Cover photo by Colombian photographer Camila Ospina.
Part of what makes Common Climber unique is we feature us, the Common Climber. Professional climbers can be inspiring and help drive us to the next levels in the sport, but the rest of us should be celebrated too. Each of our stories may be simple, familiar even, and that can be a welcomed counter balance to the sensationalism that constantly fills the airwaves. Enjoy!
Listed Alphabetically by Last Name
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Climberisms
Dylan Taylor is a climber, comedian, and impressionist and has exploded on Instagram with his hilarious impersonations of famous rock climbers. Check out this interview of Dylan and some select famous rock climber impersonation videos. |
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Shawn Axelrod (Boulder, Colorado, US)
Shawn has a congenital heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome which has progressed into congestive heart failure. Shawn has been climbing for over 30 years, but has had to make adjustments to his climbing over time because of his health. Shawn remains connected with his love of climbing through his eco-centered business called Climbing Addicts. |
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Megan Banker (Portland, Oregon, US)
Megan is a plus-sized climber who runs a "Plus-Size Rock Climbing Meetup" group to connect plus-sized climbers with each other and to experience the wonderful world of climbing. |
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Wendy Bruere - More Than It Hurts: An Interview with Co-Editor Wendy Bruere
More Than It Hurts...and other stories of (mis)adventure by womxn who climb and mountaineer is a collection of personal stories by women and people of diverse genders who rock-climb and mountaineer. The book was launched in December 2020 by editors Wendy Bruere and Emily Small and grew out of an idea editor Wendy had during COVID-19 restrictions in Sydney, Australia. Common Climber interviews Wendy to learn more about her, this book, and the process to bring it to fruition. |
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Favia Dubyk: Ninja Warrior (Albuquerque, NM)
Favia Dubyk is strong. She's a V12 boulderer, an American Ninja Warrior, a cancer survivor, and a Harvard-trained physician. Check out her interview, incredible photos of her climbing, and videos of her strength and indomitable spirit. |
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Ian Elliott - It's All Up From Here
(By Dave Barnes) Ian Elliot is doing some of his hardest climbing at the age of 70. In this extended version of a joint publication with Vertical Life print magazine (Winter 2022 Edition 39), Common Climber Assistant Editor Dave Barnes takes us into Ian's world. |
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Debbie Fowler - A N00bie Climber's Story (By Debbie Fowler)
Common Climber Debbie Fowler started climbing at a later stage in life - quickly moving from the gym to big walls. |
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Connor Herson - Clark Kent or Superman? (By Dave Barnes)
Californian climber Connor Herson is like the Clark Kent of climbing. He has an innocent charm and is an academic nerd but come the weekend, he leaves his PC and Stanford textbooks on the desk, puts on his cape, and whizzes off to some crag housing routes of kryptonite and dispatches them with what seems effortless aplomb. Who is this kid and what motivates this modern marvel to make comic the hardest cracks and big walls North America has to offer? |
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Lindsey Hamm - (Interview By Enock Glidden)
Lindsey Hamm is a mountain guide based out of Bishop, California. She has a strong Instagram following who love to see her photos of sending; She was a competitor in the Titan Games; She lives out of her camper; And, her absolute favorite food is chicken. Read on to learn more about this confident, mountain spirit! |
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Josie McKee: Training the Mind for Joy (By Kaybe Loughran)
Josie McKee was speed climbing the Nose with Quinn Brett when Quinn's accident happened. Josie's YOSAR training paid off that day, but the mental and emotional toll of such a personal event lead Josie to some new directions in climbing. |
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Sabine Pratt Hunziker - Little Red Riding Hood: The Extraordinary Story of a Climber & Survivor (By Dave Barnes) -
Sabine Pratt-Hunziker is a rock climbing force with a fighting spirit. She fell about 20 meters in a climbing accident and was put in a coma to survive. Her determination has brought her back to climbing. |
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Dave Parry (U.K.) - Author and Photographer of the Grits Blocs Book
Dave Parry is a photographer, climber, and author. In this interview he shares his love of gritstone bouldering and what it was like to write his first climbing book, Grit Blocs. |
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Caitlin Schokker (New Castle, Australia)
Common Climber editor Dave Barnes, met Caitlin at Mount Piddington in the Blue Mountains of Australia. She was making light work of a classic middle grade crack climb. Caitlin had buzzing energy and her red hair glowed in the sun like a flame. She has a passion for the game. CC asked Caitlin if she could share and explain her love of climbing. |
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Louise Shepherd (Mt. Arapiles, Australia)
Louise was one of the strongest female traditional climbers in the world in the 1980s, establishing numerous FAs and FFAs. Today, at 61, she still rock climbs and guides. |
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PROFILE - Mia Tucholke (Colorado)
Mia Tucholke is an established climber and professional guide in all disciplines of climbing, reaching the highest level of mountaineering instruction. She is based in Colorado and has spent her life developing the skills to lead folks through their mountaineering and climbing goals and hitting many winners along her journey. |
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