Latest news with #rock climbing
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
Chicago rock climber undergoes brain surgery by doctor who's a rock climber too
A Chicago rock climber was grounded by a scary medical issue — a cyst in her brain. But a friendly face in the operating room helped Sophie Lin get to the gym again. Lin is a geologist who loves to analyze rocks — and around seven years ago, she became enamored with navigating and climbing them too. She could regularly be found practicing in gyms like First Ascent in the Loop multiple times a week. Her strength, strategy, and skills were all on the rise, until a strange feeling of weakness crept in. "If I reached for a right, like handhold, I would just miss," Lin said. "I would like circle it, fall." Lin noticed a problem with her grip too. "My right hand, after like maybe five, 10 seconds would just like, unfurl," Lin said, "even though, in my head, I'm telling my hand to like stay there." Then came seizure-like symptoms, which prompted her to get an MRI. It revealed a cyst in her brain — likely caused by a procedure she had as a child. Northwestern Medicine neurosurgeon Dr. Matthew Potts took the case. It turned out Dr. Potts was a rock climber too. "Funny little small world," Lin said. "From the first day we met, like, I think we had that connection and that bond," Potts said. More than anyone, Dr. Potts understood the difficulties his patient was describing. "The symptoms she was having wasn't necessarily preventing her from working, but it was absolutely preventing her from doing this hobby that she loves," said Potts. The treatment they settled on was brain surgery. The operation had to be done while Lin was awake. "Doing a surgery in this part of the brain can be dangerous. We worry that any injury to the brain can permanently affect language or movement," Potts said. "By having her awake, we could ask her to read some words." The 27-year-old Lin was clamoring to climb again, and waited only two weeks after surgery to hit the gym — where she ran right into Dr. Potts. "Oh, wait I know this face. Like, oh no. Like I shouldn't, he shouldn't see me here." But Potts said while it may have been a little early, "If anything, it was great to see her doing so well." Lin's seizures are now under control, and the right side of her body is back in action. "Like a superhero movie moment," she said. "I felt like, oh, I have my strength back."
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Travel + Leisure
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Travel + Leisure
I've Been Rock Climbing for More Than a Decade—These Are the 15 Essentials I Trust With My Life, From $9
Rock climbing has been around for centuries. In the sport's early days, athletes wore boots and carried natural fiber ropes that were heavy and prone to breaking. Through the years, climbers began adopting devices like pitons that could be hammered into cracks and used to prevent lethal falls. They then traded boots for lightweight shoes with sticky rubber, and eventually, they learned how to make the sport safer and more efficient. These advances have made climbing some of the world's most remote and difficult routes much easier. Climbing equipment continues to evolve, but several pieces of gear should be a part of every climber's system for safe treks. I've been rock climbing for over a decade, tackling everything from indoor gym routes to Yosemite's granite peaks. This is the gear I trust with my life, including lightweight rock climbing shoes, abrasion-resistant pants, and versatile belay devices—starting at just $9. There's a common misconception amongst climbers that says you have to cram your feet into ill-fitting, super-tight shoes to tackle a route, but the La Sportiva TC Pro shoes disprove this theory. These are my go-to climbing shoes for just about everything because they're comfortable, sticky, and durable. While they perform best on slabby routes, some of the top athletes have used these shoes on historical ascents of El Capitan, demonstrating their versatility. When I'm looking for a slightly more aggressive shoe, I might trade my TC Pros in for the Scarpa Generator Mid, which is Scarpa's version of the TC Pro. But my day-to-day climbing shoe is definitely the TC Pro. Most climbers default to wearing an approach shoe like the La Sportiva TX3 when they're not wearing climbing shoes. But as a lifelong runner, I usually opt for my Altra Lone Peak shoes instead. The Altra Lone Peaks are designed with a wide toe box and a zero-drop style to provide your feet with a barefoot feel. I especially appreciate the ample interior space, as it allows me to use my custom orthotics instead of the manufacturer's insoles. These shoes keep me comfortable all day, even when rock hopping and scrambling to get to the crag. Climbing is hard on your clothing—a standard pair of leggings or jogging pants can be easily torn by the sharp edges of the rocks. Some of the best climbers in the world wear jeans to avoid this issue. I prefer the La Sportiva Mantra Pant for the same reason. These pants are made of a four-way stretch material that supports dynamic movement. The material is a hefty 94 percent recycled polyamide and six percent elastane, making it durable and long-lasting. The ankles have an elastic closure to prevent the fabric from getting in your way while moving. I've had a pair of these pants for years, and they hardly show any signs of wear. The best climbing gear is versatile in function, like the Petzl Grigri belay device. This little tool appears unassuming, but it can be used for standard belaying, self-rescue, and pulley systems, which makes it a must-have tool in a pinch. As a standard belay device, the Grigri is a great option for beginners since it provides you with assisted braking. The three-to-one mechanical advantage is also a loveable feature since it makes it easier to lower the climber. Over the past decade, I've tested dozens of chalks. You'd think that chalk is just calcium carbonate, and every version would be the same. Oddly, however, I've found a nuance from brand to brand. The 8BPlus Powdered Chalk is one of my favorite options because