Climbing History
A selected history of climbing and mountaineering through the climbers, climbs and media.
4172 Climbers
8089 Climbs
21529 Ascents
Featured
Hazel Findlay
Hazel Findlay is one of the UK's most accomplished female climbers with many hard sport and trad ascents to her name.
The daughter of Steve Findlay, she started climbing at an early age and was active around the south west of the UK. In 2011 she climbed Once Upon a Time in the Southwest at Dyers Lookout and became the first British woman to climb E9, and in 2014 she climbed Fish Eye at Oliana to become the first British woman to climb 8c.
Hazel has continually expanded the limits of her climbing with a long string of impressive sport and trad climbs. Of particular note is her ascent of Magic Line E10/8c+ in 2019, a Ron Kauk route in Yosemite with a reputation born from repelling a slew of very capable aspirants. Hazel's ascent was only the third in 25 years, and the second placing the gear on lead.
In 2022 she became the second British woman (after Emma Twyford) to climb 9a with her ascent of Escalatamàsters.
Alongside her climbing she has a deep interest in the mental aspects of climbing and runs Strong Mind, a coaching company focused on mental techniques for improving your climbing.
References
[1] Interview with Soline Kentzel for grimper.com, May 2023 https://www.grimper.com/news-femmes-falaises-hazel-findlay-you-don-need-balls-to-be-bold
[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ckmpivT5UIrFCU7idZqNg?
[3] Interview with Sonnie Trotter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a07_bI4lrFI
Hazel Findlay is one of the UK's most accomplished female climbers with many hard sport and trad ascents to her name.
The daughter of Steve Findlay, she started climbing at an early age and was active around the south west of the UK. In 2011 she climbed Once Upon a Time in the Southwest at Dyers Lookout and became the first British woman to climb E9, and in 2014 she climbed Fish Eye at Oliana to become the first British woman to climb 8c.
Hazel has continually expanded the limits of her climbing with a long string of impressive sport and trad climbs. Of particular note is her ascent of Magic Line E10/8c+ in 2019, a Ron Kauk route in Yosemite with a reputation born from repelling a slew of very capable aspirants. Hazel's ascent was only the third in 25 years, and the second placing the gear on lead.
In 2022 she became the second British woman (after Emma Twyford) to climb 9a with her ascent of Escalatamàsters.
Alongside her climbing she has a deep interest in the mental aspects of climbing and runs Strong Mind, a coaching company focused on mental techniques for improving your climbing.
References
[1] Interview with Soline Kentzel for grimper.com, May 2023 https://www.grimper.com/news-femmes-falaises-hazel-findlay-you-don-need-balls-to-be-bold
[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ckmpivT5UIrFCU7idZqNg?
[3] Interview with Sonnie Trotter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a07_bI4lrFI
Pics + Vids
Featuring 10472 pictures and videos. Try searching for a climber, climb or summit to see pics and videos.
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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 4253 podcasts. Try searching for a climber to see podcasts with them, or check out some of these podcasts:
- Madaline Sorkin on American Alpine Club Podcast (2023)
- Tyler Willcutt on The Testpiece Podcast (2025)
- Austin Mallet on American Alpine Club Podcast (2026)
- Christian Beckwith on The RunOut Podcast (2023)
Library
Featuring 16092 items in the library. Try a search to see what you can find, or check out these library items:
- Adra (2024) Film
- Alpine Journal 2018 Vol 122 29-34 Parnell Future (2018) Journal
- Craig y Longridge (2017) Guidebook
Recent updates
References
I’m downgrading because before finding a new method, I was already asking myself the question of “is it 9b?”. Obviously we ask ourselves this kind of question when we try a hard route… and during the work a friend who was belaying me said “Pierrot here I think there is a kneebar, I’m sure” I tried the kneebar, I found it and liked it, and I used it, so yes it’s a great new plan! [2]
References
One of the most epic moments of my climbing! Very unexpected. I though it would be 9b+, but unfortunately after only few days of work it cannot be 9b+. Very bouldery, very reachy and very crimpy. Love it! Definitely upper end of 9b in my opinion.
References
References
References
What a line! Conexión of almost whole part of Mejorando Imagen with the reverse of Víctimas Pérez and with the final hard part of Samfaina. In total, a big marathon of more than 80 moves without many rest. If I am honest, I should propose 9b+ because I felt harder than the 9b's that I did before, but I don't know really what is the step from 9b to 9b+, next repetitions will confirm! [3]