Catching Up With Savannah Cummins

It's been a few years since we first introduced Savannah Cummins alongside the launch of the Redstone. Since then, she's continued doing what she does best: chasing big objectives, telling meaningful stories through photography, and spending as much time outside as possible. From documenting ambitious projects in faraway places to climbing and exploring closer to home, the last few years have taken her behind the lens, up big walls, and around the world. We asked Savannah to send over a few photos from life lately and catch us up on where she's been, what she's been working on, and what's next.

It's been a while since we last caught up. What's been keeping you busy lately?

Well, to start, I just had hopefully my final wrist surgery a few weeks ago. I had my wrist fully fused in 2024, and the hardware they used never quite fit my tiny wrist right. I knew there was a good chance I’d eventually have to get it removed, but after so many wrist surgeries I was definitely trying to avoid another one for as long as possible. I finally hit a breaking point with the pain a few weeks ago and decided it was time to get the metal out.

So lately things have been a little slower than normal for me while I’ve been waiting for my incision to heal, but honestly, the downtime has been much needed. This year has been a full one. I’ve gotten to work on some really fun photo and video projects both close to home and in some pretty incredible places, and when I haven’t been working I’ve mostly been in my garden.

I found gardening a few years ago and it feels kind of cliché to say, but it’s secretly all I want to do in my free time these days. Climbing has been a little complicated the last few years with my wrist, but I’ve still been getting out and finding ways to enjoy it. Gardening became this fun, new challenge and a way to keep learning when my body needed a break from the intensity of climbing. I think it’s given me a similar feeling in a weird way, putting time and energy into something and getting to see the progress. And after years of surgeries and recovery, there’s something pretty rewarding about being able to grow food that helps me feel strong and healthy.

I definitely still love climbing, and I’m really excited to see what it feels like after this recovery. I’m hopeful I can get back to a place where climbing feels a little more natural again and maybe just have a better balance between days on the rock and days digging around in the dirt.

You’ve been through quite a few wrist surgeries over the years. What have those experiences taught you about the mental side of recovery and the process of coming back? 

I had a pretty complicated wrist diagnosis in 2020. The first surgery I had didn’t work as expected, which led to several reconstructive surgeries over the years and eventually ended with a full wrist fusion.

At the time, it felt like a nightmare outcome as both a climber and photographer, two things that very much rely on your hands. The idea of losing all mobility in my wrist was pretty scary, but it’s been a couple of years now and I’ve adapted a lot better than I ever expected.

I think that’s probably the biggest thing it’s taught me. Adapting is a skill, and sometimes it’s a skill you’re forced to learn. Most people probably wouldn’t even notice my wrist is fused if they watched me climbing or working, but then something as simple as waving or shaking someone’s hand can feel awkward and remind me that it’s still very much there.

The scar on my hand has been opened up a lot of times at this point, so it’s pretty gnarly. Sometimes I still feel a little self-conscious about it, but for the most part I’ve tried to embrace it. It’s a reminder that even though things don’t always go the way you hoped, you usually figure out a way forward.

You've traveled to some incredible places over the last few years. Is there a recent trip or project that really stands out?

It’s always a little hard to answer this question because one of the strange parts about the kind of work I do is sometimes you have to wait years before you can actually talk about or share a project. I spent three seasons working on the north side of Everest for a project that started back in 2020 and still isn’t out in the world yet, so keep an eye out for that one. It’s pretty special to be part of a project for that long and watch a story unfold over years instead of days.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, earlier this year I worked as a camera operator for Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 climb for a Netflix live show. I had never worked in live TV before, and it was such a different experience from the long-form expedition projects I’m used to. Months and months of logistics, planning, and preparation all come down to one moment. Then it happens live and it’s done.

We had a lot of weather and logistical challenges leading up to it, but we had a really dialed team and it was pretty special to watch it all come together. It’s wild to see how much climbing has changed over the years, but I feel lucky that I get to help tell these stories and share a sport I love with a bigger audience.

It seems like you’ve been spending a lot of time deep in the production process lately. Is there anything you’ve been particularly excited about or nerding out on behind the scenes?

I started my career as a photographer, and pretty early on a friend encouraged me to learn video because it would make me a lot more versatile. I’m really grateful I listened, but learning motion was definitely a challenge for me.

With photography, you’re trying to capture a single moment, but with video there are so many more pieces that have to come together. Movement, audio, story, timing, and working with an entire team. There’s just a lot more going on.

Over the years I’ve found myself really enjoying shooting motion, maybe even more than stills at times, which I never expected. I think I really like the collaboration that comes with it. Being a photographer can be pretty solo, and there’s something really fun about showing up with a group of people who are all really good at their specific jobs and working together to create something bigger than you could on your own.

I think lately I’ve just been nerding out on the process of how all those pieces come together.

You helped shape the original Redstone. Looking back, what's it been like seeing people carry and use something you had a hand in creating? 

It’s been pretty cool seeing both friends and strangers carrying the Redstone over the years. I definitely can’t take credit for designing the knife, but getting to be a small part of the process and give feedback along the way was a really fun experience.

One of my favorite parts was getting to help choose the original colors. At the time, pink and turquoise felt like a bit of a gamble for a knife. It’s not exactly a color you see a lot in that space, which is probably why I loved it. I’ve always been drawn to things that feel a little different, and it was really cool to see people connect with it.

I’m really stoked on this new colorway too. It feels like a natural evolution from the original, and the colors remind me of the best times to be outside, those quiet moments around sunrise and sunset when the light is changing.

You recently spent some time shooting with Rachael Galipo. Can you tell us where you were and what makes that place special to you? 

Rachael and I met up for some climbing in the City of Rocks in Idaho, or “the City” as most climbers call it. Despite the name, it’s about as far from an actual city as you can get. The closest gas station is over 30 minutes away, which doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re out there it feels pretty remote.

The City has these massive granite formations scattered throughout that almost feel like Joshua Tree, but with more of a quiet, high desert feel surrounded by sagebrush, open space, and rolling hills.

This place is really special to me because it was one of the first places I ever traveled to for climbing when I was brand new to the sport. Somehow I’ve managed to make a trip back almost every year since. This was Rachael’s first time there, so it was really cool getting to share a place that shaped so many of my early climbing memories.

What's currently living in the top of your pack these days? Has anything changed since we first met?

Not much has changed here. Usually a small med kit, my Redstone, chapstick, a lighter, toilet paper, and I try my best to always keep my keys in the top of my pack.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve accidentally left them in my pocket and had them fall out mid rock climb. The Mehlville has been a nice addition because it keeps my keys together and makes them easier to find floating around in my pack, which is exactly where they belong.

You've always found inspiration outside. Where are you hoping your next adventure takes you?

I’ve been really lucky that my work has taken me to some incredible places around the world, and there are still plenty of destinations on my list. But, I’m feeling pretty drawn to the desert these days.

I’ve spent years living part time in southern Utah, and I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s in my own backyard. I’m especially hoping to spend more time exploring the deserts of Arizona as well. There’s so much beautiful landscape so close to home, and right now that sounds just as exciting to me as getting on another international flight.