Advertise on podcast: The Climbing Majority

Jason met a new climbing partner through a Facebook group, vetted him over a few conversations, and went to Eldorado Canyon for their first route together. Twenty feet up the Yellow Spur, his partner fell onto a ledge—rope behind the leg, face-first impact... broken wrist and severe facial trauma. This episode walks through the accident sequence, the rescue, and what Jason feels went wrong. Despite multiple outreaches, his injured partner stopped communicating with him after the accident and has left Jason to process and reflect on the accident alone. He reflects on partner vetting, extending gear on traverses, communication during high-consequence terrain, attentive belaying, and processing the guilt of an accident where someone gets badly hurt and disappears. In this conversation we cover topics such as: finding partners online, multi-pitch trad climbing, ledge fall dynamics, first aid response, and helmet effectiveness. Watch the full episode on Youtube #ClimbingAccident #TradClimbing --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Highland Sweater Here Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your Order Help Support The Show & Unlock The Ad-Free Podcast ---

After being literally run over by a school bus in Atlanta, climber Taylor Martin rebuilt her life through big mountain pursuits and solo aid climbing. This episode dives deep into Taylor's five new Yosemite first ascents established in a single season, including several big and technical aid routes in Yosemite. We explore her 70-hour Hardrock 100 ski traverse with only one hour of sleep, advanced aid climbing techniques like back-looping and daisy soloing, and the psychological toll of spending days alone on big walls. Taylor opens up about navigating trans identity in competitive climbing and record-keeping, the traumatic recovery from devastating injuries, and why partnerships rank above performance despite climbing mostly solo. Topics include: A3/A4 aid climbing, traumatic brain injury recovery, solo endurance objectives, new route development in Yosemite, mental challenges of solitary big wall pushes, modern speed climbing ethics, and finding meaning beyond grades in mountain sports. Watch the full episode on Youtube #routedevelopment #aidclimbing #firstascents #trauma #bigwallclimbing --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Trail Pants Here Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your Order Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Taylor's IG Youtube Video of Hummingbird Must Watch Video on Taylor's History

22-year-old Zion crusher Connor Baty on first ascents, rope soloing the Triple Wall in 12 hours, and why he climbs without sponsors. Kora FA, Towers of the Virgin, and living the unsponsored dream. Today's guest is 22-year-old silent crusher from Zion, Connor Baty. Connor has been climbing since he was 8 years old, with key early development as a trad climber at Garden of the Gods in Colorado—a notoriously chossy area with soft, loose sandstone. Since then he quickly progressed through the grades, leveling out around the 5.13 range. He then took that knowledge and merged it with his true passion: adventure. Connor has been quietly building a reputation as a cutting-edge first ascensionist and endurance linkup climber. Connor was the partner to our previous guest James Barrow for the Complete Tower of the Virgin Traverse. They also established a new 5.12+ multipitch route in Zion, called Kora. Connor has climbed Time Wave Zero down in Potrero car to car in 5 hours and most recently he’s claimed the rope solo speed record of the Zion Triple Wall—linking Touchstone, Moonlight Buttress, and Prodigal Son in a blistering 12 hours. Needless to say Connor is a crusher. He could easily seek out sponsorships at the level he is climbing. But as we learn in our conversation, Connor has zero interest in self-promotion. For him it's all about personal progress, adventure, and living the life he has now to the fullest. He even has groundbreaking pursuits outside of climbing and is currently attempting to navigate the Colorado River from source to sea. What I found most interesting about our conversation is how well-spoken, composed, and level-headed Connor is as a human and a climber. Back when I was 22 I could not say the same thing about myself. I really felt the stoke and energy from Connor in our conversation and I'm happy to be sharing it with you now. Watch the full episode on Youtube #firstascents #bigwallclimbing #routedevelopment #aidclimbing #speedclimbing --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Trail Pants Here Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your Order Hot Chillys Performance Base Layers Checkout their Micro Elite Chamois Base Layer Systems Here Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Conor's IG

