Vertical Life is a climbing magazine in Australasia, available in both digital and print options. Here at Vertical Life we love climbing, be it bouldering, clip-up sport climbing, old-school daddy-trading, big-wall suffering, alpine extremism, spandex-clad competition climbing, desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures buildering, the lot.

Our fiftieth issue—Vertical Life #50—is here for autumn ‘25. With a retro cover to celebrate this milestone, inside the mag we look back over the years with one of VL’s founders, Simon Madden. We also take a deep look at the world renown climbing destination of Dyuritte/Arapiles. With the shadow of proposed climbing bans looming, VL chats to some of the crags stalwarts about their decades climbing on some of Australia's best rock. We also look back over the years with a historical photographic special on Arapiles, and Kate Proctor tells us how she got the shot during a “rest day” at The Pines. With Reel Rock 19 headed our way from March, we get behind the scenes and chat to two of the stars of the show, Kai Lightner and Siebe Vanhee. If you’re from the south and it’s getting too cold to climb as autumn sets in, Cal Mathers has a guide to Barron Gorge—the best bouldering north of Brisbane. We get to know two time Olympian Oceana Mackenzie and hear how she keeps climbing fun, despite the intense competition. 


The issue also features all the regular content and more to inspire and entertain, with in-depth reviews, training tips, crag coffee, and more. ! It’s guaranteed to make you laugh, think, and climb a little differently.

Vertical Life #49 is here for summer ‘24-25, with a stunning cover shot by Tassie local Michael Blowers of Ewan Barry jamming his way through Holiday in Cambodia, 21, at the Organ Pipes of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Inside the mag we have a photo essay showing the development of classic Organ Pipes routes. We get to know Rose Weller, a self-described weekend warrior, who’s ticking off some of Nowra’s hardest routes while studying full time to be a doctor. Mikl Law tells the story of setting a 500m trad multipitch—and trying to make it something others would want to repeat! Mat Young gets reflective on why we climb anyway, and Ash Brennan writes about joining a team to bolt sport routes in Armenia’s emerging climbing scene.  

The issue also features all the regular content and more to inspire and entertain, with in-depth reviews, a gear gift guide, interviews, awe-inspiring photos and safety tips! It’s guaranteed to make you laugh, think, and climb a little differently.

Vertical Life #48 is here for spring ‘24, with an inspiring cover shot of Ian Elliott, age 70, crushing a grade 28 in Coolum Cave, Qld. The shot is from the filming of Ian—one of the offerings in the annual Climbing Film Tour lineup. This issue takes a sneak peak behind the scenes of three of these films. Keith Bell leads us on a journey through his six decades of climbing the remote, otherworldly rock spires of Warrumbungles National Park. Ben Cossey writes about his recent first ascent of Light Weight Baby—Arapiles’ hardest route. Elise Marcianti explores how highlining taught her to embrace fear—both on and off the line. Dave Barnes gives us the beta on a new sea-cliff crag just 20 minutes from Hobart. 


The issue also features all the regular content and more to inform, inspire and entertain, with in-depth reviews, gear, interviews, awe-inspiring photos and safety tips! It’s guaranteed to make you laugh, think, and climb a little differently.

Vertical Life #47 is here, featuring an epic cover shot of a new crack climb in Gardens of Stone National Park, shot by Jared Anderson. Inside the mag, we share a stunning photo feature telling the story of the first free ascent of the route featured on the cover. We chat with renowned US climber Beth Rodden about overcoming trauma, how climbing culture is becoming more inclusive, and her just-released memoir. Dave Barnes interviews adaptive climber Sarah Larcombe over a few climbs at his favourite Tassie crag. Allie Pepper shares insights into how to prepare—mentally and physically—to take on 8000m peaks. Kate Baecher details hacks for overcoming mental fatigue to optimise performance. 

The issue also features all the regular content and more to inform, inspire and entertain, with in-depth reviews, crag recipes, gear, interviews, awe-inspiring photos and even some poetry! It’s guaranteed to make you laugh, think, and climb a little differently.

