Climbing History
A selected history of climbing and mountaineering through the climbers, climbs and media.
4106 Climbers
7961 Climbs
21094 Ascents
Featured
Spots of Time | 9A Boulder problem at Swirl Crags
The first 9A in Britain. Sitting on the slopes of Helvellyn, the name is a reference to a poem by Lakeland poet William Wordsworth:
There are in our existence spots of time,
That with distinct pre-eminence retain
A renovating virtue, whence, depressed,
By false opinion and contentious thought,
Or aught of heavier or more deadly weight,
In trivial occupations, and the round
Of ordinary intercourse, our minds
Are nourished and invisibly repaired;
A virtue, by which pleasure is enhanced,
That penetrates, enables us to mount
When high, more high, and lifts us up when fallen [3]
References
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHE6FsicWVk
[2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188941620/in/photostream/
[3] https://users.scc.spokane.edu/JRoth/Courses/World Masterpieces/POETRYCOMPENDIUM/spots_of_time.htm
The first 9A in Britain. Sitting on the slopes of Helvellyn, the name is a reference to a poem by Lakeland poet William Wordsworth:
There are in our existence spots of time,
That with distinct pre-eminence retain
A renovating virtue, whence, depressed,
By false opinion and contentious thought,
Or aught of heavier or more deadly weight,
In trivial occupations, and the round
Of ordinary intercourse, our minds
Are nourished and invisibly repaired;
A virtue, by which pleasure is enhanced,
That penetrates, enables us to mount
When high, more high, and lifts us up when fallen [3]
References
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHE6FsicWVk
[2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/beastmaker/53188941620/in/photostream/
[3] https://users.scc.spokane.edu/JRoth/Courses/World Masterpieces/POETRYCOMPENDIUM/spots_of_time.htm
Pics + Vids
Featuring 10245 pictures and videos. Try searching for a climber, climb or summit to see pics and videos.
Pete Whittaker on Crown Royale E11
Shinichiro Nomura on Gakidō 8B+
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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 4154 podcasts. Try searching for a climber to see podcasts with them, or check out some of these podcasts:
- Isabelle Faus on The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast (2023)
- Jordan Cannon on The Nugget (2023)
- Natalia Grossman on Climbing Gold (2024)
- Alexander Huber on Jam Crack Podcast (2024)
Library
Featuring 15192 items in the library. Try a search to see what you can find, or check out these library items:
- The Greatest Flasher (2010) Film
- South America, Argentine Patagonia, Aguja de la Silla, West Face, Attempt (2000) Journal
- Brecon Beacon National Park Part 5 (2017) Guidebook
Recent updates
Fontainebleau is widely recognised as one of the most significant bouldering areas in the world. Situated 70km south of Paris, it is composed of a sprawling collection of sandstone boulders spread across 250 km² of the Forêt de Fontainebleau.
References
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X2y5-t34YM
[2] The History of Fontainebleau Bouldering Circuits with Kris Hampton (2026) /library_item/15514/the-history-of-fontainebleau-bouldering-circuits
References
Originally graded E4, now a contender for the first E7 in the UK.
Looking at this again, 20 years after my onsight, I think it would be E7 6b onsight because it is strenuous to arrange the gear in the crack.
Onsight having been cleaned and chalked by Michael.
All pitches onsight except 3 and 7 which each went second go.
References
[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DbXm5cJF_EF/
[2] https://www.8a.nu/news/iris-bielli-does-8-pitches-zahir-8b+-in-a-day
References
References
No falls. Three days after the FFA of Triple Direct (E9).
References
[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZjLV-jwKj/?img_index=1
[2] https://www.climbing.com/news/connor-herson-nose-in-a-day-and-triple-direct/