it's soft to the touch, applies evenly to your hands, and adheres nicely (which seems to reduce the number of applications). While it's a chalk type less commonly found in climbing shops and gear stores, its cost-to-functionality ratio makes it worth the purchase. It's pretty easy to find a high-quality chalk bag that keeps everything contained, but I'm a big fan of the Cotopaxi Halcon pick for a few different reasons. This chalk bag has a wired mouth that makes it easy to get your hand inside mid-climb, plus it's colorful, and comes with a large zippered pocket on the back that's big enough to fit your phone. While those reasons alone are enough to win me over, it also comes with a brush holder, which is handy on polished routes. $80 at Dicks Sporting Goods $100 at The first time I bought a climbing helmet, I opted for the cheapest option (which happened to be the heaviest and silliest-looking helmet available). As my missions became longer and more physically demanding, I realized that lightweight gear, like the Mammut Crag Sender Helmet, can significantly cut your pack weight. This helmet weighs about half a pound, yet it comes with the CE EN 12492 certification, which means it adheres to Europe's safety standards for mountaineering helmets by protecting you from impacts and penetration. It also comes with great retention strength, meaning the strap will keep it on your head in the event of a fall. I've taken this helmet to Yosemite and the Rocky Mountains, where it blended comfort with functionality. Wool is one of the best activewear materials on the market because of its sustainability, function, and comfort. Another reason why I can't get enough of it is because of its antimicrobial properties. After several days without a wash, the Smartwool Perfect Tee always feels fresh, which is extremely nice when you're outdoors climbing for days at a time. This T-shirt also excels in the realm of durability, which is always a concern while I'm climbing. In fact, the 50 percent merino and 50 percent cotton blend makes it tough and built to last, even while sliding across sharp and gnarly rocks. It can be overwhelming to navigate the harness aisle in your local gear store. Harnesses come in so many different styles and sizes, but the truth is that an entry-level harness like the C.A.M.P. Energy CR3 harness is great for gym climbing and most single-pitch routes around the country. Plus, it's significantly cheaper than some of the other harness options. This harness has been my go-to for most climbs for many years. Then, when I need extra padding for multi-pitch, alpine routes and projects, I opt for a harness like the Black Diamond Long Haul Harness. But the C.A.M.P. Energy CR3 does the trick for most entry-level climbs. I rolled my eyes the first time I saw someone bring a Crazy Creek Original Chair to the crag. There were plenty of rocks and logs I could sit on while I belayed—why did I need a chair? But as the day wore on, I found myself yearning for some back support and a dry surface. That day, I got myself a Crazy Creek, and now I take it everywhere. It's compact, versatile, and light enough to bring on basic climbing adventures. The Black Diamond ATC Guide is one of the lightest belay devices available. It's easy to learn, and the guide function makes it a good device to carry in alpine environments. It's also my go-to rappelling device. Most climbers carry the Petzl Grigri and the Black Diamond ATC Guide because these belay devices have strengths that the other device lacks. The ATC Guide also comes at a more affordable price point, which is one reason new climbers prefer it to the Grigri. Sun exposure can be really intense during a long day of climbing. While attentive sunscreen application can protect your skin, I prefer to wear the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie as an added layer of protection due to its UPF 50+ rating. This system served me extremely well on my first trip to Yosemite Valley, where I spent more than 12 hours in the blazing sun every day. The fabric was light and airy, yet capable of blocking out harmful UV rays no matter what I was doing. This sun hoodie is mostly made out of polyester. In situations where I expect the temperature to fluctuate a lot, I'll grab a wool version of it, like the Minus 33 Micro Weight Woolverino. Otherwise, I love the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie for its lightweight, comfortable design. I'm extra analytical—I like to record my sports data to monitor the ebbs and flows in my energy levels, and sometimes, I use this strategy to optimize my training strategies. The Coros Apex 2 provides super accurate heart rate tracking, VO2 max measurements, a GPS, and an altimeter to keep me on track no matter where I am. While it's really designed to be a trail-running watch, I've found its climbing data to be extremely helpful both indoors and outdoors. $239 $168 at REI $239 $167 at I've tested dozens of jackets over the past decade, and none has outperformed the Patagonia Nano Puff. This is the puffer I packed while I backpacked the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail, and the same jacket lives in my crag bag 10 years later. The recycled polyester materials are extremely tough, and the warmth-to-weight ratio is unbeatable. In fact, it's built with synthetic insulation, which means that it'll continue to keep you warm even when it's wet, unlike down alternatives. My sister burst into laughter when I told her I don't insure my cell phone. At the time, I was preparing for a trip to Yosemite Valley, where I knew I'd be hanging off El Cap with nothing but 2,000 feet of air beneath me. But I've been using the Otterbox Lifeproof Fre case for years to create added protection, and I'm really careful with my gadgets while I'm on multi-pitch routes way up in the air. The Otterbox protects my phone from dust, snow, rain, and some amount of shock (although I wouldn't dare drop it off a climbing route). These features have come in handy when the weather took a turn for the worse or I accidentally scraped my phone against something sharp and unpleasant. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
