RunOut #70: Flexing 5.15 and Making Land Acknowledgements

What was the first 5.15b in the US? With Matty Hong’s recent second ascent of Flex Luthor, which upgraded to 5.15b, we consider how this news shapes Tommy Caldwell’s legacy and what this means for our understanding of sport climbing. Nerd alert! Grade geekery ahead. …

For our main bit, we speak with the esteemed Len Necefer about the restoration of Bear’s Ears by the Biden administration, as well as the potential danger of land acknowledgements. Len is a pHd. and assistant professor at the University of Arizona with joint appointments with the American Indian Studies program & the Udall Center for Public Policy. In addition, he is the founder & CEO of Natives Outdoors. But most folks will know him as the Meme God of the outdoor world, whose wonderful sense of humor on Instagram spares no target or topic.

Finally, a bit of buddy spray—a new bit in which listeners tell us about their climbing buddy’s big sends. If you’ve got a buddy you want to spray about, you have to join us on Patreon as this is only open to Rope Guns.

Photo: Tommy Caldwell on the FA of Flex Luthor in 2003. by Corey Rich.

Show Notes

Matty Hong sends Flex Luthor

Climb Harder Just By Getting Older—like Tommy Caldwell

Len Necefer on Instagram. Website.

We Need to Reframe Why We Do Land Acknowledgments

Biden Restores Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments

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