Vitaliy is one of the most prolific and respected alpinists of his generation and has a reputation as a master of long, complex alpine objectives—including becoming the first person to complete The Goliath Traverse in the Eastern Sierra…which might be the longest ridge traverse in the western hemisphere…if not the world.. He's established more first ascents in the Eastern Sierra than any other person, authored a three-volume guidebook series to the Eastern Sierra, and spent years developing new routes around the world. He's summited all the peaks in the Fitz Skyline and only has one summit left to complete the Torre Skyline: the infamous Cerro Torre. Even with such an astounding list of achievements, Vitaliy's deep sense of empathy, humility, and curiosity keep him grounded, thoughtful, and heartfelt. Sean McLane is an American climber and alpinist with a knack for hard ice climbing. He blends curiosity, adventure, and a commitment to exploring terrain that few others pursue. One of his life goals is to complete Guy Lacelle's Favorite 135 Ice Climbs—a notorious list of iconic, hard, and bold routes. Sean has currently completed 71 of the 135 and soloed 61 of them. That's an insane amount of soloing on hard ice routes. Along with several other first ascents, Sean recently put up The Penitent Path, a 12-pitch M9 considered one of the longest routes at the grade in the U.S. Beyond his technical prowess, Sean is a deeply thoughtful and introspective human—and this is his first time ever sharing his story. We start with Sean's background and how he was introduced to climbing while living abroad in China. We then explore a deeply personal and traumatic story from Sean's past involving a tragic ice climbing accident that took the life of Meg O'Neill and left Sean with a broken back. We use this story to expand on grief and loss, and learn how Sean processed these deep emotions and reintroduced climbing into his life. We then pivot to Vitaliy's background—a wildly unique story checkered with unbelievable suffering, uncertainty, and struggle, but also resilience, empathy, grit, and growth. Next, we dive into Vitaliy and Sean's recent climbing trip to India—an adventure that tested their commitment, focus, determination, and humility. We then contrast their India trip with a wildly successful and spontaneous trip to Patagonia. Finally, we close by diving into deeper topics around work-life balance, the sacrifices we make for success, unmitigatable risk justification, the concepts of faith, luck and self-reliance, and mastery versus complacency. Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube #alpinism #mountaineering #firstascents #routedevelopment #partnerships #iceclimbing --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Trail Pants HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your Order Hot Chillys Performance Base Layers Checkout their Micro Elite Chamois Base Layer Systems HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! Resources The Shooting Star Scholarship Guy Lacelle's 135 Ice Climbs Vitaliy's IG Seans's IG

Way out in the Canadian wilderness — six hours from the nearest city, little to no cell reception, surrounded by mossy forests and granite — lies a world-class bouldering destination. Secluded, quiet, and breathtakingly beautiful, The Nooks has quickly become one of the most talked-about new climbing areas in North America. With incredible rock quality and a massive spread of problems from V0 to V13, it’s the kind of place that feels unreal the first time you see it. The Nooks was first discovered in 2018 by Michigan climber Brendan Baars. Since then, he has spent nearly every climbable weekend out there — cleaning hundreds of boulders, building trails, collaborating with the local community, and documenting the entire process alongside his close friend DJ Viernes. Brendan’s vision and commitment have transformed a patch of remote forest into a full-blown destination area visited by hundreds of climbers a year — something that almost never happens on this scale. Today, I’m sitting down with both Brendan and DJ to talk about how it all came to be. In our conversation, we dive into the history of The Nooks, why Brendan fell in love with bouldering, and what it actually takes to develop an area of this size. We break down his first ascent of a new V13 called Deadliness, and get a deeper understanding of how The Nooks has shaped both Brendan's and DJ’s lives over the last seven years. We also talk at length about DJ’s new feature-length film The Developer, which documents the area and the process behind building it from the ground up. It’s beautifully shot, full of heart, and we use it as a reference point throughout this conversation. If you’re interested in watching The Developer, DJ has created an exclusive 20% discount for the first 50 listeners to check out the film, making it just $4 to rent or $16 to purchase. Click the link in the show notes and use code “TCM20” at checkout. I don’t expect those codes to last long. Did you know this podcast is also on YouTube? I spend an enormous amount of time and money making sure the video and audio quality are as professional as possible — and this time, DJ even set up a full studio on his end so we could capture his side of the conversation at the highest quality. So if you want to watch this episode, the trailer, or any of our video podcasts, head over to YouTube and hit subscribe — even if you’re not normally a video-podcast person. We’re getting close to our goal of 1,000 subscribers, and every sub helps a ton. Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube #routedevelopment #bouldering #firstascents --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Trail Pants HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for an extra 15% OFF Your Order Hot Chillys Performance Base Layers Checkout their Micro Elite Chamois Base Layer Systems HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Watch "The Developer" on Vimeo - Use Code "TCM20" for 20% OFF (First 50 Listeners) The Nooks is on KAYA Brendan's IG DJ's IG

