Vertical World Conversations with Today's Masters of Rock

by Katie Brown

In vertical World, Katie Brown, herself one of the world's greatest climbers, introduces nine of America's best and brightest masters of rock climbing. Through engaging interviews and stunning action photographs taken by top climbing photographers, the most gifted climbers of this generation bring style, grace, skill, and strength to the hardest and most beautiful rock climbs on planet Earth. They talk about their successes and failures, their training secrets, their favorite crags, their climbing partners, their wildest dreams, and their craziest adventures. These are today’s cutting-edge climbers touching the vertical dream and climbing without limits.

Dave Graham - climbed more 5.14 routes than anyone else in the world; Chris Sharma - the first climber in the world to send a 5.15a; Beth Rodden - the world’s best all-around female rock climber; Dean Potter - America’s leading soloist, climbed Yosemite’s Half Dome and El Capitan in a day; Jason Kehl - America’s premier high-ball bouldering ace; Josh Wharton - climbed the world’s longest route up Great Trango Tower in Pakistan; Steph Davis - the second woman to free climb El Capitan in a day; Lisa Rands - one of the world’s best woman boulderers; Tommy Caldwell - the world’s best all-around male rock climber