Written in Stone: Climbing History

Was Oscar Eckenstein the first boulderer? What does that even mean? This season, we are asking and trying to answer some big questions. In this episode, I talk with our research assistant, Efix Roy, about the big question raised by the first episode of the season.

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Bouldering & The Vertical Path by John Gill

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People have likely climbed on boulders for all of human history, but in the late 1800's, one man began advocating for climbing on boulders as a way to become a better climber. His name was Oscar Eckenstein, and he fundamentally changed the way we climb. Was he the first boulderer?

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Resources can be found at https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/written-in-stone

 

Music:

"Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, 'L'inverno' (Winter)" The Modena Chamber Orchestra (https://musopen.org)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"String Quartet no. 2 in B minor - IV. Allegro furioso" Steve's Bedroom Band (https://musopen.org)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9 no. 1" Eduardo Vinuela (https://musopen.org)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"String Quartet, Op.25 - II. Intermezzo. Andante con moto, quasi allegretto" Steve's Bedroom Band (https://musopen.org)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"The Wand of Youth, Suite no. 1, Op. 1a - II. Serenade ( For String Quartet - Jones)" Steve's Bedroom Band (https://musopen.org)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

For this, the first of a new series for Secret Stoners, we are joined by our research assistant Efix Roy to try to answer the question, "what IS bouldering?"

What is bouldering, really? What defines a "boulderer"? And how has that changed since the beginnings of the game? Are there rules, and if so, where did those "rules" start? 

Coming Soon: Season 3 of Written in Stone | The History of Modern Bouldering.

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Michael Kennedy is a legend of climbing media. As the editor of Climbing Magazine from 1974 to 1998, he helped to bring climbing culture to tens of thousands of climbers who otherwise didn't have access to it. He also took the photo that I believe best defines climbing in the 1980s. 

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Written in Stone is co-created with Power Company Climbing.