Portable: A Mystery in Three Parts

Portable: A Mystery in Three Parts

From The Dirtbag Diaries by Duct Tape Then Beer

April 17, 2026 · 1h 12m

About this episode

The episode explores the journey of a famous boulder that went missing and the efforts to bring it back home.

It wasn't just any piece of rock. Portable may be the world's most famous boulder. Parlor trick, mascot, right of passage -- call it what you want, but this toaster-size piece of granite nestled in the lush forest of Squamish is a beloved fixture of the Canadian climbing scene. Then it went missing. When Portable turned up in the California desert, professional climber Ethan Salvo knew he had to get Portable home. He just didn't know what he'd be up against. Support comes from Kuat Racks Oboz Darn Tough Free shipping on any order with code DIRTBAG Ka’Chava Go to https://kachava.com and use code DIARIES for 15% off your next order. Diaries+ Members-- Their support is powering the Diaries- thank you! You can join today. Our book, States of Adventure, 30 stories adapted from The Diaries, is out in the wild. See if it's available on your local shelves or order it here: geni.us/StatesofAdventure

People in this episode

Host: Duct Tape Then Beer

Guest: Ethan Salvo

Topics covered

  • climbing
  • mystery
  • adventure
  • outdoor sports
  • community
  • travel

Keywords

  • boulder
  • climbing
  • Squamish
  • Ethan Salvo
  • adventure
  • mystery
  • outdoor sports

Sponsors

Kuat Racks, Oboz, Darn Tough, Ka’Chava

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: States of Adventure

Places: Squamish, California

More episodes of The Dirtbag Diaries

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Dirtbag Diaries podcast page.