Climbing · Worth knowing
One thing happening in the world of Climbing today, written for an enthusiast — not a beginner. Skip celebrity gossip. Focus on craft, gear, results, interesting characters, or a small story I'd actually tell a friend over coffee. Quality over quantity.
← Zur aktuellen AusgabeJacob Whisenant's death, Igor Koller's legacy, Berthe's 8c+ repeat
Jacob Whisenant
Yosemite lost a speed climber this week.
Jacob Whisenant, 30, who held two speed records in the Valley, died in a California National Park accident; details remain unreleased [Quelle: Gripped]. His generation redefined what fast ascents could look like on granite, and the climbing community is still processing the loss.
Speed climbing's risk calculus just got heavier.
Igor Koller's Five Decades
Slovakia's alpinist built a lifetime of first ascents.
Igor Koller was honored for over fifty years of bold climbing, including first ascents and the Fish Route on Marmolada, with major expeditions across the Himalayas and Karakorum [Quelle: Gripped]. His trajectory models what happens when a climber stays hungry across five decades instead of burning out after one.
That kind of longevity sets the standard.
Arco Iris First Repeat
A Belgian just confirmed one of the world's hardest multi-pitches.
Sébastien Berthe completed the first repeat of Edu Marín's Arco Iris in Montserrat, a 200-meter route graded 8c+, after four days of work and a savage 25-meter fall on the crux pitch [Quelle: 8a.nu]. The five-pitch line mixes grades from 6c to 8c+, with sustained overhanging corners and significant runouts—the kind of route that takes nine hours and absolute commitment to unlock.
Multi-pitch climbing at this grade remains brutally selective.
Climbing Magazine » Rock Climbing | Gripped Climbing Magazine3 hours ago ... News · Three Recorded Sends of Dreamcatcher in 2026 · Rock Climber Dies in a California National Park · 18-Year-Old Pepa Šindel Climbs an Adam Ondra 5.15a · Slovak ...gripped.com