The RunOut Podcast

Earlier this year, Will Hodgson and Vincent Landry repeated the Slovak Direct (AI6 M8, 2,700m) on Denali — 38 hours on route, every pitch freed on what Vincent calls some of the best granite he’s ever touched.

We talk about the climb itself, and about Balin Miller, the last person to climb the route before them, whose memory shadowed every pitch of their ascent. We also get into what draws them to alpine climbing in the first place: the belief that above everything else, it should be fun.

This special bonus episode first appeared on our Patreon feed. We’re releasing it to share this important conversation with our wider audience. If you enjoy this episode, please consider supporting our show by joining us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Follow Will: https://www.instagram.com/willhodgson11/

Follow Vincent: https://www.instagram.com/landryvincent/

Astra Lincoln is a writer, creative researcher, and self-described futurist working at the intersection of people, power, and place. She’s won Banff’s best article award twice and been a finalist for the Yale Nonfiction Book Prize, and before all that she worked as a pastry chef, a wilderness trail mason, and a glacial ecologist. Her first novel is on the way. And her latest article is a profile of the legendary Michael Kennedy, which is printed in the latest issue of Summit Journal, #325. 

But first, the show hosts catch up on some 20 year old beef that no one can remember, and then dive into the latest autobelay horror story.

Our final bit comes from the incredibly talented Craig Muderlak — an illustrator, painter, musician and award-winning filmmaker, whose work is inspired by a desire to explore a connection to expansive landscapes. Check out the show notes for a link to Craig’s work and pick up one of his prints.

Show Notes

Astra Lincoln: https://www.astralincoln.com

Astra on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/astralincoln/

Summit Journal: https://www.summitjournal.com/products/summit-journal-subscription

Summit Journal Insta: https://www.instagram.com/summit.journal/

Craig Muderlak: https://www.muderlakart.com/

Craig Muderlak on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/muderlakart/

Colorado Gym Sees Two Unroped Falls in One Day: https://www.climbing.com/news/two-accidents-in-one-day-colorado-climbing-gym/

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. [email protected] // [email protected]

Andres Marin is a mountain guide, alpinist, and competitive ice climber who’s originally from Columbia, but is a longtime resident of Ouray, Colorado. His passion is expedition climbing, and he’s completed notable first ascents around the world including in Kyrgzstan and Peru. We talk about a wildfire that nearly destroyed his town, affecting the climbing and local communities alike, as well as other catastrophes and disasters around the world. Despite being such a depressing conversation, Andres, with his usual humor and positive disposition, brings hope and light to the frontlines of these issues.

But first, your hosts convene on relationships in life and climbing.

The final bit is a little ditty from Sweet Jessup and the Dirty Buckets.

Show Notes

Andres Marin: https://www.instagram.com/andresmarin22/

Golgotha: https://alpinist.com/newswire/clint-helander-andres-marin-complete-their-dream-route-on-golgotha-in-alaskas-revelation-range/

Sweet Jessup: https://www.sweetjessup.com

Sweet Jessup’s Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DpZa8AFybAzVP8WvdtGLb

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. [email protected] // [email protected]

Liv Ogier recently completed the first ascent of Yellow Sun (5.14d), an extension to Tommy Caldwell’s Kryptonite at the Fortress of Solitude. As a former comp climber, her choice to project at one of Colorado’s most remote and challenging sport crags resulted in numerous days and nights of challenging conditions that are more often associated with alpinism than sport climbing. But the result of her efforts landed her among a very small and select group of women who have established first ascents of routes rated 5.14d. 

But first, your grumpy hosts grump about climbing.

Our final bit is from Victor McConnell.

Show Notes

Follow Liv Ogier: https://www.instagram.com/oogier/

Read about her ascent: https://tensionclimbing.com/blogs/blog/the-evolution-of-kryptonite-the-process-behind-yellow-sun-colorado-s-newest-5-14d

Tension Climbing: https://tensionclimbing.com

Victor McConnell‘s work and news. https://www.victormcconnellauthor.com/

Victor on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/victormcconnell/

Order Victor’s book If You Can Hear This here: Bottlecap Press: https://bottlecap.press/products/ifyovm

World Climbing Assembly Cancels Vote on Banning Israel, Russia, and Belarus: https://www.climbing.com/news/world-climbing-assembly-cancels-vote-on-banning-israel-russia-and-belarus/

Chicago Climbing Gym Ordered to Pay $50 Million for Negligence in Child Sexual Abuse Case: https://www.climbing.com/news/first-ascent-climbing-gym-chicago-negligence-50-million-child-sexual-abuse-case/

No Return: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/07/06/did-a-climber-leave-his-girlfriend-to-die-at-the-top-of-a-mountain

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. [email protected] // [email protected]

Erik Murdock is the deputy director at the Access Fund, climbing’s national advocacy organization. Today we’re encouraging climbers to submit their comments on the climbing management proposals for federal lands. Check out the show notes for all the links.

But first, the show’s ailing hosts navigate a new world order of safe space climbing, from the local choss heap to one of the most iconic piece of granite in the country.

The final bit is a song titled Odds of Dawn, written and performed by our super talented friend Andy Mann, a National Geographic photographer, director, musician, and climber. 

Show Notes

Access Fund: https://www.accessfund.org

Write your comment here : https://www.accessfund.org/action-alerts/action-alert-help-secure-the-future-of-americas-climbing

Super hot enormo-foot: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ5DCLMFebO/?img_index=1

Andy Mann: https://www.instagram.com/andy_mann/ https://www.andymann.com

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Cameron King is the climbing program supervisor for Yosemite National Park. Greg Stock is Yosemite’s resident geologist. Both are climbers and they’re here today to talk about various issues within America’s most notable national park.

