Kurt Smith

Instagram.com | ifsc.results.info
Also known as: The General

Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 7B
Hardest Sport (Worked): 7c+
Notable Partnerships
John Bachar
Scott Cosgrove

Important early developer of sport climbing in North America at Rifle, New River Gorge and El Potrero Chico. One of only a few climbers to have a shoe named after him.

References

[1] https://www.outsideonline.com/business-journal/brands/independent-sales-rep-kurt-smith/

[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/2HdoMrUcGe11ZyxWAYmL5n?

[3] https://www.rockmillclimbing.com/beta-blog/kurt-smith

[4] https://www.weighmyrack.com/shoe/evolv-general

Contributors
39 contributions since 10th November 2025.
32 contributions since 23rd December 2023.

Quick Info

From: USA 🇺🇸
Gender: Male
Hardest Boulder (Worked): 7B
Hardest Sport (Worked): 7c+
Notable Partnerships
John Bachar
Scott Cosgrove

Important early developer of sport climbing in North America at Rifle, New River Gorge and El Potrero Chico. One of only a few climbers to have a shoe named after him.

References

[1] https://www.outsideonline.com/business-journal/brands/independent-sales-rep-kurt-smith/

[2] https://open.spotify.com/episode/2HdoMrUcGe11ZyxWAYmL5n?

[3] https://www.rockmillclimbing.com/beta-blog/kurt-smith

[4] https://www.weighmyrack.com/shoe/evolv-general

Contributors
39 contributions since 10th November 2025.
32 contributions since 23rd December 2023.

Podcasts

Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.

Ascents

5 recorded ascents.

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Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
The Dunce Cap 7c+ Lead | worked 1988
First ascent.
El Sendero Luminoso 7c Alternate Leads | worked 1994
First ascent.

with Jeff Jackson
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
Midnight Lightning 7B Boulder | worked 1984
Fourth ascent.
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
The Shaft E8 Lead | did not finish 1994
With Scott Cosgrove.

An epic ground-up attempt that ended 10m of climbing short of success. "We ended up spending about three months working the route, from the bottom up, the next summer, following in the footsteps of TM Herbert and Yvon Chouinard, who did the route in 1965 with no fixed ropes or support. We wanted to find the same kind of adventure and honor the first ascent in the same style". (Kurt Smith)

References

[1] https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214301/Scott-Cosgrove-1964-2016
Bachar-Yerian E6 Alternate Leads | ground up 1984
Third ascent. With Ed Barry.

now this route brings back some good and bad memories... ed barry and i went to do the 3rd ascent. i lead the first, he lead the second and starting down climbing right below the first real bolt on 2nd pitch, (45 above the belay). a knob broke and he fell, right for my head, i moved right and he hit my shoulder and went another 40 ft before i caught him. he got to the belay pasty white! "I'm not going back up there man" was all he could say.. we waited a little while for the adrenaline to subside and then i decided to give the second pitch a try because i did not want to come back and lead that first pitch again! ed snapped out of his funk and went and sent the pitch. I broke a hold 40 above a bolt on the 3rd but hung on and made it to the horizontial and the cam placement that i really was happy to get. Then there are two more pitches of funky scary climbing to the summit. Most people rap after the third and i say that's bull shit! you have to do the whole route to call it a send!

It is an amazing line, bolts are far away and the climbing is COMMITTING! LIKE CLIMBING USED TO BE!

so go for it and realize you are climbing more than just a route, you are climbing a vision of the past that required first ascentionist's to have guts to get the glory..!

enjoy and yes there are new bolts there so no more 1/4 bolts to get you puckered... [1]

References

[1] http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=375380
Climb Grade Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade