NW Alpine

The NW Alpine Blog of Alpine Pursuits

Rapunzel's Back In Rehab: Deranged PNW Big Wall Climbing
Community

Rapunzel's Back In Rehab: Deranged PNW Big Wall Climbing

Tower Rock, located two hours from just about anything remained virtually untouched until 2015, when a small group of NW local climbers consisting of Eric “Ivan” Linthwaite, Bill Coe, and Geoff Sil...
Brain Freeze: The Intersection of Water + Flow State By Joe Kalis
Community

Brain Freeze: The Intersection of Water + Flow State By Joe Kalis

The air around me hung ominously, heavy with moisture. A mix of rain and snow had fallen overnight, with water taking the form dictated by the ambient temperature. “On belay?”, I asked my partner A...
Way Off the Map in NE India
Expedition

Way Off the Map in NE India

by Matt Zia We were way off the map and everything felt like shooting from the hip. Spencer Gray and Rushad Nanavatty texted me in April with a photo of one of the most beautiful mountain faces I’v...
Steve Elder - The Talisman WI5-6, M6 Ouray, Colorado
Expedition

Steve Elder - The Talisman WI5-6, M6 Ouray, Colorado

Steve Elder report on climbing The Talisman WI5-6, M6 in Ouray, Colorado
Mt. Hood Trip Report: Eliot Headwall, Variation - 05/02/2021
Expedition

Mt. Hood Trip Report: Eliot Headwall, Variation - 05/02/2021

The line [we took parallels] the existing Ravine line. I’d spotted this line on my first trip up the Eliot Headwall this year, jaw-dropped at the amount of ice all over. The dark rock band above th...
First Ascent: Mt. Hood – Cathedral Ramp (II WI3 M3)
Expedition

First Ascent: Mt. Hood – Cathedral Ramp (II WI3 M3)

Mt Hood’s Cathedral Ramp saw its first ascent on April 17th, 2021 by Matt Zavortink, Aaron Nelson, Kyle Tarry and Nick Sweeney (me). This route sits high on Mt Hood’s Northern aspect, starting off ...
Training for Climbing - A Perspective from Becky and Phil
Expedition

Training for Climbing - A Perspective from Becky and Phil

Both Becky and Phil climb at a very high level while juggling full time jobs and other commitments. They graciously provided some in-depth insight into their specific training plans, how they find ...
Climbing in the Wind Rivers — Becky Switzer
Expedition

Climbing in the Wind Rivers — Becky Switzer

Flashback to July and remember what it was like to only be four months into the pandemic. Plans had been sidelined for an unforeseen amount of time. Travel was difficult, international travel nearl...
Liberty Crack - Natalie Afonina
Expedition

Liberty Crack - Natalie Afonina

My former housemate and really good friend Spang texted me on Monday asking if I was in Washington because she decided to last-minute drive up from California. I sent her a couple classic route pro...