Cover Photo by Featured Photographer Katherine Gonzalez: Andy Muan (he/they) is on “To Defy the Laws of Tradition” at the Red River Gorge, Kentucky
Welcome to the November/December 2021 Edition of Common Climber!
Katherine González - Featured Photographer
Katherine González is a climber, photographer, and PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Costa Rica.
While getting her PhD in Perdue University she climbs at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky and has started a photo documentary series of local immigrants to the U.S. who are also climbers. Her goal is to tell their stories. Read Katherine's personal climbing and immigration story and how she became captivated by and learns about the amazing world around us. |
Editorial
Hello and happy upcoming holidays!
You may have noticed that this edition is for November and December. This marks the start of a (mostly) every-other-month publication schedule - with the exception of our YouTube videos. We will still be releasing new videos monthly, so be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications of new releases. You can also return here to our website to see new YouTube posts (those can be found at the bottom of this homepage). Over the next two months we will also be doing some great GEAR GIVEAWAYS. Details about the giveaways will be posted at the top of this homepage, as well as, announced on our Instagram and Facebook social media pages (follow at @commonclimber)! Woohoo! Who doesn't love free gear - especially during the holidays?! So, why switch to an every-other month publication schedule you may wonder? Because Common Climber is an all-volunteer magazine and it takes an incredible amount of time, energy, and resources to bring this high quality, interesting, and creative content to life (here and on our YouTube and social media channels)! We want to be able to keep bringing you this free online magazine and high quality social media, so one way for us to keep it all going is by switching to an every-other-month magazine publication schedule. |
Another way to keep Common Climber going is though your support! if you enjoy Common Climber content and are in tune with what we represent - which is COMMON CLIMBERS! - I invite you share a few dollars to help us cover some basic expenses (remember, no one gets paid here, all of the funds are used to pay basic running expenses, and are soooo appreciated!)
Here are a few donation categories:
Every one of us here at Common Climber is passionate about climbing, as well as, sharing your stoke and stories! We love that you are joining us and look forward to climbing with you in 2022!
Stef
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Stefani Dawn
Editor-in-Chief
Here are a few donation categories:
- Common Climber Rocks! ($100)
- Keep it Going! ($15)
- I Love Common Climber! ($10)
Every one of us here at Common Climber is passionate about climbing, as well as, sharing your stoke and stories! We love that you are joining us and look forward to climbing with you in 2022!
Stef
++++
Stefani Dawn
Editor-in-Chief
Stories
A Leap into the Blue Back in the Day
(By Keith Bell, with contributions by Howard Bevan) Often climbs are named based upon an experience with the first ascent - but this climb, called "Serenity," was named tongue-in-cheek for the very non-serene descent that occurred before the ascent. |
Summit Fever
(By Jeff Smoot) A young, glory-eyed teenage Jeff drags his dad and little brother up a mountain in the fog and rain to bag his very first peak. |
Marketplace Small Business Interview
Common Climber interviews Quinn Rohlf, the creator of the Skyhook stick clip and owner of the new, small climbing business Mountain Drifter. Learn about Quinn's experiences and advice with doing a Kickstarter campaign and challenges of creating and manufacturing a product overseas during the COVID quarantine.
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Crags
MY HOME CRAG
The New River Gorge, West Virginia: America's Newest National Park (By Matt Brewer, Photos By Claire Wright and Jessica King) Go on a photographic and descriptive tour of the iconic east coast climbing area the New River Gorge, West Virginia - America's Newest National Park. |
Reviews
The Red Curtain - Book Review
Book By: Dave Barnes Review By: Dierdre Wolownick Climber and book author Diedre Wolownick reviews the sci-fi adventure novel The Red Curtain: Climbing Expedition to Mars 2043. |
Sydney Climbing: Selected Climbs
by Neil Monteith & Simon Carter Review by Dave Barnes It's been a long time since Sydney, Australia has had an updated guidebook, and Dave Barnes (who put up a number of first ascents in the area), reviews this new, soon-to-be released gem. |
SkyHook Stick Clip
Review By Stefani Dawn Sometimes you wonder if the wheel can be really be re-invented. This is not re-inventing the wheel, it is smartly taking the best of all options and combining them into an ideal climbing tool. Read on to learn more about the SkyHook features and how they compare to Stef's old stick clip. Helpful Article
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Videos
More holiday gift guides and product review videos coming in December!
Be sure to return here to see the new videos and reviews and to participate in some gift giveaways we are doing throughout November and December!
Be sure to return here to see the new videos and reviews and to participate in some gift giveaways we are doing throughout November and December!
Climbing Stocking Stuffers Under $25 - 2021
Fun, creative, and useful stocking stuffers for your special rock climber each for under $25 - and even free! There are no chalk bags! And, there are some useful tips mixed in and brief explanations of why Common Climber editor Stefani Dawn selected these gifts.