Kevin Heinrich

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  • Courses & Trips
    • Big Wall Course
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Trip Report

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Big Wall First Ascent

I tiptoe away from the anchor, onto a slab, toward a blank corner and the steepest bit of rock we had yet encountered. I urge

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April 19, 2020 15 Comments
Trip Report

Big Wall Solo, South Face of Washington Column (V, 5.8, C1)

I arrived in Yosemite in October 2018 with one thing on my mind; soloing a big wall. In fact, this monkey had been on my

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January 31, 2019 2 Comments
Trip Report

How NOT to Climb the Casual Route, Longs Peak (800ft, IV, 5.10a)

The Casual Route on the Diamond of Longs Peak is anything but. It’s the easiest route on the face but even with perfect conditions you’ll still hike

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September 10, 2018 4 Comments
Tech Talk

The Best Climbing Anchor | A Look at Anchor Research

**Parts of this post are missing/non-functional due to my stupidity, sorry!** This led me to think; why don’t I find the smartest, most experienced climber

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July 23, 2018 No Comments
Gear Review

Belay Gloves: Rack ’em or Sack ’em?

Belay gloves protect your hands from fast moving ropes, hot belay devices, aluminum oxide flakes, dirt, cactus spines, and spiky bushwhacks that can all take

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March 20, 2018 No Comments
Rock Climbing

VIDEO: Climbing at Looking Glass Rock, North Carolina

In mid-November, on my first real climbing stop of my road trip I spent a week at Looking Glass Rock in North Carolina with a

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January 8, 2018 No Comments
Banter

Should We Grade Our Partners?

You’re in a parking lot waiting to meet up with a new partner who you found online. You’re ready for the day of climbing and

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December 15, 2017 1 Comment
Rock Climbing

10 Tips for Beginning Hangboarders

These tips are for people who are new to hangboarding, NOT new to climbing. If you’re new to climbing you are better off using your

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April 7, 2017 2 Comments
Banter

Authentic Distressed Climber Jacket – $650

I’ve had amazing adventures in this jacket so you don’t have to! Thousands of dollars and multiple years have been invested in climbing with this

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March 25, 2017 No Comments
Trip Report

Trip Report: Alpamayo (19,511ft), Cordillera Blanca, Peru

[This trip took place in July, 2015. This post took me a really long time to write, I hope it entertains. Sorry its sooo long]

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January 19, 2016 2 Comments
Banter

Post Expedition Gluttony

When we venture outside our comfort zones; whether into the wilderness, to a foreign country, or onto a stage we gain a lot of appreciation

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August 2, 2015 5 Comments
Banter

Cool Story Bro… but you effed up.

Humans tell stories. We always have and we always will. While the content of these oral traditions has shifted; from water turned to wine to

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July 11, 2015 No Comments
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verticalpursuitsclimbing

⚡⚡Become an Independent Climber⚡⚡
💎 Small Classes
💎 Decades of Professional Experience
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📍 CA, NV, UT & More!

Vertical Pursuits
Sometimes the best way to climb lighter is to haul Sometimes the best way to climb lighter is to haul smarter. On long free routes where the terrain is too steep, too slabby, or just too damn awkward to climb with a pack on, running two Nano Traxions as a mini-haul system has been a game changer. ⚙️⛓️

Instead of fighting my way upward with a small boulder strapped to my spine, I get to focus on what I actually came for: climbing well. No weight swinging around, no pack throwing me off balance, no excuses—just pure movement on the rock.✨

A simple 2-Traxion setup means the bag follows us up the pitch while we stay free, fluid, and (mostly) fresh. It’s wild how much better the climbing feels when your center of gravity is your own body again. And the best part? The extra energy you save makes the crux feel a little less cruxy. 🧗‍♂️⚡

Light is right. Free is fun. Haul the bag—don’t haul yourself.

