INTRODUCTION

The world’s earliest civilizations made rocks the centerpiece of their religions.

Our ancestors were on to something!

Rock climbing—be it in a gym, over boulders, on bolted sport crags or massive massifs—is experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity that would have early “dirtbag” climbers tangled in their ropes. There are many good reasons. Rock climbing is incredible exercise. It hones mental focus, and trains us to set goals and prepare a path to meet them. It can be an opportunity to commingle with friends new and old or spend quiet quality time with a trusted climbing partner. And it can satisfy the timeless human desire to ascend into the sky and achieve a sense of liberation from gravity and the land below. Humans can’t quite fly (at least not on their own), but climbing puts us a bit closer to the heavens . . . at least until it’s time to rappel down.

I wrote Fifty Places to Rock Climb Before You Die for those adventurous climbers—from aspiring Stone Masters to weekend warriors—who are ever-ready to chalk up and scamper off to the next crag, cliff, or boulder.

“What makes a destination a place to climb before you die?” you might ask. The chance to follow the path of pioneering climbers on the world’s most challenging routes? The opportunity to explore an unfamiliar region or country from the unique perspective offered from its limestone crags or granite walls? A chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of stunning natural settings while pushing past physical boundaries? Or simply the opportunity to share beta and stories with like-minded people who beyond the rocks might lead very different lives than you. The answer would be yes to all of the above, and an abundance of other criteria.

One thing I knew when I began this project: I was NOT the person to assemble this list. So I followed the recipe that served me well in my first fifteen Fifty Places books—to seek the advice of some talented and committed climbers. To write Fifty Places to Rock Climb Before You Die, I interviewed a host of people closely connected with the climbing world and asked them to share some of their favorite experiences—in trad climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering. These experts range from celebrated climbing professionals (like Kevin Jorgeson and Nina Caprez) to writers (like Matt Samet and Francis Sanzaro) to employees of leading climbing companies (like Petzl and Black Diamond Equipment). Some spoke of venues that are near and dear to their hearts, places where they’ve built their professional reputations; others spoke of places they’ve visited only once but that made a profound impression. People appreciate climbing for many different reasons, and this range of attractions is evidenced here. (To give a sense of the breadth of the interviewees’ backgrounds, a bio of each individual is included after each essay.)

Rätikon is the centerpiece of Swiss rock climbing.

Rock climbing means different things to different people. For some, it may mean working for weeks (or months) to tackle a vexing bouldering problem; for others, it may mean scaling multi-pitch walls sure to give the casual passerby a case of vertigo. Fifty Places to Rock Climb Before You Die attempts to capture the full spectrum of climbing experiences. While the book collects fifty great venues, it by no means attempts to rank the places discussed. Such ranking is, of course, largely subjective.

In the hope that a few readers might use this book as a guide for embarking on their own climbing adventures, I have provided brief “If You Go” information at the end of each chapter, including available guide services, guidebooks, and camping or lodging options. It’s by no means a comprehensive list but should give would-be travelers a starting point for planning their trip.

Some climbers take great joy in learning the ins and outs of a favorite local crag. Yet a trip to a dream venue can forge memories to last a lifetime. It’s my hope that this little book will inspire you to embark on some new climbing adventures of your own.

A climber and the park’s eponymous tree at Joshua Tree National Park.