Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Begguya, North Buttress, French Connection Solo; Denali, Slovak Direct, Solo Ascent Alaska, Alaska Range

Whooooosh. A stream of spindrift pours onto my face and wakes me up. I attempt to pull more of the two-person bivy sack over my face to block the elements. Snuggled beside me, David Hechl (Austria) and Vincent Landry (Canada) don’t seem fazed. Wit...

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| Published 2025 | Author Balin Miller


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Mt. Providence, South Face, Journey Through the Castle of Providence Alaska, Alaska Range

On April 25–27, 2025, Tad McCrea, Anna Pfaff, and I completed a long-dreamed-of new route on the south face of Mt. Providence (11,200’, 62.896379, -151.052324) in the Alaska Range. Journey Through the Castle of Providence (1,000m, WI4 M5 5.10 and ...

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| Published 2025 | Author Andres Marin


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Mt. Pratt, First Recorded Ascent, via Northwest Glacier; Castle Mountain, North Face Alaska, Coast Mountains, Stikine Ice Cap

Leo Nordman, Hazel Probst, Simeon Ramirez, and I arrived in Petersburg on May 5 with the main objective of climbing Kates Needle (10,106’). We were met with unseasonably rainy weather, which scuttled our plan to be helicoptered onto the Patterson ...

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| Published 2025 | Author Torin Hooge


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Peak A-112, North Ridge Alaska, Hayes Range

On September 2, 2024, Devin Wilson and I flew into the gravel strip below the north ridge of Mt. Hayes at the junction of the two main branches of the Hayes Glacier.  Benjamin Lieber on the summit of Peak A-112. Behind, the ridge runs southwest...

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| Published 2025 | Author Benjamin Lieber


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Little Podju and McAlpine Peak, First Ascents Alaska, Chugach Mountains

The west face of Little Podju as seen from Big Ramp. Photo by Joda Hankins On June 20, Travis Powell and I took an afternoon helicopter bump from Hunter Creek, where we both live, to a basin at 3,500 feet on the west side of a mountain that M...

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| Published 2025 | Author Joda Hankins


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Nenana Mountain, Ketamine Arête and No Guides Allowed Alaska, Alaska Range, Hayes Range

Balin Miller’s gear was nowhere to be found—or so he claimed. The route line of No Guides Allowed on Relaxation Spire. Photo by Ethan Berkeland Fresh off his solo ascent of the Slovak Direct on Denali and a short crabbing season off the Sewa...

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| Published 2025 | Author Ethan Berkeland


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Mt. Moffit, Enthalpy Ridge (Northeast Ridge) Alaska, Hayes Range

I sat upright in our tent with my back pressed against the wall. Cody Winckler, lying on his back, braced the other side with his legs, our world a dark maelstrom of flapping fabric and constant roaring. We’d spent the last two days shuttling load...

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| Published 2025 | Author Dane Steadman


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Second Mendenhall Tower, First Winter Ascent Alaska, Coast Mountains, Boundary Ranges

On February 8, 2025, Alex Burkhart, Matt Callahan, and I set out to climb the Second Mendenhall Tower (a.k.a. Midget, 58.53415, -134.49092) in winter. Starting at 1:30 p.m. at the trailhead, we planned to climb through the night to reduce the risk...

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| Published 2025 | Author Dylan Miller


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
The Citadel, East Buttress, Babies’ First Big Wall Alaska, Alaska Range, Kichatna Mountains

After months of heavy snowfall in the Cathedral Spires, the storms exhausted themselves and it was our turn. On June 10, Paul Roderick delivered Vincent Lapointe and me to the Shadows Glacier with high stoke and higher atmospheric pressure.  Th...

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| Published 2025 | Author Cameron Jardell


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
The Batwing (Peak 9,020’), Southeast Face, and Other Climbs Alaska, Hayes Range

Eli Sturm on the summit ridge of the Batwing (Peak 9,020'). Photo: Robes Parrish Detailed trip planning is usually antecedent to a successful trip into the mountains. But sometimes life conspires to steal that time and you just have to make d...

