Written in Stone: Climbing History

By Plug Tone Audio

Written in Stone tells the (mostly) true stories of the most groundbreaking ascents in rock climbing history, one climb at a time. Hosted by Kris Hampton, you’ll hear the narrated, sound designed s

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FAQs about Written in Stone: Climbing History:

How many episodes does Written in Stone: Climbing History have?

The podcast currently has 95 episodes available.

Written in Stone: Climbing History episodes:

July 09, 2026 The First V6 (7A) Boulder | Robert Paragot and The Joker
WATCH THIS ON YOUTUBE
Perhaps the most powerful force in the early years of Fontainebleau bouldering history was the consistent changing of the guard. Every few years a new group would supplant the old, bringing new ideas, updated ethics, and stronger fingers. But when a brash group of climbers, formed from the best of several groups, the difficulty standards of the previous leaders, Pierre Allain's Convicts of Cuvier, were left in the dust.
Led by Robert Paragot, a young climber who often wore only his PA's and his underwear and climbed while smoking a cigarette, this new group would do battle for several major projects, resulting in the world's first V6 (7A) boulder, The Joker.
And just as suddenly as they'd shown up, they'd disappear from Cuvier.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/stone-yt
FREE BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/secretstoners-yt
Resources can be found at https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/written-in-stone
Watch Paragot par Paragot: https://vimeo.com/465783740

Music:
"Blue Eyed Baby" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Elle et Li" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Rue Deperré" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Ma Chanson Triste (Melancholie)" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Ambiance (In The Mood)" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Willie Dixon
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Divertissement dans une Fonderie" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Fou (Mad)" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Nerves and Fever" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"La-Da-Da-La-La" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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47min
June 22, 2026 World's First 6A (V3) Boulder and The Convicts of Cuvier
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Shortly after WWII, a new group formed in Fontainebleau. They called themselves the Cuvier Academic Club, but were quickly known as The Convicts of Cuvier. Led by Pierre Allain, René Ferlet, Guy Poullet and Jacques Poincenot, this group would raise standards in the forest with the first ascent of La Marie Rose, the first V3 (6A) in the world.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/stone-yt
FREE BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/secretstoners-yt
Resources can be found at https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/written-in-stone
The Fontainebleau Boulder post mentioned in the video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ1sYqwDE6a/?img_index=1

Music:
"Tel Quel (En Plein Sur le Nez)" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Willie Dixon
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Panassie Stomp" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Midi à Jalopi (12 O'Clock in Jalopi)" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Strictement pour les Persans (Strictly for the Persians)" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"That Blue-Eyed Baby From Memphis" Don Redman
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Mush Mouth" Claude Hopkins
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Joyeuse Fumée (Holy Smoke)" Alix Combelle
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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38min
June 08, 2026 Pierre Allain: The First Superstar of Modern Bouldering
After World War 1, bouldering began to shapeshift into something that very closely resembles the modern day game. At the forefront of that movement was Pierre Allain, a climber who was openly competitive and aimed to be the best. Also a talented and accomplished alpinist, Allain invented much of the gear we take for granted today, including the first shoes specifically for climbing -- and they were shaped by bouldering in Fontainebleau.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/stone-yt
FREE BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/secretstoners-yt
RESOURCES ➡️ https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/written-in-stone

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45min
May 25, 2026 Fontainebleau and the Birth of Bouldering as We Know It
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FREE BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/secretstoners-yt
By 1908, people had been practicing on boulders for over 25 years, but it lacked something essential to bouldering: community. In Fontainebleau, groups of climbers with a shared passion would unite around the sandstone blocs and forever shape the game of bouldering.
Resources can be found at https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/written-in-stone

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40min
May 18, 2026 Was Oscar Eckenstein Really the First Boulderer? Featuring Efix Roy
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.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/stone-yt
FREE BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/secretstoners-yt
Bouldering & The Vertical Path by John Gill
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20min
May 11, 2026 The First Boulderer and His Occultist Protégé: Oscar Eckenstein and Aleister Crowley
WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE
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?
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/stone-pod
FREE BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/secretstoners-pod

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/

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36min
April 20, 2026 Season 3 | The History of Modern 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.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/stone-pod
FREE BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/secretstoners-pod
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8min
April 06, 2026 Michael Kennedy on Access to Climbing Culture and the Photo of Edlinger That Defined the 80s
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.
Check out our website for related episodes, resources and more!
Join the Secret Stoners Club for FREE and get bonus episodes.
Follow the show on YouTube.
----------------------------------
Written in Stone is co-created with Power Company Climbing.

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1h 14min
December 01, 2025 BONUS: When Lynn Hill Proved That Women Can Beat Men In Competition
WATCH THIS ON YOUTUBE
GET THE BOOK ➡️ https://link.powercompanyclimbing.com/wis-YT
In a recent Magnus Midtbo video, Janja Garnbret mentioned that she could do well against the men in a sport climbing competition. Lynn Hill may have helped prove Janja's point - all the way back in 1990.
SUPPORT THE SHOW + BONUS EPISODES ➡️ https://patreon.com/secretstonersclub

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14min
September 08, 2025 The Thumbs Up: Sharing Lanes And Circling Back in 1980s Climbing.
After a few weeks of thinking about it, I've put my finger on what I learned about climbing by looking back at the 1980s, and I'm ready to reveal where we go next season.
Check out our new book, Written In Stone: The 1990s!
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Join the Secret Stoners Club for FREE and get bonus episodes.
Check out our website for related episodes, resources and more!
----------------------------------
Season Two is generously supported by Rab.
This episode is supported by Tension Climbing and The Tension Board 2.
Written in Stone is co-created with Power Company Climbing.

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24min

FAQs about Written in Stone: Climbing History:

How many episodes does Written in Stone: Climbing History have?

The podcast currently has 95 episodes available.

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