Too Old to Die Young: Inside the Secretive Cold War Climbing Scene, and Russ Clune’s Blueprint for Performing at 66

What happens when a life in climbing spans five decades, multiple eras, and some of the most surprising moments in outdoor history?

In this episode, legendary climber Russ Clune takes us inside the world that shaped him: the Shawangunks (“the Gunks”) of the 1970s and 80s — an unlikely counterculture just two hours from Manhattan where artists, dirtbags, misfits, and pioneers built the early soul of American climbing.

Russ shares rare, behind-the-scenes stories from his incredible career, including:

• Competing in a government-run climbing event in Cold War Russia
Painted red lines on limestone cliffs, leather-gloved belayers, Soviet stadium crowds, and a Wyoming cowboy becoming a national hero overnight.
It’s a chapter of climbing history almost no one has heard.

• The quiet era of “competitive free soloing” in the Gunks
Russ recounts the friendly, unspoken one-upmanship among friends that culminated in his iconic solo of Supercrack.
A moment that revealed both the power and limits of the mind — and marked the end of his soloing career.

• What longevity really looks like at 66
Not superhuman strength — but consistency, humility, curiosity, and the ability to redefine performance as the decades unfold.

• How to stay connected to your sport when your body changes
Russ talks openly about becoming the belay anchor instead of the rope gun, and why aging in climbing can feel meaningful in its own way.

📘 Russ’s Book: The Lifer

We talk about his excellent memoir, The Lifer, which chronicles his adventures across the Gunks, Yosemite, Europe, South America, and beyond.
It’s full of laughter, history, and insight — a must-read for anyone who loves climbing or stories of a life lived with passion.

👉 Highly recommended: search “Russ Clune The Lifer” wherever you buy books.

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