It's no wonder many of the planet's greatest rock climbers are American. This vast nation contains more than its fair share of world-class climbing venues, from the big walls of Yosemite Valley and Zion to the world-renowned sport climbing in places like Smith Rock State Park. With new routes being sent in ever more dazzling fashion, sometimes it's worth pausing and taking stock of the achievements of the elite.
In this feature, one of our mountaineering experts attempts to answer the question: who are America's greatest climbers? Our selection is not exhaustive and, as with any such list, by no means definitive. Many greats have been left off the list and we've trended towards the modern era, highlighting those pushing the grades to the max. Treat the selection as a celebration of some of America's elite and enjoy delving further into their seemingly impossible accomplishments. Hopefully it'll inspire you to dust off your best climbing shoes and get out there yourself.
