Hangdog Days - Tales of the Race for 5.14 with Jeff Smoot

*Register to attend, and you could win a free copy of Jeff Smoot's new book Hangdog Days: Conflict, Change, and the Race for 5.14*

In Hangdog Days, Jeff Smoot vividly chronicles the era when rock climbing exploded in popularity, attracting a new generation of talented climbers eager to push the boundaries of the sport via harder routes and faster ascents by breaking the “rules.” This contentious, often entertaining period gave rise to sport climbing, climbing gyms, and competition climbing—indelibly transforming the sport.

An active climber of the era, Smoot traces the development of traditional climbing rules, enforced through peer pressure, intimidation, and even sabotage, when several climbers in the late ’70s introduced tactics such as “hangdogging” (hanging on gear to practice moves) that the old guard considered cheating. As more climbers broke ranks during the ’80s, their new gymnastic approach pushed the limits of free climbing from 5.12 to 5.13 and eventually 5.14a.

Smoot describes his encounters with the era’s superstars, including John Bachar, Jerry Moffatt, Peter Croft, Kim Carrigan, Todd Skinner, and Alan Watts. He deftly brings this raucous, revolutionary time in rock climbing to life, exploring, as he says, “what happened and why it mattered.”

The presentation will run about 30 minutes, followed by a 30 minute question and answer period. Register today, even if you can’t attend on March 26, and we’ll send you a recording of the event a day or two afterward. Plus, when you register you’ll automatically be entered to win one of three free copies of Hangdog Days!

About the Author:
Jeff Smoot is a lawyer, writer, and photographer primarily known for his hiking and climbing guidebooks. He was a frequent contributor to Climbing, Rock & Ice, and Mountain magazines during the 1980s, and has also written for Backpacker and Outside magazines, the Western American Literature journal, and The Writer’s Workshop Review. He lives in Seattle.

Hangdog Days - Jeff Smoot Shares Tales of the Race for 5.14
A real-time online presentation and Q&A
March 26, 6:00-7:00pm PDT
Free to attend

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Thank you to our co-sponsors for this event, Access Fund and Mountain Madness!