What Rock and Ice does

Rock and Ice is a private climbing media publication headquartered in Carbondale, Colorado, United States, founded in 1984/1985 with 11–50 employees. The firm produces editorial content covering bouldering, sport climbing, traditional climbing, and alpine climbing, distributed primarily through its climbing.com website and active social channels on Facebook and Instagram. Its flagship product line also includes structured training content such as The Training Bible (a one-year periodized training plan) and video series including the Weekend Whipper franchise.

The company operates within the Outside Inc. media network, a portfolio of 15+ outdoor publications and companion applications owned by Active Interest Media. Rock and Ice's content is surfaced through the Outside mobile app, and subscribers gain access to Outside TV (a streaming platform with 600+ hours of climbing films) and integrated outdoor navigation tools including Gaia GPS and Trailforks. Its revenue model is dual-track: (1) display and promotional advertising on its owned digital properties, and (2) recurring subscription revenue via the Outside+ membership program, which offers exclusive content, training plans, and a 20% introductory discount to new members. Pricing is consumer-direct, monthly billing cadence, with no disclosed enterprise or B2B contracts.

The underlying technology is a digital publishing platform paired with companion mobile applications distributed via the Outside app ecosystem. No proprietary technology stack, APIs, AI/ML capabilities, patents, or research and development function are disclosed in the source data. The company has no disclosed management team, funding history, M&A activity, or geographic operational footprint beyond global content distribution through web and mobile channels.

Name

Rock and Ice

Legal name

Active Interest Media (Climbing Magazine)

Website

https://rockandice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rock and Ice is a private climbing magazine and digital media publisher based in Carbondale, Colorado, producing editorial, training, and video content for outdoor climbing enthusiasts across bouldering, sport, trad, and alpine disciplines within the Outside Inc. network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Carbondale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Subscription/Membership Revenue: Outside+ membership subscription providing exclusive content, thousands of training plans, and 20% discount offer to subscribers
2. Advertising: Display advertising and promotional content on the website and digital platforms

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rock and Ice is a climbing publication covering bouldering, sport climbing, traditional climbing, and alpine climbing disciplines. The publication distributes news, gear reviews, culture features, technique/training guides, travel destination coverage, and video content (including the Weekend Whipper series) through its website and mobile applications, monetized via display advertising and the Outside+ paid membership program.

Product overview

Climbing Magazine is a climbing publication offering content across multiple climbing disciplines. The product portfolio includes the core magazine website featuring news, gear, culture, skills, training, longform articles, and video content. The publication also offers an Outside+ membership program that provides exclusive content and training plans as a premium add-on tier.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climbing Magazine (core publication) A climbing publication (website climbing.com) that delivers editorial content covering bouldering, sport climbing, traditional climbing, and alpine climbing — including news, gear reviews, culture, skills/techniques, training plans, travel destinations, and video series such as Weekend Whipper. Targeted at individual climbing enthusiasts.
• Outside+ Membership Paid monthly membership offering subscribers exclusive climbing and outdoor content, thousands of training plans, and promotional offers (e.g., 20% discount for new subscribers). Operates as the premium content tier across the Outside media network.
• Outside App (mobile) Mobile application bundling 15+ outdoor publications — including Climbing Magazine — under a single Outside+ experience for iOS and Android readers.
• Weekend Whipper video series Recurring editorial video series featuring climbing falls, fails, and notable ascents, distributed on the publication's website and across Outside TV.
• Outside TV App Streaming platform with 600+ hours of ad-free climbing films and series, integrated within the Outside media ecosystem and accessible to Outside+ subscribers.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Gaia GPScoreTechnology or IntegrationGaia GPS app is featured in the Outside Apps section, providing topographic maps for outdoor navigation and route planning for climbing activities.
• TrailforkscoreTechnology or IntegrationTrailforks app is featured in the Outside Apps section, offering trail discovery and navigation for outdoor enthusiasts including climbing areas.
• Outside TVcoreTechnology or IntegrationOutside TV app provides streaming access to 600+ hours of ad-free films and series, integrated within the Outside media ecosystem.
• Outside Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimbing Magazine is powered by Outside Inc., part of a network of 15+ outdoor publications including Outside, Gaia GPS, Trailforks, and Outside TV.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alpinist Magazine: Independent climbing magazine focused on alpinism and mountaineering; competes in the same climbing media vertical with an emphasis on long-form storytelling and traditional climbing coverage.
• Climbing Magazine: The leading US climbing magazine (founded 1970), also part of the Outside Inc. network; directly competes for the same climbing audience with similar editorial coverage, training content, and gear reviews.

Broad incumbents

• Trail Runner Magazine: Specialized running publication within the Outside network; adjacent outdoor endurance vertical with a similar editorial and subscription monetization approach.
• Outside Magazine: The flagship publication of the Outside Inc. network covering all outdoor activities; broader outdoor coverage that overlaps with climbing but extends to hiking, cycling, skiing, and adventure travel.
• Backpacker Magazine: Major US outdoor publication focused on backpacking and hiking; sister publication within the Outside network that overlaps on gear reviews, destinations, and outdoor culture.
• Ski Magazine: Sister publication under Outside Inc. focused on ski resort reviews, gear, and travel; overlaps on winter and mountain adventure content and audience.

Emerging players

• Adventure Journal: Independent digital outdoor media outlet with longform adventure storytelling; competes for premium outdoor audience attention with a niche editorial positioning.
• UKClimbing.com: Leading UK climbing media platform with news, gear reviews, and community forums; emerging digital-first player in climbing media with comparable content scope.

Regional players

• Mountain Magazine (UK): UK-based climbing and mountaineering magazine; comparable editorial scope to Rock and Ice but primarily serves the British climbing community.
• Gripped Magazine: Canadian climbing magazine covering sport, trad, bouldering, and alpine climbing; comparable in editorial scope to Rock and Ice but primarily serves the Canadian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rockandice
• Instagraminstagram.com/climbingmagazine
• Xx.com/rockandice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rock and Ice