#bigwallfree #freeclimbing #climbingtech #nanotraxion #haulbagsdontcare #lightandfast #climbersofinstagram #multipitchmagic #tradisrad #freerouteadventures ✌️
más MOAB. ANCIENT ART. "It'll always be there" do más MOAB. ANCIENT ART. "It'll always be there" does not apply in the Fisher Towers. @grrrracekim sneaks in an ascent before time does its thing.
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Rad to see her damn near onsight all the 5.10 climbing (I pull through like a 🌭) after two physical days of crack clinic!
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We'll be back in Moab in the spring. Let's do towers baby!
MOAB cont. CRACK CLINIC 🪓 We had an amazing cre MOAB cont. CRACK CLINIC 🪓
We had an amazing crew for two days of ring-locks, calf-locks, off hands, off width, first leads, first knees, "AHHH!"s, and "ah-hah"s.
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So much fun! Thanks everyone for coming out and bringing such a supportive, playful, and determined attitude to the crag! 💗☠️
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#crackgood
#VPEast day 2. Getting outta the classroom and up #VPEast day 2. Getting outta the classroom and up onto multipitch aid! Bobby led the hard pitches to lead and followed the hard pitches to follow. Hauling a piggie and chilling on a porta ledge all the way to the rim. If it ain't real it ain't VP.
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Stoked to see what Bobby gets up to with his new skills. Who needs a partner with damn good fundamentals?
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#thegreatamericaneast
The twice annual VP trip East. Moab day 1. BIG WAL The twice annual VP trip East. Moab day 1. BIG WALL BABY. Leading, jugging, lower outs. Core skills with bitchin' efficiency. This stuff is so easy to do poorly. In one day Bobby is looking better than most folks on the Nose!
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Today? Hauling, anchor management. And up we go!
Great times on our Top Rope Solo course in the Bay Great times on our Top Rope Solo course in the Bay Area!! Taking our slogan of "Become an Independent Climber" to a whole new level. TRS is an awesome way to sneak in some after work rock, dial in a project, or get a bunch of mileage without having anyone bail on your plans or eat your snacks!
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When and where should we run the course next?
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Shout out to @avant_climbing_innovations for their amazing gear 🤘(VP students get a discount on gear from Avant, hit us up directly for the details)
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#rocks #ropesolo
🥉Third Pillar of Dana! 🗿The weather gods smi 🥉Third Pillar of Dana! 🗿The weather gods smiled on us for a lonely, sunny, windless Saturday on one of the best routes around. The last 20 feet SO WILD: a steep jug haul in an insane setting 💥
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Alpine season is certainly winding down but we can't wait to explore all the stellar eastside alpine zones with the VP Fam next summer! 
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Thanks for a magical day Julianne!
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#rocks
Does a pre rig rappel close the system? With a bit Does a pre rig rappel close the system? With a bit of rope weight, yes. But the top person should always have a brake hand (or prusik) on regardless. (On this slab, at the beginning of the rappel there was not enough rope weight.)
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Here Matt is rappelling on a single strand under my pre-rig but this is effectively the same as if he accidentally rappeled off the end of ONE strand. Therefore, when prerigging we DO NOT need to have knots in both ends (but 100% need one knot). This is a huge advantage as the rope ends often falls beautifully down the cliff and we are too lazy to pull it up and tie a knot. This has killed many climbers.
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If you can't remember this hack, ALWAYS TIE KNOTS IN BOTH ENDS OF YOUR RAPPELL. 
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Please, please, please check out the rappelling webinar on our YouTube for lots more context!!! (Link to out channel in bio). Spread it wide and let's save lives!
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#climbing #techtip #rockclimbing #rappelling @alpenglowsports
Link in bio to register! . FREE webinar tomorrow n Link in bio to register!
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FREE webinar tomorrow night (9/4) @ 7pm PDT. Learn to Avoid and Solve Common Rappelling Epics w/ an AMGA Certified Rock Guide.
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Q&A on any climbing topic after.
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Getting a lot of love and positive feedback on the webinars lately, THANK YOU! They are a lot of work :)
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Previous webinars on YouTube, link in bio.
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Upcoming Courses
Sat 9/6 Intro to Multipitch @ Emmigrant Wall
Sun 9/7 Intro to Rescue @ Old Camp Bluff
Three Piece Quad is cute but DUMB. 🥺 . Everythi Three Piece Quad is cute but DUMB. 🥺
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Everything you need to know about building anchors: You absolutely need bomber gear in bomber rock. You should also consider redundancy in the gear, rock, and anchor material. Equalization aint it.
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Tag an #instaguide that's been hawking a 3 piece quad 🤦‍♂️
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Wish stuff like this had more context? Me too! Link in bio to find the entire 2hr webinar on YouTube!!
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#rockclimbing #climbing #climbinganchors #techtiptuesday #anchoroftheday @alpinesavvy
A quick and dirty way to go from descent to ascent A quick and dirty way to go from descent to ascent mode while using an ATC with guide mode aka a plaquette.

This is useful if you rap past an anchor station, but isn't a great option for long distances of ascending. 

Using a thinner rope also makes this easier compared to stiffer, thicker ropes.
Self rescue. Spend a day learning it... because i Self rescue.

Spend a day learning it... because it's not something that you're going be stoked to try figure out on the fly if shit hits the fan.

I know it's not as fun as going climbing, but it is something that you may one day be stoked to have taken the time to learn. 

Climbing is dangerous and it's worth knowing how to help your buddy if they take a bad fall or if a rock falls nails them from above. 

Leader falls make up the majority of all accidents in North American mountaineering, usually taking place on rock, and rock fall isn't too far behind that. 

Come train with us and learn how to be the partner you want above or below you.
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