Jam Crack - The Niall Grimes Climbing Podcast

Part 2 of the Rachel Pearce chat where we hear about her ascent of the Indian Face as well as loads more about her. Enjoy x

North-Wales-based trad machine Rachel Pearce set headlines this summer with her ascent of the Indian Face. Indian Face, the country's first E9, had only had ten ascents in the 40 years since it was first done, practically every ascent making the headlines. This huge slab climb on the sombre cliffs of Cloggy stands for many as the ultimate in the committing end of trad climbing. With her ascent Rachel became to first woman to succeed on a the climb. Yet it is only the latest in a long ticklist of bold and desperate climbs on the mountains and seacliffs in her home turf. Hear about Rachel's background and the climbs that led to this monumental achievement. Much crack.

An honour to have climbing legend Steve Bancroft who, along with John Allen, headed up the Gritstone Renaissance of the 1970s. Many stories and slices of life from that golden era. Hear the tales behind Moon Crack, Edge Lane, Profit of Doom, Hairless Heart, Wall of Horrors, London Wall and many more. A true view behind the history. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Summit Financial Services https://www.summit-fs.co.uk/

A lame account of how I went to the North Face's DWS event in London the other week and failed to corner anyone for the Jam. Sorry. But at least I survived.

Tom Livingstone is a hugely driven mountaineer, alpinist and rock climber. He has redpointed up to 8b+ and trad E9 and is best-known internationally for a first ascent on Latok 1 for which he won the acclaimed Piolets d'Or.

She may be small but she likes to go tall! At 5 foot 2, Tina Breslin has to get creative to solve the sequences on the stunning highballs on remote gritstone crags of North Yorkshire. But when she does, she find a peace and silence of mind that is impossible to find in everyday life. Let's hear her crack. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Summit Financial Services https://www.summit-fs.co.uk/

Anthony King talks about his book, Ascent, which weaves his personal experiences with the rise and change of rock climbing in Britain over a century.

Part 2 of this incredible chat. Part 1 in previous show. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Summit Financial Services https://www.summit-fs.co.uk/

Jason Pickles spent the best part of a decade in Yosemite hanging with the fabled Stone Monkeys. Here we hear about Jason's times there and time spent ith Dean Potter, Leo Houlding, Alex Honnold and others. Banging. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Summit Financial Services https://www.summit-fs.co.uk/

As official photographer for World Climbing, Lena gets to witness the action we don't. Let's hear about what she sees when she looks outside and in.

Just me, folks. Reflecting on some of the lessons climbing has taught me and playing some beautiful music x

Welsh-born Eben is passionate about wild places and his and others' rights to be there. We chat about his Welsh childhood and how that and the outdoors have shaped him. Together we look to understand the cultural and social world of North Wales in the face of it's huge popularity with visitors.

Second part of this lovely chat with the greatest climber who has ever lived. In this one we dig deep into his flashing of 8C boulder problems, thoughts on going harder again and about climbers who really impress him.

The world's greatest climber returns to the show to talk Olympics, B.I.G, YouTube, bouldering and more.

Part 2 of the Ben Bransby chat. Talking about losing his dad on an expedition, Patagonia, Leeds, Chris Wentworth, family and mental illness, not climbing all of Stanage. Brilliant.

Trad master, old-school hone and all out legend Ben Bransby spills his bean. Ben pushed the cutting-edge of trad climbing, going ground-up on E9 when E9 was top of the pops. His easy attitude and spirited approach made his ascents so much more then numbers alone could tell. Cool guy, check it out.

Elite climber Mat Wright is cut from a different cloth than your average professional crimp-jockey. We hear about Mat's journey from a sometimes-fractious childhood all the way to 9a, 8C and E11 (not really). Mat opens up about some frisky situations along the way to enlightenment. Much crack.

A classic Jam Crack story episode from 2016. Chris Schulte reads the classic tale of climbing exploration in the American desert. Pure gold.

Scottish winter climbing activist and photographer Hamish Frost traces his career in the outdoors, thinks about his art and delves into his experience of coming out in the world of climbing.

One from the vaults of 2021. Taylor Parson's incredible story of transition from world-class boulderer to mum of three and the trauma and passion that mapped the way. Trigger warning: suicide references.