Larry Bleiberg, Special to USA TODAY
Published 8:00 a.m. ET Oct. 17, 2020
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Matthew Philips, 18, was born without a right arm but that hasn’t stopped him climbing some of the trickiest mountains.
USA TODAY
Rock climbing, one of the country’s fastest growing sports, not only builds physical strength and mental focus, but also can lead you to some beautiful places, says Chris Santella, author of “Fifty Places To Rock Climb Before You Die” (Abrams Image, $24.99).
With the increasing popularity of climbing gyms and the addition of climbing to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, interest is booming.
He shares some favorite U.S. climbing spots that are welcome newer climbers with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Horse Pens 40, Steele, Alabama
Horse Pens 40 in Steele, Alabama, is one of the top spots in the country for bouldering, a style of climbing done without ropes or harnesses. (Photo: Jim Thornberg)
These natural rock shelters in the Appalachian foothills are renowned for their bouldering, a type of rock climbing without ropes and harnesses. “It’s one of the top bouldering spots in the United States, a very unique little ecosystem there,” Santella says. Located about an hour north of…
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