn more. As you can see, this edition of Common Climber also uses blue and yellow to show solidarity with Ukraine. These colors also beautifully match the cover image from our Featured Photographer Jim Lin, who takes us on a journey to his home in Taiwan. Something you might notice that is a little different in this edition is that we have started to do small ads on our pages. I have always disliked ads on websites, especially those that pop-up in your face or reload and screw up your location on the page. I just never wanted ads to interfere with your experience here and I've held off as long as possible. Even though we are an all-volunteer effort and our resource is free to you, we have basic expenses that still need to be covered - monthly website fees, fees for domain names and emails, trademark fees, storage fees for files, equipment to do our work, and, the occasional advertisement to get the word out about our resource and to highlight our talented Featured Photographers. These things add up, so I finally gave in and am trying ads. |
Editor, Stefani Dawn, topping out on a climb on Straight Shooter Wall at her home crag of Red Rock Canyon, NV
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I am doing the "small ad" approach, to try to stay in line with my philosophy of ads not taking away from the Common Climber experience. But, here's the catch, we make zero dollars if no one clicks on the ads.
If you see something you like or are curious about or has been on your shopping list, accessing the ads through Common Climber is one way really EASY and FREE way you can help support this awesome resource!
So you know how it works, we get paid a tiny amount for each click, so the more you do it and the MORE OF YOU that do it, it will (hopefully) add up! Go ahead, give it a go, we'd sure appreciate it! It would feel like a thumbs-up for another great, climbing-filled edition where we take you to Taiwan, Chamonix, Sydney, and beyond!
We also have a unique story about a group of dedicated employees trying to start the first union at a rock climbing gym (located in Crystal City, Virginia) and an informative piece from physical trainer Collin McGee with videos on how to warm-up your shoulders and fingers to prevent injury.
Our YouTube channel has a feature that compares the size, weight, and audio/video quality of two different video cameras, the GoPro Hero 9 Black and the Insta306 Go2. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series comparing the two cameras.
Lastly, we have a very special tribute to one of the pioneering legends of climbing in Australia - Bryden Allen. Bryden established many classic climbs in Eastern Australia and Tasmania, and was on the first ascent team for Balls Pyramid. Bryden passed on February 2, 2022 and we are grateful to have the well-respected climber, first ascentionist, and Common Climber contributor Keith Bell, write this incredible, eye-opening tribute. If you climb in Australia and don't know its history, this read is a must. Likewise, if you know of Bryden's accomplishments, this tribute will warm the spirit.
Thanks for hanging (and clicking!) with us!
If you see something you like or are curious about or has been on your shopping list, accessing the ads through Common Climber is one way really EASY and FREE way you can help support this awesome resource!
So you know how it works, we get paid a tiny amount for each click, so the more you do it and the MORE OF YOU that do it, it will (hopefully) add up! Go ahead, give it a go, we'd sure appreciate it! It would feel like a thumbs-up for another great, climbing-filled edition where we take you to Taiwan, Chamonix, Sydney, and beyond!
We also have a unique story about a group of dedicated employees trying to start the first union at a rock climbing gym (located in Crystal City, Virginia) and an informative piece from physical trainer Collin McGee with videos on how to warm-up your shoulders and fingers to prevent injury.
Our YouTube channel has a feature that compares the size, weight, and audio/video quality of two different video cameras, the GoPro Hero 9 Black and the Insta306 Go2. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series comparing the two cameras.
Lastly, we have a very special tribute to one of the pioneering legends of climbing in Australia - Bryden Allen. Bryden established many classic climbs in Eastern Australia and Tasmania, and was on the first ascent team for Balls Pyramid. Bryden passed on February 2, 2022 and we are grateful to have the well-respected climber, first ascentionist, and Common Climber contributor Keith Bell, write this incredible, eye-opening tribute. If you climb in Australia and don't know its history, this read is a must. Likewise, if you know of Bryden's accomplishments, this tribute will warm the spirit.
Thanks for hanging (and clicking!) with us!
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Stories
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. |
The First Climbing Gym Union?
(By Stefani Dawn) A group of dedicated climbing gym employees are trying to start the first climbing gym union. |
Sydney: Growing Up
(By Dave Barnes) Nothing much happened in the burbs of Sydney growing up in the 80’s. Shoplifting, cheap wine and smoking bongs was culture as was going to the vid shop to grab a movie. Life was cheap and pre-internet the world was small. Climbing entered this time and space for me hence forth, life changed. |
A Climbing Tribute
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A Tribute to Bryden Allen: Packed and Off on the Next Adventure
(By Keith Bell) Vale Bryden Allen - a legend of Australian climbing, who established classics along the East Coast of the continent (even preparing the ground for John Ewbank) and into the remote southern sea, creating and bringing the latest in climbing tools to Down Under (including the infamous Australian carrot), and spreading the spirit of camaraderie in climbing both before and after a debilitating accident that put him in a wheelchair - has passed. Join us in this special tribute to Bryden given by fellow first ascentionist Keith Bell, who followed in Bryden's footsteps both literally and figuratively. Keith considers Bryden a mentor and friend and here, shares the incredible story of Vale Bryden Allen. |
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Fitness
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Climbing Warm-Up: Shoulders and Fingers
(By Collin McGee) Certified physical trainer Collin McGee shows us four ways to warm up our shoulders and fingers for climbing: using a hang-bar, a hangboard, the climbing wall, and at the crag. In this informative article, article Collin explains the why's and how's to do a warm up to help prevent injury. |
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Climbing Events for 2022
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It's time to start planning for your climbing festival fun! With COVID (hopefully) settling down, the climbing festivals are gearing up!
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YouTube - GEAR
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GoPro Hero 9 Black VS. Insta360 Go 2 for Climbing Video
PART 1: Size, Weight, Video & Sound Quality Have you seen the itty-bitty Insta360 Go 2 yet? Yeah, it's small, but how does it compare to the GoPro Hero 9 Black for recording rock climbing video? Find out in Part 1 of this 3-part video series comparing the two cameras. Here in Part 1 we cover the size, weight, video and sound quality. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and return here to see Parts 2 and 3, where we cover mounting options for the two camera and how well they work for climbing and was of use, functionality, durability, and battery life. Insta 360 Go 2 Company Product Page: https://www.insta360.com/product/insta360-go2/ |
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