Your Best Climbing Photo from 2024

What was the one climbing-related photo you took in 2024 that you are most proud of? Bonus points if there's a noteworthy story behind it. 

Feel free to omit or generalize the location, if appropriate.

My health has been doggy poo poo garbage this year so I haven't sent hardly anything and have had very few adventures BUT I did manage to get Pass The Pitons Pete free climbing, and that's got to count for something, right? 

I am very keen to see your favorite climbing photo of the year, Fritz. You have great stories. 

View from the top of the South Formation of Seneca Rocks after climbing K-C and Soler. This trip was particularly memorable for me and ended up being the only East coast climbing I did this year.

While not being the most physically challenging, this climb was a great test of all the trad climbing skills that I have been developing over the last couple years. It was very satisfying to piece the routes together and navigate the somewhat maze-like ledges (especially never having been to the area before).

I love the Appalachian Mountains and had a ton of fun visiting and camping in the area for the first time despite all the rain from Hurricane Helene (we actually had no idea there was a hurricane until watching the news in a local restaurant).

Can’t choose just one…or two #shameless. No stories, no sends…just photos 

Mt Brown, Tasmania

Leipi Shan, Yangshuo, China

Shegeng Cave, China

This one is probably my favorite. Nothing artsy, yet i feel it manages to capture the beauty of the Needles just fine. My buddy and I were pretty psyched to top out the Charlatan after climbing the Necromancer and the Sorcerer, and he looked pretty happy in the shot despite the state of fatigue he was in. Living in Bakersfield, the Needles is our favorite crag for a day trip; however, this year the approach road was closed and we had to ride our bikes to the trailhead every time we climbed there. It made for longer and tougher days, especially if we wanted to push ourselves, but every trip was 100% worth he effort.

Amazing golden hour light in the magical boulders.

About 6 hours earlier, i had taken an ugly winger during my onsight attempt for Monkey Paws; just down the road at snowshed wall.

Ripped a piece which subsequently slingshotted me upside down; smashing my head into the wall hard enough to crack my helmet. That was the last thing that i clearly remember about this day. 

When my partner sent me this photo a week later, it took some serious brain digging and conversation to remember even the slightest detail about this particular climb (touch and go @donner summit) Hindsight being 20/20… not the best decision making; but happy to have some evidence of this particular sliver of time that escaped brain registration.

Two of my favorites.

This was probably the third ascent of an obscure route on a seacliff on a small island off the coast of Ireland that we had to get to by kayak.

Weird angle on Tempered By Fire in Eureka last spring

Ricky Harlinewrote:

I am very keen to see your favorite climbing photo of the year, Fritz. You have great stories.

Thanks man! I didn't take many memorable photos this year, despite having many great outdoor trips.

Somewhere near Canada, there's a fun 5.11 that goes straight out this roof.

Colorado, Lumpy Ridge, top of Melvin's Wheel

Alaskan sick day 

My first ice climb of the season, first time on the Black Dike, great day.

12-16-24  

ZT that is an absolutely bananas shot, well done

A couple new routes from this year - my favorite shot I took

and a favorite shot taken from me (this one is still an open project btw front rangers!)

Watching the highline at Seneca Rock

This one isn’t one that I took but taken of me that I liked:

Me (leading) and my partner on P3 of Central Pillar of Frenzy in Yosemite. A friend took the shot with a telephoto lens from El Cap Meadow. It was 90° in the valley that day, I felt like absolute garbage/nauseous but I told my partner I'd get us to the top and I did. It was a very proud lead for me. 

Cosmic Hotdogwrote:

Me (leading) and my partner on P3 of Central Pillar of Frenzy in Yosemite. A friend took the shot with a telephoto lens from El Cap Meadow. It was 90° in the valley that day, I felt like absolute garbage/nauseous but I told my partner I'd get us to the top and I did. It was a very proud lead for me. 

As someone who has gotten baked off of P2 this is very impressive to me.