Vertical Life #46 is here, with a spectacular cover shot of Angie Scarth-Johnson deep water soloing in Mallorca, Spain, taken by Matty Hong, while filming for Yeah Buddy—one of the offerings in the upcoming Reel Rock 18. Inside the mag, Angie writes about deep water soloing for the first time, guided by climbing legend, Hazel Findlay. We hear from Matt Groom, the journalist behind Reel Rock film Climbing Never Die, who shares why he traveled to an active war zone to cover speed climbing in Ukraine. Tom O’Halloran writes about his seven long years projecting what is thought to be Australia’s hardest sport climb. Hazel Finlay delves into performance hacks and explains why the oft-neglected mental game is crucial to advancing in climbing… and in life. For the crack enthusiasts, we get the low down on Frog Buttress from Queensland local Kyle Addy. Jeremy Shepherd details the teamwork it took to rig WA’s longest highline. And Alastair McDowell rediscovers his love of the mountains through a fast and light, human powered, one day ascent of Aoraki.


This issue also squeezes in crag coffee beta, reviews, awe-inspiring photos and more. It’s guaranteed to make you laugh, think, and climb a little differently.

Vertical Life #45 is here with stories from Yosemite’s big walls, to adventures in our own backyards. Macciza Macpherson shares his (extensive) experience with accidents and recovery, while Mitchell and Jared Anderson explore new routes in the Blue Mountains. William Skea shares tips for photography at minus 30 from a multipitch ice-climb in Canada. Dr Kate Baecher explores risk—what drives us to take chances and how to manage danger. Allie Pepper reflects on the spiritual side of her latest 8000er. Mikl Law talks safely, looking at what can—and has—gone wrong with the GriGri. We take a look at the new Sydney Bouldering Guide, and chat to young gun comp star Dylan Parks. Xab Castor writes about how The North Face Mountaineering scholarship has taken her further along the path toward her Ama Dablam dream. We chat with Climbing Anchors about their work in the community, and Sule takes us through each step of the recycling journey for Patagonia’s new NetPlus fabric.

Vertical Life #44 is here with an emotional new cover design featuring Lucy Stirling, and 84 pages full of the same incredible climbing content you know and love. 

We bring you your backstage pass to the Climbing Film Tour—with six epic new climbing films about to hit our shores we’re stoked to have taken a deep dive behind the scenes.

Along with the films, we’ve got a whole lot of stories exploring the creative side of our sport, and how it helps us see the world a little differently. Dr Kate Baecher looks at links between climbing and creativity directly in Mindset Reset, and we hear how photographer Michael Blowers leans into his creativity. We learn that it’s the magic of the places we climb that inspired Dr Vanessa Wills to combine climbing with citizen science. On climbing influencing creativity in our own lives, we head to the Blue Mountains to meet climbing novelist and illustration duo, Philip Barker and Katrina Churchill, and hear about how climbing shapes their creative partnership.

Vertical Life #43 is here to take readers deep into the alpine world for winter.  NZ’s Gavin Lang provides an action-packed cover shot, and a story about photography on a multi-day alpine traverse, summiting a series of 3000ers. Tim Macartney-Snape relives his first alpine adventure, and Allie Pepper shares deeply personal insights into how and why she decided to set out on her current attempt to break the speed record for summiting all 14 of the 8000m+ peaks without oxygen. We chat to young gun mountaineer and filmmaker Maddie Whittaker, get some tips on honing your alpine mental game from Kate Baecher, and hear from Cassie Davies on how she went from ice climbing at Blue Lake to Canada’s Weeping Wall. Glaciologist and mountaineer Dr Heather Purdie writes about how NZ’s mountains are changing as the world warms. In honour of Fathers Day, three of our favourite crag dads talk about the joys of taking their kids climbing.

Vertical Life #42 is here with an epic cover featuring a classic Blue Mountains sandstone multipitch, and 84 content-packed pages. Zachary Barr takes us behind the scenes with Reel Rock 17 in Palestine; we launch a new Mindset Reset column with mountaineer and psychologist Dr Kate Baecher; photographer Jared Anderson will have you snorting into your coffee with a story about trying not to throw up on his hero as he dangles above Tim Macartney-Snape; we take a deep dive into making sustainable outdoors gear with Patagonia; William Skea shares how climbing helped him with mental health and cat rescues; Dave Barnes chronicles Seb Bouin’s incredible first ascent of Supreme Jumbo Love, the hardest sport route in the US; and guidebook writer Krish Seewraj reveals some of the lesser known crag classics on WA’s coast. 