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| Published 2025 | Author Robes Parrish


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
The Monolith, Northeast Face, Children of the Sun Wyoming, Wind River Range

The line of Children of the Sun (14 pitches, VI 5.13-) on the northeast face of the Monolith. Photo: Maximilian Barlerin As the crow flies, the Monolith sits just a few miles south of the busy Cirque of the Towers. Despite its proximity, the ...

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| Published 2025 | Author Maximilian Barlerin


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Mt. Hooker: Northwest Passage, First Free Ascent; The Living Stone, First Ascent Wyoming, Wind River Range

Wilson Cutbirth leading pitch five of The Living Stone on the northeast face of Mt. Hooker. It took three trips deep into the Wind River Range to establish and free the ten-pitch route. Photo: Leo Houlding Jonny Schaffer and I have both spent...

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| Published 2025 | Author Wilson Cutbirth


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Roberts Mountain, Northeast Face, Crowheart Wyoming, Wind River Range

The 1,300-foot line of Crowheart (IV 5.12) on Roberts Mountain. Photo: Heath Rowland On August 23, Louis Aden and I wrapped up a multi-year effort to establish a new line on the seldom visited and remote northeast face of Roberts Mountain (12...

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| Published 2025 | Author Heath Rowland


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Dip Top Peak, South Face Washington, Cascade Range, Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Photo by Martin Bravenboer Dip Top Peak (7,291’, 47.58292, -121.18279), situated on the rugged crest between the Deception Creek and Foss River drainages (north of the turreted Mt. Daniel, south of the Insta-famous Jade Lake), presents a comp...

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| Published 2025 | Author Eric Wehrly


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Arches Peak, North Face, Central Buttress Washington, North Cascades

Photo by Jason Griffith Visible to anyone cresting Easy Pass, the striking north face of Arches Peak (7,945’, 48.559545, -120.853425)—affectionately known as “Little J-Berg” for its structural resemblance to the more formidable Johannesburg M...

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| Published 2025 | Author Eric Wehrly


In Memoriam AAJ
George Foster Hurley, 1935–2026

George Hurley on Frog's Head in the Gunks, May 10, 2015. Photo: Al Hospers George Foster Hurley, 91, died on March 6 at Taylor Community assisted-living facility in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, after a short decline.It’s difficult to write about...

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| Published 2026 | Author Al Hospers


In Memoriam AAJ
Balin Miller, 2002–2025

Photo by Jason Thompson February 2021. I drove southwest from Colorado Springs in my Toyota Camry through the San Juan Mountains on slick, empty roads, to meet my 19-year-old brother, Balin, in Telluride for some ice climbing. Balin was drivi...

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| Published 2025 | Author Dylan Miller


In Memoriam AAJ
Ron Olevsky, 1954–2025

Photo by Steve Bartlett Ron Olevsky, a major—and colorful—player in the 1970s-80s blossoming of Utah desert climbing, passed away in July 2025 at age 71. Ron was key in transforming a then sleepy Zion National Park into a big-wall mecca. He ...

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| Published 2025 | Author Steve Bartlett


In Memoriam AAJ
Robert "Rusty" Baillie, 1940–2025

Photo: Pat Morrow Born in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), Robert “Rusty” Baillie became a rock climber and mountaineer of international acclaim. His introduction to adventure, and specifically rock climbing, came with the Boy Scouts at an early...

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| Published 2025 | Author David W. Lovejoy


In Memoriam AAJ
Rod Newcomb, 1934–2025

Rod Newcomb at home, November 14, 2024. Photo: Angus M. Thuermer Jr. / Jackson Hole News & Guide Rodney Albert Newcomb, who died October 9 at age 91, was a pioneering avalanche expert and educator, and a leading mountaineer of his time.  ...

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| Published 2025 | Author Mark Newcomb