The Ground Up Podcast
Stories From the Steep | Climbing conversations with local legends and unsung crushers from hometown crags around the country.
During the golden era of rock climbing, going ground up was as much a tactic as it was a lifestyle. A commitment to embracing the unknown and earning the next challenge, this mentality was the catalyst for a generation of bold climbers and route developers to establish now classic crags and expand climbing access into our own backyards. The Ground Up Podcast is a celebration of this mantra, the legends it left behind and the adventures it continues to inspire for local crushers and weekend warriors alike.
- Update frequency
- every 10 days
- Average duration
- 88 minutes
- Episodes
- 28
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Ground Up 27: 24HHH Veterans Leather & Lace
Most would call climbing for 24 hours straight crazy — doing it 20 years in a row is downright ludicrous. In the nearly two-decade history of 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell, only one team has competed ev…
Ground Up 26: Dream Destinations with the Climbing Backpackers
What happens when an arborist and a dog walker swipe right and end up traveling the world on a shoestring budget? In this episode, Nettie and Dave, better known as the Climbing Backpackers, share the…
Ground Up 25: 3,000 Feet of Psyche with Ethan Morf
Making history in Yosemite Valley is no easy feat these days, especially if you can count the number of years you've been climbing on one hand. But on May 15th, at just 20 years old, Ethan Morf becam…
Ground Up 24: The Power of Partnerships with Eddie Begoon
In this episode, we sit down with Southeast legend Eddie Begoon—lifelong climber, route developer, and storyteller with deep roots in the Shenandoah Valley and the golden age of Southeast climbing. F…
Ground Up 23: Breaking Barriers in the Valley with Kate Kelleghan and Laura Pineau
Few endurance challenges rival the infamous Yosemite Triple Crown — a mega link-up of three iconic big walls in Yosemite National Park: the Nose on El Capitan, the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome…
Ground Up 22: Five Decades of Climbing with Coach Eric Hörst
In today's episode, we sit down with legendary climber, author, and coach Eric Hörst—an East Coast pioneer whose nearly five decades of climbing and route development have left an indelible mark on A…
Ground Up 21: High Country Highlights with Sam Dospoy
In this episode, we sit down with Boone local Sam Dospoy—woodworker, van builder, and climber deeply rooted in North Carolina’s High Country. Sam shares how a two year stint dirtbagging in a minivan …
Ground Up 20: Capturing Climbing with Photographer Drew Mercer
Boone, North Carolina is where photographer Drew Mercer first discovered his passion for rock climbing, so it’s no surprise that his new coffee table book, In Season, is a love letter to the High Cou…
Ground Up 19: Level Up Your Trad Climbing with Dana Taylor
Training for trad climbing isn’t something most climbers think about—but Project Direct coach Dana Taylor is here to change that.
Originally from Chicago, Dana spent years sport climbing at the Red R…
Ground Up 18: The Sandstone School of Rock with Professor Joel Brady
Whether you know him as the Vampire Professor, the Banjo Man, or the founding president of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Climbers Coalition (SWPACC), you know that Joel Brady has the undeniable abili…
Ground Up 17: The Need for Speed with Joe Kennedy
Speed climbing is the ultimate culmination of dozens, if not hundreds, of hours spent dialing in beta, trimming the rack, and pushing the body to move as quickly up the wall as possible. Few do it be…
Ground Up 16: Becoming a Quadfather - Tanner Wanish
Finding first ascents and new potential link-ups in Yosemite Valley is a rare opportunity these days, especially when they're as monumental as the QUAD! In a mind-blowingly short one year between his…
Ground Up 15: Raging in El Salto with Karly Rager
While most climbers gravitate to El Potrero Chico when visiting Nuevo León, Karly Rager has spent the past five winter seasons learning the dark arts of kneebars in El Salto's tufa filled playgrounds…
Ground Up 14: Legends From the Steep with Doug Reed
If you've pulled onto the perfect Nuttall Sandstone of the New River Gorge, odds are you've climbed a Doug Reed route. Boasting one of the most impressive list's of first ascents in Southeastern, and…
Ground Up 13: The Granite Guru Zack Mintz
The Western North Carolina climbing scene has been experiencing a recent flurry of hard ascents and Zack Mintz is certainly someone who's been at the heart of it all. A true guru of granite, Zack joi…
Ground Up 12: Zero to 5.13 in 18 Months with Armand La Douceur
Hailing from the great state of Georgia, our guest for this episode is the Southeast's latest climbing phenom, Armand La Douceur. It was only 18 months ago that Armand first tied into a rope, but he'…
Ground Up 11: Global Climbing Impact with Mario Stanley
If you tuned into the HBO reality series, The Climb, with Chris Sharma, Megan Martin and Jason Momoa, you probably recognize our next guest, Mario Stanley. A Texas based climber, Mario's impact on th…
Ground Up 10: Erica Lineberry aka Cragmama
You may have heard of Dad Strength before, but Erica Lineberry is making sure that you know all about Mom Strength. Better known as Cragmama, Erica is one of the Southeast's elite weekend warriors an…
Ground Up 09: The Mayor of Moore's, Tim Fisher
This one is for all the local North Carolina hardmen, the lovers of steep & spicy trad climbing, and anyone looking for a classic ground up adventure. The Mayor of Moore's himself, Tim Fisher, takes …
Ground Up 08 - Breaking Into the 300 Club with Genevive Walker
One of only three participants to ever climb 300+ pitches during the 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell, Genevive Walker is a true legend of the competition. Her commitment to performance is rivaled only by …