Randy Leavitt. As a climber who grew up in Southern California, I’ve been hearing this name since the very beginning of my climbing career. Collaborative inventor of the wide-crack climbing technique so aptly named “Leavittation,” developer of thousands of routes — with around a dozen graded 5.14 or harder, including Jumbo Love at Clark Mountain, the first 5.15 in the United States — and long-time athlete manager for Maxim Ropes… Randy’s name has carried serious weight and inspiration for decades. A climbing legend if there ever was one. I actually remember listening to his episode on The Enormocast way back in 2012, when I was just getting started as a climber. So to now be sitting down with Randy in person, over thirteen years later, felt surreal. While Randy is best known for his achievements in the sport climbing world, the life behind the headlines tells a much broader story — one built on creativity, discipline, and a blue-collar work ethic. He found climbing young and quickly cut his teeth in Yosemite, climbing The Leaning Tower at age sixteen, The Zodiac and The Ephemeral Tis-sa-ack at seventeen, The Pacific Ocean Wall at 18, AND the first person ever to climb up — and then BASE jump off — El Capitan at just twenty. Back then, all of this was part of his bigger vision: to become a high-altitude mountaineer. But as he would discover throughout his life, his passion for business and financial independence remained just as strong, ultimately leading him toward a more balanced existence where climbing fit into a much larger picture. In our conversation, we explore Randy’s 1986 expedition to the Karakoram — including summit pushes on Gasherbrum IV and The Nameless Tower. We revisit his gripping ascent of The Stratosfear in the Black Canyon; we talk about the origins of his business, the freedom it’s given him, and his philosophy on route development, mentorship, and legacy. We also touch on a recent development in his health that has made climbing too painful to pursue — and how he’s learning to navigate that new reality. Later, we take a deep dive into the climbing industry itself: how it really works, how athletes are chosen, and what brand support actually looks like. And finally, we reflect on how climbing culture has evolved over the decades — and why Randy believes the rise of climbing gyms has changed the sport more than anything else in history. Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube #firstascents #routedevelopment #livinglegends #proffesionalclimbers --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Overalls HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Hot Chillys Performance Base Layers Checkout their Micro Elite Chamois Base Layer Systems HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Randy's IG

Today I have the privilege to be sitting down with our previous guest Silas Rossi..Silas is an IFMGA Certified Mountain Guide and President of the AMGA organization. After Silas and I’s last conversation in April, I’ve been jotting down a list of questions and reflections in preparation for our inevitable next conversation. So simply put, this conversation is a culmination of that list. We dive into a wide variety of topics; including nuanced gear questions surrounding rappelling, anchor building, fixed point belays, and clipping cams in sequence. We also explore more thoughtful questions like what it means to move away from fear and towards joy in our climbing. Or how we can balance learning through our own experience vs learning from the experie nce of others. We also get to hear about a guided trip early in Silas’ career involving an epic with an older client in freezing whiteout conditions. As many of you already know, Silas is such a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and being able to sit down with him to pick his brain on such specific nuanced topics… was just really special. Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube #AMGAguides #climbingsafety --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Overalls HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Hot Chillys Performance Base Layers Checkout their Micro Elite Chamois Base Layer Systems HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order --- Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! Get 15% OFF Silas' Annual Ascend Membership HERE "Enrollment will require a credit card to receive your 15% discount. If you choose to remain an Ascend member, you will continue to receive 15% off of your recurring annual membership until you choose to cancel it. You can easily unsubscribe anytime to avoid being charged. If you need help with this just reach to me at [email protected]" - Silas

