Climbing History
A selected history of climbing and mountaineering through the climbers, climbs and media.
3243 Climbers
6237 Climbs
16332 Ascents
Featured
James McHaffie
James McHaffie is a prolific North Wales based trad climber who's also a very capable sport climber. He is one of the best trad onsight climbers in the UK (and potentially the world) with over a hundred E7 onsights to his name. He's also completed some impressive challenges, such as the 100 lakes extremes in a day.
On the 26th May 2021 James climbed Revelations at Raven Tor, the last route of 180 on his way to ticking every route in the book Extreme Rock. This incredible effort demonstrates a huge breadth and depth of experience, from relatively pedestrian climbs such as The Strand at Gogarth (North Stack And Main Cliff) to bold and intimidating leads such as Johnny Dawes' Indian Face and Jerry Moffatt's Master's Wall.
References
[1] Interview with DMM, September 2021 https://dmmwales.com/journal/may-2021/mchaffie-completes-extreme-rock
[2] Interview with RockClimbingUK, 2011 https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=23709.0
[3] Interview with March Langley for UKClimbing.com, September 2020 https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/james_mchaffie_-_the_cumbrian-13045
[4] Adam Hocking picture of James McHaffie during his 100 lakes extremes in a day challenge https://www.instagram.com/p/CDb9sm3DI-T/
[5] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/ticklists/caffs_100_lakeland_extremes-890
James McHaffie is a prolific North Wales based trad climber who's also a very capable sport climber. He is one of the best trad onsight climbers in the UK (and potentially the world) with over a hundred E7 onsights to his name. He's also completed some impressive challenges, such as the 100 lakes extremes in a day.
On the 26th May 2021 James climbed Revelations at Raven Tor, the last route of 180 on his way to ticking every route in the book Extreme Rock. This incredible effort demonstrates a huge breadth and depth of experience, from relatively pedestrian climbs such as The Strand at Gogarth (North Stack And Main Cliff) to bold and intimidating leads such as Johnny Dawes' Indian Face and Jerry Moffatt's Master's Wall.
References
[1] Interview with DMM, September 2021 https://dmmwales.com/journal/may-2021/mchaffie-completes-extreme-rock
[2] Interview with RockClimbingUK, 2011 https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=23709.0
[3] Interview with March Langley for UKClimbing.com, September 2020 https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/james_mchaffie_-_the_cumbrian-13045
[4] Adam Hocking picture of James McHaffie during his 100 lakes extremes in a day challenge https://www.instagram.com/p/CDb9sm3DI-T/
[5] https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/ticklists/caffs_100_lakeland_extremes-890
Pics + Vids
Featuring 7895 pictures and videos. Try searching for a climber, climb or summit to see pics and videos.
Will Bosi on Hazel Grace (8B+)
Dan Andrei on When Life Gives You Lemons Low (8B+)
Paul Robinson on Cosmic Loneliness (8B+)
Support
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You may also be interested in the Mountain Heritage Trust, a charity dedicated to preserving the rich history of climbing and mountaineering. Their collection includes many unique and valuable items, from rare guidebooks through to the boots worn by Doug Scott on the 1977 Ogre expedition.
Explore
Fancy a look around? You can browse by climber or by climbs, or you can check out some lists. For example
- All sport ascents of 9b or above
- British women who have climbed 7C or above
- British men who have climbed 8c or above
Podcasts
Featuring 3733 podcasts. Try searching for a climber to see podcasts with them, or check out some of these podcasts:
- Eric Hörst on The Struggle Climbing Show, June 2022
- Laurence Guyon on Allez Podcast, January 2024
- Sébastien Berthe on The Enormocast, September 2022
- Seneida Biendarra on The Nugget, June 2025
Library
Featuring 11014 items in the library. Try a search to see what you can find, or check out these library items:
- Depth Charge - Chris Sharma Interview Film
- Alpine Journal61 1956 87-92 Hartog Dauphine (1956) Journal
- The Climbs on Lliwedd (1909) Guidebook
Recent updates
12 of the pitches are 7c+/5.13 or harder including two 8b+/5.14a. Due to its sustained nature it may be the second-hardest free wall on El Capitan (2025).
12 of the pitches are harder than 7c+/5.13 including two 8b+/5.14a. Due to its sustained nature this may be the second-hardest free wall on El Capitan (2025).
With Jeff Schoen and Alan Lester. 95% free: one point of aid on p2, a few points on p7.
References
[1] https://web.archive.org/web/20170213064201/http://www.stanford.edu/~clint/yos/longhf.htm#dihedral
Free version of Muir Wall with some variations in line including final pitches of The Shield.
El Corazón takes features originally aid climbed by Flight of the Albatross, Heart Route and Son of Heart linked by some new climbing. The name means The Heart in Spanish.