Vertical Life

Vertical Life is a climbing magazine in Australasia, available in both digital and print options. Here at Vertical Life we love climbing, be it beanied bouldering, clip-up sportclimbing, old-school daddy-tradding, big-wall suffering, alpine extremism, spandex-clad competition climbing, desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures buildering, the lot – if it involves monkey business we will cover it.

Vertical Life

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LOOKING BACK, HOLDING ON

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GALLERY • Taking a look back at climbing history with some of Rock’s most epic shots.

THE LIGHT AND DARK OF ANSTEY’S COVE • Stepping back in history, these images were captured by renowned climber and photographer Glenn Robbins in 1989. His iconic work in the ’80s and ’90s showcased the soul of climbing in Australia and the UK. Here he tells a story of solo heroics and precision teamwork—sea cliff climbing doesn’t get more dramatic, or photogenic, than this.

OLIVER SCHMIDT • From onsighting Ozymandias to making the first trad ascent of Whistling Kite, Oliver Schmidt has quietly built an impressive climbing résumé in Australia. The German-born climber talks to Vertical Life about bold ascents, calculated risks, and the mindset behind pushing limits.

TRACING THE SOURCE OF SYDNEY’S BEST CLIMBING • Examine a satellite photo of Sydney and you’ll see the Georges River stretching southwest from Botany Bay like a dark, sinuous vein. Fringed by remnant bush, it’s a precious patch of wild country that holds some of the city’s finest sport climbing. James takes us on a journey along the river to uncover urban climbing gems hidden in plain sight.

CLIMBERS CUT FROM THE CLUB CLOTH • Climbing isn’t always the most approachable activity for an enthusiastic newbie. How do you meet more climbers if you’re not quite a climber yet yourself? Or make the move from indoors to outdoors if your belay buddies are all gym bunnies? University climbing clubs can provide that gateway—a way to learn skills and make climber friends. And, best of all, many clubs are open to non-student members too. Ash speaks to two former university climbing club presidents and reflects on his own involvement with these associations.

SECOND LIFE: CLIMBING GEAR REIMAGINED • Climbers are a resourceful bunch, and for some, that creativity extends well beyond the crag. From rope art to fashion, across the world artists are giving old climbing gear a second life—turning worn-out tools of the trade into something beautiful, functional, and full of stories.

AUSTRALIA’S TOP 50 CLIMBERS OF ALL TIME • WE SEE HOW Rock MAGAZINE’S 1998 LIST HOLDS UP

GRANITE, GLACIERS, AND GRIT FIRST ASCENTS IN THE PANTHEON RANGE • What began as a casual invitation from a Squamish friend became the trip of a lifetime — a heli drop into British Columbia’s Pantheon Range, a land of glaciers, granite towers and silence. There, amongst the wind and white stone, James Hockey found the wild pitch he’d dreamed of — and the reminder of why he climbs.

THE ARAPILES CLUB HOUSE FROM RUIN TO REVIVAL • A roofless ruin, a pile of stone, and a dream—how Luke and Penny Weatherstone built the ultimate climber base camp.

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CLIMBING AND … INTEROCEPTION • Wimmera-based doctor and climber Felix Ritson takes us on a deep dive into bodily awareness and climbing. Grab a cup of tea (and maybe a dictionary) as you settle in for a thought-provoking read.

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