In his earlier years, Kevin dedicated his life to the craft of climbing. He lived in a van, chased adventure across the globe, and devoted every ounce of his energy to the pursuit of performance. During that chapter, he climbed up to 5.13b, established several major first ascents, and ticked over fifteen hundred routes. Climbing wasn’t just something Kevin did — it was who he was. His identity was built around his achievements, his grades, and his ever-growing tick list… until one day, everything changed. After successfully rope-soloing Freerider on El Cap, a dream that would represent the pinnacle of accomplishment for many, Kevin found himself not elated — but empty. Confused. Frustrated. Wondering what it all meant. That moment became a turning point — a quiet reckoning that forced him to question why he climbed in the first place. It was from that reflection that a new path emerged. Today, Kevin is an AMGA-Certified Rock Guide and co-owner of Vertical Pursuits, a guiding service based out of Lake Tahoe. His focus has shifted from personal performance to mentorship — helping everyday climbers build competence, confidence, and a deeper connection with the craft. In our conversation, we use Kevin’s climbing stories as a framework to explore some of climbing’s bigger questions. We start with his rope-solo ascent of Freerider — and how that experience reshaped his identity. Then, we dig into a story from his time climbing with Brad Gobright, using it to dissect the psychology of risk management. From there, we travel back into Kevin’s dirtbag years  and get to hear several increidble stories.  A bear encounter in the Wind River Range. A remote big-wall first ascent in the wilds of British Columbia. And his time on the iconic Andean peak Alpamayo. We wrap up by exploring Kevin’s guiding philosophy — how he sees mentorship as one of the most underutilized tools in modern climbing, and how professional instruction can change the way we learn, grow, and stay alive in the mountains. This conversation is full of honesty, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom. I walked away from it reflecting on my own relationship with climbing, and I think you might too. Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube #AMGAguides #climbingsafety --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Overalls HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Hot Chillys Performance Base Layers Checkout their Clima-Tek Base Layer Systems HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order --- Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Book Kevin's Guide Services Kevin's Personal Website Kevin's IG Kevin's Mountain Project Profile ---

Justin Salas has a significant visual impairment. He lost his sight due to an undiagnosed optic neuropathy when he was 14. Imagine, you're a teenager fresh into highschool…you have ambitions to join the military, you already own a small business mowing lawns called J&J Lawn Care…everything seems within reach…and then in what seems like an instant…you lose your sight. While Justin is one of the most humble, capable humans I know…the impact this kind of loss has on the human mind cannot go understated. It’s been over 16 years since Justin has lost his sight. During that time he has become the world's strongest outdoor paraclimbing boulderer, the first ever to climb V11. He is a sponsored athlete, he is building a business in the world of accessibility, and has found a life partner. And yet he still wrestles, almost daily, with the shadow of “what could have been.” His life split the day he lost his sight, and he can’t help but wonder about the path not taken—the one with sight. In our conversation, we dig into how Justin thinks about his identity—as a climber and as a human. We talk about the maze of balancing independence with accepting help, and what Justin’s climbing experience actually feels like: how he performs at a high level, the crucial role of sight guides, and why visualization matters—not just for him, but for all of us. We also get into choosing direction in life and how climbing can complicate our decision-making. We talk about the major pivot in Justin’s life after learning that he won’t be able to compete in the upcoming 2028 Olympics, what it’s like to be a modern day climbing athlete, and finally we close off the conversation exploring the concept of mastery. Now, Justin and I love to go philosophical…and while you will see some of that in this episode, we also recorded an extra 45 minutes after this episode. We explore the concepts of stillness, fear, control, purpose, ambition, communication, and learning. If you like conversations where climbing is the lens but the subject is really how to live, this conversation is for you. Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube --- Thanks to our sponsors! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Overalls HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order Hot Chillys Performance Base Layers Checkout their Clima-Tek Base Layer Systems HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order --- Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Justin's IG ---

