Weekend Whipper: My First Trad Fall
Unlock this article and more benefits with 50% off.
Already have an Outside Account? Sign in
40% Off Outside+.
$4.99/month $2.99/month*
Get the one subscription to fuel all your adventures.
- Map your next adventure with our premium GPS apps: Gaia GPS Premium and Trailforks Pro.
- Read unlimited digital content from 15+ brands, including Outside Magazine, Triathlete, Ski, Trail Runner, and VeloNews.
- Watch 600+ hours of endurance challenges, cycling and skiing action, and travel documentaries.
- Learn from the pros with expert-led online courses.
*Outside memberships are billed annually. Print subscriptions available to U.S. residents only. You may cancel your membership at anytime, but no refunds will be issued for payments already made. Upon cancellation, you will have access to your membership through the end of your paid year. More Details
Kevin Mertz drops off Davidson’s Dihedral (5.11+) at Paradise Forks in northern Arizona and goes for a stutter-stop, gear-ripping fall.
“I placed two red C3s (#1s) to set up for the crux,” Mertz writes, “but I placed them poorly in a flared section.” Both cams blew but a 0.3 C4, and solid
belay, caught his fall. “It was a wild ride,” Mertz writes.
Happy Friday and stay safe out there this weekend.
Video submitted by Kevin Mertz. Be like Kevin. Submit your whippers!