“In 1976, Nanda Devi Unsoeld, the daughter of legendary alpinist Willi Unsoeld, died while climbing the massive Indian peak for which she was named.”
mountain climbing
The Controversial King of Hardcore Climbing
“Nims Purja has become the first celebrity mountaineer of the social media age—and the most controversial figure in the global climbing community.”
Three Falls in The Alps
“I was tethered to my partner when we fell 200m, beginning an almost unbelievable new chapter in my life.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, our editors recommend longreads by Kelsey Vlamis, Brian Feldman, Skip Hollandsworth, Tessa Somberg, and Alison Espach.
Disaster at 18,200 Feet
The U.S. has seen an increase in National Parks visitors in recent years, as well as an outdoor climbing boom. At Denali National Park, that also means a surge in less experienced climbers: “more summit chasers, fewer wilderness seekers.” In this story for Insider, Kelsey Vlamis recounts the experience of four climbers attempting to summit […]
Rules of Ascent
For mountaineers, it’s not enough to get to the top – it must be done a certain way. But why is the harder way better?
After Summiting Mt. Everest, He Returned Home to Face His Demons
Outdoor explorer and photographer Cory Richards describes his personal struggles with PTSD, alcoholism, and infidelity.