Red Rock Canyon is a National Conservation Area about 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. Its striking red and cream-colored sandstone walls hold thousands of climbs — from 20-foot sport routes to adventurous 20-pitch trad lines. Today, I’m sitting down with long-time local Andrew Fulton. Andrew has been climbing in Red Rocks since January of 1993 — back before the city even had climbing gyms, when pioneers like George and Joanne Urioste were putting up countless first ascents in the canyon. Over the last 30 years, he’s witnessed massive changes in the city, the climbing culture, and Red Rock Canyon itself. As a newer Las Vegas local myself, I was stoked to connect with Andrew — not just to hear the history of a world-class climbing area, but to get a feel for what it was like to be a climber “back in the day.” In our conversation, we dig into the complicated history of The Original Route on Rainbow Wall, Andrew’s unique perspective on risk and how it shaped both his climbing and his guiding career. We dive into several wild stories from his past — including rockfall, a massive fire, swarms of bees, and a 100+ foot aid fall that nearly cost him his life. We close things out by going deep into the meaning of climbing, and ultimately uncover what we see as three pillars of climbing: spirituality, adventure, and performance. Quick disclaimer: this was the first episode I filmed in-person in my new home studio. The video came out great, but the audio — especially on my end — isn’t quite up to the usual standard even after spending a large amount of time trying to save it. But, the kinks are now worked out, so all my future in-person episodes will have the professional, crispy audio you’re used to. If you’d like to watch this interview, check out the TCM YouTube channel — you can find the link in the show notes. One more thing. I have a huge favor I need from all of you. TCM’s Youtube channel currently has 665 subscribers and I really need to get to 1000. With the number of listeners we get per episode I know that we can hit that number within the week. So even if you prefer to listen to your podcasts outside of Youtube, please head over to the channel and hit subscribe.  Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube --- Thanks to our sponsor! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Overalls HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order --- Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Andrew's IG --- We were recently rated #3 Top Climbing Podcast! Check it Out!

Today we once again have the honor of sitting down with The Quad Fathers—Michael Vaill and Tanner Wanish. The last time I spoke with them, they had just wrapped up their legendary Yosemite Quad. But little did we know, on the descent from Half Dome they were already scheming their next big objective: The Goliath Traverse.  To give you a sense of scale, let’s break this thing down. The Goliath Traverse is a south-to-north, ridge link-up of two of the biggest traverses in the Sierra Nevada. The first is The Full Monty—a notoriously difficult 16-mile traverse of technical rock and mountaineering terrain. It involves 5.10 climbing, horrendous rock quality, immense exposure, and extreme endurance. It extends the already burly Full Palisade Traverse and by itself is a career-defining objective. The second half is The Full Evolution Crest, running from Bishop Pass to Piute Pass it involves miles of alpine rock, climbing up to 5.10, countless peaks over 13,000 feet, endless elevation gain and loss, and complex route-finding. First completed over eight days in 2008 by Scott McCook and Kyle Sox. Now imagine linking both of those together; that’s The Goliath Traverse. At 32 miles of climbing, more than 60 summits, nearly 50,000 feet of vertical gain, it is considered the longest technical ridge traverse in the Western Hemisphere. It was first completed in 2021 by Vitaliy Musiyenko in a solo, unsupported, alpine-style push over just eight days—no caches, no partners, no support. Just Vitaliy, his mind, and the mountains. In today’s conversation, we begin with a harrowing story from Tanner and Michael’s preparation trip to the Alps—a reminder of just how dangerous and unpredictable the mountains can be. When I say these two are lucky to be alive, it’s no exaggeration. At moments, it felt like I was talking to ghosts of fallen mountain athletes. We then dive into their successful second ascent of The Goliath, and how the experience has reshaped the way they’re setting goals in the mountains—at least for now. After his first ascent in 2021, Vitaliy reflected, “It didn’t feel like I had conquered Goliath…I had merely survived him.” As you’ll hear, Tanner and Michael would come to understand just how accurate that statement really was. Watch The Climbing Majority on Youtube --- Thanks to our sponsor! LIVSN Designs Checkout their Ecotrek Overalls HERE Use Code "TCM15" At Checkout for 15% OFF Your Order --- Get Access to Exclusive Episodes, Unlock Ad-Free Podcast, & MORE! --- Resources Tanner's IG Michael's IG Vitaly's FA Goliath Write Up --- We were recently rated #3 Top Climbing Podcast! Check it Out!