But first, we tie in for a discussion about the new Ten Sleep-style modern classic, Snake Dike, and what to do about the slippery slope that climbing is on.

Patrick Curry is a longtime Valley climber, longtime listener, and first-time contributor to the Final Bit under his stage name of Motorcycle Butt Face. This submission, crafted using guitars and a computer, is a reference to a comment Andy Salo made on this years TAPS episode of the Enormocast. So without further adieu, and with our deepest condolences to Patrick Curry’s wife, please enjoy this short new track from Motorcycle Butt Face.

Show Notes

‘Snake Dike’ First Ascensionist Speaks Out About Last Week’s Sudden Retro-Bolting | https://www.climbing.com/news/snake-dike-first-ascensionist-speaks-out-after-new-bolts-appear/

Mountain Project thread | https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/203127636/half-domes-snake-dike-is-being-retrobolted-get-involved

Snake Dike and a Return to Risk | https://eveningsends.com/snake-dike-and-a-return-to-risk/

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. [email protected] // [email protected]

Jonathan Siegrist is a professional rock climber, widely regarded as one of the most prolific sport climbers in the world. He’s best known for pushing very hard sport routes, including numerous 5.15 ascents. This year he’s on track to reaching 100 routes rated 9a or harder.

But first, we discuss the latest local drama, from price hikes to redtags, and what it all means when you have to watch some kid put down the hackysack long enough to hike your project

Last, Kalous closes things out with his acoustic rendition of the 1972 soft-rock classic “Brandy(You’re a Fine Girl)” — reimagined for climbing.

Show Notes

Follow Jonathan Siegrist | https://www.instagram.com/jonathansiegrist

Jonathan’s 8a.nu | https://www.8a.nu/user/mr-gruntz

Training | https://trainingforclimbing.com/jonathan-siegrist-trains-5-15-climbs/

Latest FA | https://www.instagram.com/p/DYaCHlnlO-T/

Red Tagging in Rifle: The Debate Over ‘En Passant’ | https://www.climbing.com/news/red-tagging-rifle-en-passant/

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

What good is finger strength if you don’t know how to use it? 

Lillian Frances is a self-produced indie pop star based in LA who has written a new manual called Finger Banging For Climber Boys* (And Everyone Else). We discuss all things digital stimulation and and celebrate centering female pleasure.

But first, what gets you stoked in climbing right now? Yer hyped-up hosts review some of the latest climbing news to surf the swell of stoke.

For today’s final bit, of course, we’re bringing back our guest Lillian Frances with her song Touching You. Check out the show notes for links to Lillian’s music, book, and more.

Show Notes

Follow Lillian Frances: https://www.instagram.com/lillianfrancess/

Follow Finger Banging for Climber Boys: http://instagram.com/fingerbangingforclimberboys

Buy the book: https://fingerbangingforclimberboys.com

Official website / EPK: https://www.lillianfrancesmusic.com/epk

Bandcamp: https://lillianfrances.bandcamp.com

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lillianfrances

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LillianFrances

Reagan on Tales of Power in Yosemite: https://www.youtube.com/@reagan_rocks_rides

Yannik Flohé downgrades everything: https://www.lacrux.com/en/klettern/Yannick-Flohe-repeats-%22No-One-Mourns-the-Wicked%22-and-downgrades-it-to-8c

Patagonia news: https://www.climbing.com/news/climbers-spent-40-days-wall-patagonia/

Adam Ondra: https://www.youtube.com/@AdamOndra/videos

New harness bag: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/lithos-sl-harness-9982

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. [email protected] // [email protected]

Matt Samet is a sport-climbing pioneer, climbing lifer, writer, editor, and literary icon. His new role at the American Alpine Club is launching the American Climbing Journal, an annual perfect-bound book documenting the biggest and most interesting ascents of the year.

But first, what would it take to get you to quit climbing? Kalous briefly dreams of taking the easy way out before Bisharat knocks some sense into him, as per usual.

Last but never least, our final bit comes from climber Stefan Levinson, stage name WITHANEFF and the track Are Zombies Happy.

Show Notes

Follow Matt Samet — https://www.instagram.com/phorrizzler6514/

Follow the American Alpine Club — https://www.instagram.com/americanalpine/

Follow the American Alpine Journal — https://www.instagram.com/americanalpinejournal/

AAC — https://americanalpineclub.org

Stefan Levinson / WITHANEFF — https://soundcloud.com/stefanwithaneff

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Melissa Strong is a climber, restaurateur, and writer. In 2017, she nearly lost her life in an electrical accident that left her with amputated and disfigured hands. Her new book is called Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing, and Second Chances.

But first, we talk (more) about Dean Potter, the late climbing and BASE jumping visionary who is the subject of a new documentary called The Dark Wizard.

Today’s final bit is a listener-submitted homage to some climbing partners and community, from Daniel Kent.

Show Notes

Melissa Strong: https://www.melissaistrong.com

Follow Melissa Strong: https://www.instagram.com/melissaistrong/

“Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing, and Second Chances: https://www.melissaistrong.com/about

Watch The Dark Wizard: https://www.hbomax.com/shows/dark-wizard/76e78c26-21c9-45b4-b84b-4c3e1f8ff763

Still getting “free climbing” wrong: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/the-dark-wizard-hbo-max-review/

The True Story Behind The Dark Wizard, via TIME: https://time.com/article/2026/04/13/the-dark-wizard-dean-potter-true-story/

Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast

Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. [email protected] // [email protected]