Alongside inspired storytelling and incredible images, Vertical Life #42 squeezes in recipes, crag coffee beta, reviews, safety tips, and more. It’s guaranteed to make you laugh, think, and climb a little differently.

In this summer's edition of Vertical Life, we take a closer look at all things Tasmanian summer climbing. With stories on sea stacks, sea cliffs, bouldering first ascents on the west coast and a historical snapshot of Frenchmans Cap climbing in the 2000’s –this issue has plenty on offer!

We start with a reflection on place in a thought-provoking essay by VL’s Managing Editor Coz & hear from trawlwoolway, plangermaireener pakana person, Jamie Graham-Blair on how indigenous philosophy can only empower your outdoor projects. We take a poetic look at sea level traversing with Simon Bischoff; take notes on safety with Louise Shepherd; learn about the role of Crag Care Tas, and get to know Tassie’s own comp climbing superstar –Roxy Perry. With a scoop on ReBird, the new gear waste reduction program by Arc’teryx, 

From sea stacks, sea cliffs and sea level traversing; to bouldering first ascents on the West Coast and an archival look at Frenchmans Cap. We get to know Roxy Perry, cook up a storm with Simon Bishoff and get the beta on making flat whites at the crag with Sule. We’ve got the scoop on gear to look out for in 2023, and we take a look at Arc’teryx’s solution to reduce gear waste through their ReBird program.

TAKE NOTHING FOR YOUR JOURNEY

TALE OF WOAH - TUMBLING OUT OF CONTROL

ASK THE PROS: CRAG BAG EDITION

VERTICAL LIFE is the leading climbing magazine in Australia & New Zealand. Here at Vertical Life we love climbing and everything else that goes with life on the walls! Be it beanied bouldering, clip-up sportclimbing, old-school daddy-tradding, big-wall suffering, alpine extremism, spandex-clad competition climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, slack-lining, desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures buildering, and more – if it involves monkey business we will cover it.

This issue is packed full of vertical goodness - from behind the scenes chats with our favourite Reel Rock 16 duo, the Wide Boyz; breaking beta with ACV; Summer first ascents on Lutruwita/Tasmania’s iconic Federation Peak; Reflections on growing up from Angie Scarth-Johnson; All the beta you’ll ever need on climbing while pregnant for Mums Who Rock; Gritty tales about the way of the dirtbag; and as usual, spectacular images to keep your stoke burnin’ at an all-time high.

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 sport climbing, 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.

In Vertical Life #35, the Family Issue, we bring you all the iterations of climbing families we can: fathers and sons (Garth and Bodhi Miller, Byam and Braden Keil); mothers and daughters (Courtney Stedman and Lhotse Stedman Hazell); a trio of siblings (Cait, Joe, and Emma Horan); families you choose (Argo Theoharis); the beauty of a gym family (Tegan Atkins); if you should add a crag dog to your family (Nick Churchill); Moonarie and the revisiting of generations (Duncan Graham); the changing cliques and diversity of the climbing community (Justin Foo); Oedipal climbing mentors (Simon Madden); 10 Minutes with 14-year-old Dylan Soin, for whom climbing is a family affair; and how becoming a parent won’t necessarily mean the End of Climbing (Ollie Kerr).  Plus all our usual pretty pictures and columnists: Ross Taylor profiles The RED Project; Denby Weller on the horror of the climbing scream; Amanda Watts on who and what should influence eating; Simon Bischoff on How I Got the Shot; Claire Xian’s Precious Object; and obvs much, much more.

Vertical Life is a climbing magazine in Australasia, available in both digital and print options.

SIMON BISCHOFF ON TASMANIAN PILLARS
 MATT RAY ON RYAN SKLENICA
PHOTOGRAPHY KAMIL SUSTIAK SHOOTS LEE AND ANGIE
ROSS TAYLOR ON GRADE 31
SIMON MADDEN ON FUTURE HOPE
CRAG PROFILE GEORGE BROADFOOT ON CHEESEDALE


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