Summit #324 - Spring 2026

Summit #324 - Spring 2026 

This Spring 2026 edition is loosely themed around memory and opens with a letter from editor Michael Levy reflecting on its many dimensions: impactful memories that remain in permanent laser focus, the bodily sensation of muscle memory, the shared experience of collective memory, and finally the inverse of memory—forgetting.

The stories in this issue explore these different interpretations, and include an account from climber Nick Yardley, recalling moments from a road trip across America that changed his life, alongside an investigation into our genetic urge to ascend, penned by climbing journalist Corey Buhay. Elsewhere, a photo essay from photographer Dean Fidelman documents the revival of climbing culture in Yosemite, and Tristan Kennedy pays tribute to the turbulent life and forgotten legacy of solo climber Claudio Barber.

Summit Journal is a bold, print-only reincarnation of America’s original climbing magazine. Published twice per year in an oversized format, Summit is devoted to capturing the soul of climbing through long-form tales of daring, dirtbaggery, connection, and commitment.