News•Mar 11, 2026
Climber Rescued After 700-Foot Fall on California Peak
An injured Bay Area climber was rescued after a roughly 700‑foot fall on Mount Shasta, one of the first major search‑and‑rescue incidents on the peak this year. Two climbers, ages 19 and 20, reached the summit before a slip in Avalanche Gulch sent one down hundreds of feet. Severe winds and darkness delayed rescue teams until daylight, when they reached the pair and evacuated the injured man to Mercy Medical Center. Officials used the incident to warn that late‑day descents on the mountain are especially dangerous.
By Gripped
News•Mar 10, 2026
Iran War Forces World Climbing (IFSC) to Cancel In-Person General Assembly in Saudi Arabia
World Climbing (IFSC) cancelled its 2026 in‑person general assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, moving the meeting online on April 23 due to escalating conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The decision follows intercepted Iranian drone activity near Riyadh, reported casualties, and...
By Gripped
News•Mar 10, 2026
Squamish Access Society Legend and Climbing Trail-Builder Brian Moorhead Retires
Brian Moorhead, the longest‑serving director of the Squamish Access Society, stepped down after 22 years on the board, transitioning to a non‑voting associate role. Over his decades‑long volunteer career he designed and maintained iconic trails such as the Murrin Park climber’s loop and...
By Gripped
News•Mar 10, 2026
Here’s Who’s Joining the USA National Team in 2026
The USA Climbing National Championships and Team Trials have finalized the 2026 National Team rosters across Boulder, Lead, and Speed for both men and women. Five athletes per gender were selected in each discipline, with pre‑selected climbers like Annie Sanders...
By Gripped
News•Mar 9, 2026
Nicolai Užnik Opens Full Gem V16 in Switzerland
In January 2026 Nicolai Užnik completed the first ascent of Full Gem, a new V16 (8C+) boulder in Ticino, Switzerland. The line adds a sit‑start to the previously established Forgotten Gem V15, making the problem significantly harder. This ascent marks Užnik’s third confirmed...
By Gripped
News•Mar 9, 2026
New 36-Pitch Patagonia Big Wall Climb Took 41 Days to Complete
Myles Moser, Trevor Anthes and Harry Kinnard completed a new 36‑pitch free climb on the 4,000‑foot east face of Torres del Paine’s Central Tower after a 41‑day capsule‑style effort. The route combines 29 original pitches with seven sections of the...
By Gripped
News•Mar 9, 2026
Excerpt From Reinhold Messner’s Book ‘Against the Wind’
Reinhold Messner, the legendary mountaineer, has published a new memoir titled *Against the Wind*, reflecting on eight decades of climbing, exploration, and personal controversy. The book revisits his historic first solo, oxygen‑free Everest ascent, completion of all fourteen eight‑thousanders, and...
By Gripped
News•Mar 9, 2026
Climber Solos 17-Pitch Cima Grande North Face in Winter
South‑Tyrolean guide Simon Gietl completed a two‑day winter solo of the 17‑pitch, 550‑metre Das Phantom der Zinne on Cima Grande’s north face. The route, established in 1995, demands climbing up to XI+ (5.13a) with mandatory 5.12 sections and is famed...
By Gripped
News•Mar 7, 2026
“One of the Biggest Fights I Ever Had” – Alex Megos Onsights 5.14c in France
Alex Megos announced an impressive onsight of Nadesjda, a 5.14c (8C+) route at Le Joncas in France, describing it as one of the toughest fights of his career. The ascent follows a storied history of groundbreaking first‑offs and flashes, including...
By Gripped