My guest today is Michael Levy: recreational alpinist, rock climber, journalist and the owner and editor of The Summit Journal. Originally founded in 1955 by Jean Crenshaw and Helen Kilness, The Summit Journal was the first climbing-focused print publication in the U.S.—with Royal Robbins as its main editor. For decades it thrived, reaching over 10,000 subscribers, before being discontinued in 1996. After purchasing the rights to the name, Micheal has since revitalized it into a thriving, subscriber-based, print-only publication. Let me tell you—before this interview I read the most of the recent issue, and it is beautiful. Matte finish, incredible imagery, it even smells good. It’s artfully put together, and most importantly, it’s filled with some of the most unique, compelling, and engaging climbing stories. While it does highlight big names, Michael has made it a priority to also feature stories from the majority—the everyday climbers who make up the backbone of this community. In our conversation, we explore who Michael is as a climber, how his passion for journalism developed, and ultimately use that as a lens to discuss the state of climbing media today. We dive into what true journalism really means, how to curate compelling stories, how the internet has reshaped the landscape, and how Michael plans to navigate those waters while leaning fully into his print-only vision: The Summit Journal. I highly recommend heading over to The Summit Journal's website to learn more about this publication..and if you're interested pick up a copy of your own The first 15 listeners that sign up for an annual subscription to The Summit Journal get a free hat….Go to summitjournal.com and use the code TCM at checkout. ---- HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW, GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EPISODES!   For a little as $5/mo! ---- Don’t forget to check out our full video episodes on Youtube! --- The TCM movement is growing but we need your help to spread the word! Word of mouth is one of the best ways to support the show.  Share an episode with a friend. Post about the show on social media. Jump into Reddit threads or Mountain Project forums and tell people what you’re listening to. Tag the show, tag your favorite guests, help spread the word. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcatcher. --- Resources Get The Summit Journal HERE Micheal Levy's Instagram Summit Journal's Instagram

Today, we’re doing something a little different. For the first time ever, I’m releasing a TCM Legacy Episode—diving back into one of the show’s earliest conversations, this one with Joshua Reinig. It’s been over three years since this episode first aired, and a lot has changed since then. For some of you, you’ll hear a familiar voice—my previous co-host, Max Carrier. But the biggest changes are in Josh’s own life, and those changes are exactly why I’m bringing you this newly remastered version of our conversation. I first met Josh over a decade ago, during my very first year of climbing, when he invited me—a complete gumby—out to one of his first ascent projects. Whether he realized it or not, that simple act of kindness shaped me as a climber, and I’m still grateful for it today. I also know I’m not the only one he’s impacted in that way. Since then, Josh and I have become close friends, following each other’s life stories closely. Over the course of his climbing career, Josh has put up more than 2,000 first ascents and currently sits in the top 20 Mountain Project contributors. His routes often focus on safe, moderate climbing that everyone can enjoy. He’s an AMGA apprentice rock and alpine guide with over 6,000 guided trips under his belt. It’s safe to say he’s dedicated a huge portion of his life to serving the climbing community. One of the main reasons for revisiting this conversation is some exciting news—Josh has just published the most comprehensive guidebook to the Alabama Hills climbing area. This 300-page book features over 700 routes, more than 100 of which are his own first ascents. It’s packed with detailed route descriptions, maps, and photos, the product of more than five years of work and documentation. With Alabama Hills now federally recognized as a scenic wildlife area, Josh also includes important guidance on how we can all respect and preserve this fragile place. For Josh, this guidebook is just another extension of what he’s always done—sharing climbing with others. He gives huge thanks to Marty and Sharon for mentoring him through the process, and to his wife, Melissa, who played a major role in the documentation and creative work. When I first heard about the guidebook, I offered to have Josh back on the show in person. But unfortunately, Josh has recently been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The details of his prognosis are still unfolding, but he faces a difficult road ahead—one that may include surgery, chemo, and all the challenges that come with fighting cancer. The location of the cancer has already made speaking difficult, so joining me for a new conversation just wasn’t possible. As someone who has spent his life supporting the climbing community, Josh now needs our support. The best way to help is to purchase his Alabama Hills guidebook—link in the show notes. You can also donate directly via his GoFundMe, like I have. And if nothing else, please take a moment to send Josh your thoughts, prayers, or positive energy during this time. ---- HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW & GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EPISODES!   For a little as $5/mo! ---- Don’t forget to check out our full video episodes on Youtube! --- Resources Buy The Alabama Hills Guidebook Support Joshua on his Go Fund Me Page Joshua Reinig's Mountain Project Profile

