Inside Vertical Life Issue #51
We say it every issue, but this time we mean it—Vertical Life #51 goes big!
From the Blue Mountains to the Balkans, this Winter 2025 edition climbs further, digs deeper, and celebrates the pulse of the climbing community in all its forms. Whether it’s capturing raw grit on alpine ice or the quiet stoke of a kid’s first crag day, VL #51 delivers a celebration of adventure shaped by the people who live it.
This issue opens with a celebration—forty years of Punks in the Gym, Australia’s hardest and most storied route. We track its legacy from Wolfgang Güllich’s historic ascent to modern-day climbers pushing their limits on that infamous Pharos wall at Arapiles. You’ll also find profiles that redefine the term “strong”: meet Coach Moriah, a scientist-turned-coach elevating youth and community through sport science and compassion, and Jeannette McGill, a mountaineer breaking barriers across continents and boardrooms.
Vertical Life #51 is built on movement—but also on reflection. We hike across alpine terrain with photographer Matt Wilson to capture the essence of ice-climbing on an active New Zealand volcano. We head to Europe in a campervan with two kids, mapping out the most crag-accessible family climbing spots from Italy to Albania. And we witness powerful community action at Arapiles, where climbers and locals gather in the rain to protest climbing bans with courage and compassion.
This issue doesn’t shy away from tough questions, either. In a beautifully nuanced feature, we explore the philosophical and practical divide between indoor and outdoor climbing, tracing how gyms have become both gateways and destinations in their own right.
Of course, VL #51 keeps the gear heads satisfied too. From the Scarpa Drago XT to the Mammut Trion vest-pack, our field-tested reviews give you jargon-free, brutally honest insights into what works and what doesn’t. Need coffee tips for lazy crag days? We’ve even got an Aeropress “bloom” recipe you can meditate to.
And yes—there’s swag. Subscribe now and score a Mountain Designs Granite Merino Beanie, plus 4 issues of Vertical Life, for just $49.95. That’s over $100 in value. Cozy, classic, and ready for your next adventure.
Vertical Life #51 is more than a magazine—it’s a snapshot of climbing today. Bold. Honest. Community-first.
