The American Alpine Club

Looking for weekly inspiration? Look no further. Scroll for some of our favorite lines from the upcoming American Climbing Journal ➡️

In its first edition, the ACJ features stories from or about athletes at the forefront of the sport and includes contributions from climbers documenting routes and areas of regional and global significance. In short? It's over two hundred pages on hard rock climbing.

The American Climbing Journal launches this fall, following the legacy of the American Alpine Journal. Get a sneak peek of the publication and get access to exclusive stories by Sean Bailey, Beckett Hsin, and Quinn Mason 🔗 https://bit.ly/4uEkAHo

On October 9, 2025, Quinn Mason completed the first female ascent of Spirit Quest (5.14d)—Tom Wright's extension to Spirit of the West on Squamish's breathtaking Paradise Wall. This 35-meter line is demanding, with sections of intricate dance like sequences, unrelenting crimps, and delicate movements that must be executed with incredible physicality at near full extension. All to say, it's a beast.

Read Quinn's first person account of the 14 day project, and get a sneak peek of its print run in the American Climbing Journal (ACJ) 🔗 https://bit.ly/4uEkAHo

The American Climbing Journal is the inaugural journal of record for significant rock climbs. This new book tells the stories of groundbreaking ascents—in the disciplines of bouldering, sport climbing, single-pitch trad, and performance big-wall—almost entirely from the first-person POV of the climbers themselves, supplemented by deeply researched and reported writing.

If you are an AAC Partner level member or above, you can get this book in the mail as part of your member benefits. Join the Club by July 1 to secure this year's copy!

The American Alpine Club and Black Diamond Equipment are pleased to announce two 2026 Cutting Edge Grant recipients. First up? Chantel Astorga.

Chantel Astorga will be awarded $7,000 to attempt the ENE face of Shivling in the western Garhwal Himalaya. “When we first considered it, it seemed like it might be beyond our limits, but during our 2024 attempt, we moved steadily forward and watched our intended route unfold beautifully,” Astorga shared. “Returning this fall gives us the opportunity to continue where we left off, with a better understanding of the route and what it demands.”

Learn more about Chantel's upcoming trip and the Cutting Edge Grant at the link 🔗 https://bit.ly/4eztBM6

📷 AAC member Chantel Astorga