Episode #36- Luke Mehall

The Climbing Advocate

The guest for today’s episode is writer, podcaster, and perhaps most notably, the creator of the Climbing Zine, Luke Mehall. Originally hailing from the midwest, Luke was first exposed to climbing in Southern Illinois and at first, he didn’t really take to it. Through the trials and tribulations of being a young adult, Luke truly found his way when he moved to Gunnison, Colorado and began putting pen to paper—and climbing a lot more. Luke’s pursuits have led him to become a prominent figure in the climbing community. Whether it’s the Climbing Zine, his books, his podcast, his first ascents, or the newly formed Durango Climbers Coalition, his advocacy and love for the sport is exemplary. Follow along as Luke walks us through some of his early influences, lessons he’s taken from the Zine, Indian Creek, and much more. 5:23- Banter 9:26- Luke’s early influences 13:38- Luke’s intro to climbing 18:21- The evolution of Luke’s writing 24:04- Print media 30:48- Lessons learned from Zine authors 37:27- Indian Creek: not love at first sight 48:18- Changes over the years in Indian Creek 53:56- Rock climbing and native values 58:20- The Dirtbag State of Mind Podcast 1:03:51- Durango Climbers Coalition 1:13:38- Luke’s definition of advocacy Luke’s Instagram: @lukemehall_writer Climbing Zine’s Instagram: @theclimbingzine Climbing Zine website: https://climbingzine.com/ Dirtbag State of Mind Podcast: https://climbingzine.com/dirtbag-state-of-mind-podcast/ Durango Climbers Coalition: https://www.facebook.com/DurangoClimbersCoalition/