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 • WINTER 2025

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

IN DEFENSE OF gym climbers

GALLERY • This Gallery Special features stunning images from The North Face’s film Five Caves Five Days — a uniquely Australian climbing adventure tale, set along Australia’s east coast. The film follows Ben Cossey as he climbs his way from Campbeltown, NSW, to Coolum, QLD, meeting local climbers who show him the goods at their local crags.

SHARED NOT SHUT • CLIMBERS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAVE CONTINUED TO CALL FOR GENUINE CONSULTATION OVER THE SWEEPING CLIMBING BANS PROPOSED AT DYURRITE / ARAPILES. ON EASTER SUNDAY A SHARED NOT SHUT VIGIL WAS ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS OF CLIMBERS AND LOCALS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD FAMOUS LOCATION.

ICE-CLIMBING ON AN ACTIVE VOLCANO • Climbing an active volcano in deep snow and crumbling rock isn’t for the faint-hearted. On Mt Ruapehu, a winter mission turns into a test of nerve, patience, and creative problem-solving—all in pursuit of the perfect shot. Photographer and climber Matt reflects on the delicate balance between risk and reward during a winter mission in New Zealand’s rugged alpine terrain.

STAUGHTON VALE • THINKING OF MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM PLASTIC TO ROCK? HAVE A NEWBIE FRIEND YOU WANT TO COAX OUTDOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME? GLEN BUCHANAN HAS THE ANSWER—ONLY A SHORT DRIVE FROM MELBOURNE, STAUGHTON VALE IS THE PERFECT BRIDGE BETWEEN GYM AND CRAG.

Coach MORIAH • NAARM/MELBOURNE

CELEBRATING 40 years OF PUNKS IN THE GYM • FOR OVER 40 YEARS, PUNKS IN THE GYM HAS STOOD AS A BENCHMARK OF HARD CLIMBING — SHARP CRIMPS, RELENTLESS SEQUENCES, AND ZERO ROOM FOR MISTAKES. A ROUTE WITH A RICH LEGACY, IT CONTINUES TO LURE AND HUMBLE CLIMBERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.

PUNCHING IN AT THE GYM

IT’S STILL GOT IT: CLIMBING AUSSIE ICE IN THE WARMEST WINTER YET • The NSW Main Range is classic Aussie adventure–tough to access, unique, and great when the conditions align. But last year wasn’t exactly a banner year for snow. Still, July 2024 brought a solid snow dump, turning the resorts and backcountry into a spring-like playground. Peter, along with mates Gerard and Mike, decided conditions were good enough to skin from Guthega, build a shelter in the snow, and set up camp for a few days trying out alpine climbing routes.

FROM THE GYM TO THE CRAG: EXPLORING THE DIVIDE • Ever felt like a training sesh at your fave climbing gym and a day crushing it on real rock are two different worlds? Maybe you love the gym, but it’s never occurred to you to climb in the wild. Or your first climb, decades ago, was straight up a cliff face because back then climbing gyms didn’t exist. Andy Lei takes a look at the changing world of climbing, and what it means for the sport we love.

BREAKING BARRIERS: Jeannette McGill ON MOUNTAINS, MENTORSHIP & MAKING A DIFFERENCE • FROM BOARDROOMS TO BASE CAMPS, JEANNETTE MCGILL IS BLAZING TRAILS FOR WOMEN IN HIGH PLACES. WHETHER SHE’S GUIDING REMOTE EXPEDITIONS, SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIPS, OR MENTORING OTHERS, JEANNETTE IS ON A MISSION TO MAKE THE MOUNTAINS MORE ACCESSIBLE — AND TO PROVE THAT REAL IMPACT HAPPENS WHEN WE LIFT OTHERS AS WE CLIMB.

CRAGS WITH KIDS • AS ANY CLIMBING PARENT KNOWS, A DAY TRIP TO YOUR LOCAL CRAG TAKES INFINITELY MORE PLANNING WITH A SMALL CHILD IN TOW. UNDETERRED BY THIS THOUGHT, SELENE AND WILL, PARENTS TO A 4-AND A 6-YEAR-OLD DECIDED NOT TO STOP WITH THEIR LOCAL CRAG, BUT TO...