We kick things off by diving into the nuances of Totems—what their limitations are, whether they’re as good as everyone says, and whether the mystical powers of the black Totem are fact or fiction. From there, we dig into climbing partnerships: what to look for, what to avoid, and how we can all be better partners. Tal shares two of his closest calls in the mountains and how they shaped his evolving relationship with risk. And then, we shift to Tal’s true passion: Wonderland. A 5 sqmi area southwest of Denver, CO that Tal has been developing for the last three years. While only a handful of first routes were developed in the area back in the 2000s by Jay Vonesh… Tal and his community has now since added well over 200 routes across numerous of the countless rock formations that litter the forested area. While it is a slab climber's paradise. Wonderland has something to offer for just about everyone with cracks, slabs, face climbs, and a variety of high quality bouldering. Expect to find this area littered with raspberries, mushrooms, owl pellets, bones, deer/elk scat, oddly friendly magpies, unnerving signs of big cats, great views, and a lot of solitude. For Tal, developing a climbing area is far more meaningful than any single route. He believes you need to “hear the song” of a place before you can truly develop it. The more intimately familiar you are with the rocks, the plants, the wildlife, the rhythm of the land—the better developer you become. A beautiful, poetic reflection of the depth and care Tal brings to this sport and his community. If you stoked about visiting Wonderland be sure to pick up a copy of the guidebook Tal made for the area. You can do so with the link in the episode show notes. Tal also invites anyone interested in meeting the local community to reach out! You’ll find Tal’s IG link below as well.  ---- HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW & GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EPISODES!   For a little as $5/mo! ---- Don’t forget to check out our full video episodes on Youtube! --- The TCM movement is growing but we need your help to spread the word! Word of mouth is one of the best ways to support the show.  Share an episode with a friend. Post about the show on social media. Jump into Reddit threads or Mountain Project forums and tell people what you’re listening to. Tag the show, tag your favorite guests, help spread the word. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcatcher. --- Resources Tal's IG Buy The Guidebook to Wonderland

Today, I sit down with Tal Wanish—rock climber, mentor, prominent route developer in Colorado’s Front Range, and brother of our previous guest, Tanner Wanish. But Tal’s not just a rogue route developer. He’s a deeply involved member of his local climbing community—someone who chooses to play by the rules in order to help foster sustainable growth for future generations. He’s replaced over 600 bolts as an instructor with the Boulder Climbing Community, and today he puts most of his effort into the Pikes Peak Climbers Alliance. There, he serves on the South Platte committee, helps organize clean-ups and fundraisers, and works directly with landowners to ensure new climbing development is legal and sustainable. While Tal is a thriving member of his community today…that wasn’t always the case. Plagued by imposter syndrome and his own crushing expectations to perform as a climber, he found himself quite alone in the world of climbing struggling to find partners and mentors. Everything changed when Tal shifted his focus—from numbers to impact. When he discovered route development and community involvement, climbing took on a new meaning. Since then, he’s helped establish over 160 routes in just the last four years and over a vertical mile of new climbs in just the last 12 months. While the grades no longer define him, he’s also recently broken into the 5.13 range—on his own terms. I really enjoyed this conversation with Tal. He loves climbing, but just as much—he loves sharing climbing with others. And there’s something truly special in that. ---- HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW & GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE EPISODES!   For a little as $5/mo! ---- Don’t forget to check out our full video episodes on Youtube! --- The TCM movement is growing but we need your help to spread the word! Word of mouth is one of the best ways to support the show.  Share an episode with a friend. Post about the show on social media. Jump into Reddit threads or Mountain Project forums and tell people what you’re listening to. Tag the show, tag your favorite guests, help spread the word. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcatcher. --- Resources Tal's IG