AAC-PNW

Rockfest 2013 is back in Leavenworth! Saturday, June 15th 2013 Come join us in Leavenworth for the fourteenth annual Rockfest climbing festival. Festival participants can enjoy camping at Gibbs Organic Farm Saturday night after climbing during the day or taking one of the clinics led by guides from the Northwest Mountain School. John Frieh joins us from Portland to present a show on some of his latest trips in the Alaska range. He is the winner of numerous AAC climbing grants, has a string of modern first ascents and has perfected ‘smash and grab’ climbing. $15 for AAC members / $25 general public Festival admission includes: - camping Saturday night at Gibbs Farm (site of the Bikes and Brews festival) - BBQ dinner Saturday night sponsored by Black Diamond and Petzl - John Frieh Slideshow - one ticket for the world famous Rockfest Raffle - Sunday morning breakfast sponsored by Mountain Gear Clinics are $35 per person and will be held all day at Peshastin Pinnacles State Park starting at 9am. Meet at the picnic tables next to the parking lot. - Beginning Climbing - Off-width crack climbing - Efficient descent / managing multiple rappels - Gear anchors and multi-pitch belay stations - Self-rescue and belay escapes Sign up and [/url] register for Rockfest and clinics at: Brownpaper Tickets http://rockfest2013.brownpapertickets.com/ Presented by the American Alpine Club. With much support from The Alta Group, Black Diamond, Northwest Mountain School and Mountain Gear.

We're just a couple of days away from this great event. We have a bunch of great donations for our silent auction, and we'll be hanging out at the Randonee rally the next day. Come on out for a great weekend!

Buy Tickets Here! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/357313 Buy Tickets Here! Brownpaper Tickets [/url] Brown Paper Tickets

At Backcountry Essentials in Bellingham Change in the Himalayas and the American Climber Science Program - Dr. John All Dr. All will be discussing a year spent in Nepal and Tibet teaching and doing research as part of the American Climber Science Program. He walked over 750 miles and climbed over 50 vertical miles in elevation - usually accompanied by Nepali students. He climbed Mt. Everest via the North Col / Northeast Ridge and numerous smaller mountains while working in the Himalayas and will be presenting images of research, and of the Mt. Everest climb. The ACSP team investigated vegetation and biodiversity conditions for ecological and remote sensing studies by gathering 'ground truth' data to compare to satellite images. Analysis of this data is widely shared for building practical models that can help planners and educators devise ways to deal with diminishing supply and quality of water, and altered seasonal patters for agriculture, grazing, and other ecological services. Backcountry Essentials

Environmental Change in the Mountains of the World and the American Climber Science Programs - Dr. John All Socialize over a drink and learn how you can help preserve mountain environments. Dr. John All, Director of the AAC's American Climber Science Program, will be sharing information about the ASCP which conducts conservation research in the high mountains of the world. John will be discussing high-altitude science efforts in the mountains of Tibet, Nepal, Alaskan Rockies and the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. Join us to learn how you can work with the AAC and ACSP in the Cordillera Blanca this summer to help the people of Peru cope with a rapidly changing mountain environment and an ever-shrinking water supply due to climate change.

I asked the CAMP guys for a copy of the waiver to fill out and will email to everyone who's pre-registered. In the meantime, the rules and format got released for the comp! This will be a fun one

Athlete Profile: Rob Pizem - Learn crack climbing with The Piz at his clinic: Rob on Crack. http://www.camp-usa.com/from-the-field/athletes/rob-pizem.asp Accomplishments: - Arcturus 5.13+ Half Dome, Yosemite National Park (first free ascent) - Army of Darkness 5.13+ Moab desert roof crack (first free ascent) - Logical Progression 5.13 Copper Canyon, Mexico (first free ascent) - Thunderbird 5.13 Zion National Park (first free ascent) - Back to the Earth 5.13+ Mt. Evans, Colorado (first free ascent) - West Side Story 5.12R Fisher Towers, Utah (first free ascent) Sponsors: CAMP, Arcteryx, Scarpa, Sterling

Craggin' Classic: Crimpfest September 14th - 16th Featuring the Reel Rock Film Tour and the Camp Technical Equipment Ten Hour Crushfest! Join the American Alpine Club at our first Craggin' Classic at Smith Rock, co-hosted with our friends at Redpoint Climbers Supply. We'll be premiering the 2012 Reel Rock Film and enjoying meals sponsored by SRCFC and the Mazamas. Join us for the registration happy hour sponsored by Boreal on Friday evening. Logan Carr and Boreal will give climbers a tour of some of the most historically significant climbs in the park on Saturday. We'll publish a list and schedule of those climbs for you to watch. Festival participants can give Boreal's new shoes and Logan will be leaving the rope up for you to give it a shot. You've seen the beta, so it should be easy...right? CAMP USA equipment is also presenting the Ten Hour Crushfest The 2013 Smith Rock Crimpfest Comp. Compete with your partner in one of six categories (elite and rec men's, women's and co-ed) for prizes up to $700 in cash/$200 in gear! Sign up that weekend, but start looking for your partner now. Schedule: ------------------------------------------------------ Friday: 5 - 9 PM - Happy hour / Registration at The Depot ------------------------------------------------------ Saturday: 7 AM - Breakfast sponsored by Solid Rock Climbers for Christ ~Logan Carr/Boreal Tour of the Park 8AM - First Ascent Climbing Guides' Clinics: ~ Rob on Crack: Trad Techniques and Training with The Piz ~ Paige Claassen: Sport Climbing for Women ~ Glenn Griscom: Aid Climbing technique and Self-Rescue 5-10PM: Dinner / Raffle and Auction / Reel Rock / Party! - Saturday Night at the Depot ------------------------------------------------------ Sunday: 7 AM: Breakfast / Stewardship Day - Sunday morning 5AM - 3PM: CAMP USA Crushfest! 3:30 PM: Awards Ceremony ------------------------------------------------------ Buy a festival pass here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/267097 For more information and the complete schedule: http://www.americanalpineclub.org/p/craggin-classic#smithrock

You can buy tickets there, but it'll be a lot quicker if you get them in advance. Buy tickets here! BTW: the donations for the raffle are outstanding this year! Thanks for the support Petzl, Black Diamond, Vertical Girl, Five-Ten, Salewa, Feathered Friends, Rab, Mammut and Hilleberg! And thanks to the North Cascades Mountain Guides for their help with the clinics.

Sunday, June 24th at the Redmond Vertical World http://chapters.americanalpineclub.org/cascade/2012/06/14/blake-herrington-slideshow-frigid-first-ascents/

Unfortunately we outgrew the campground there, but we have a much nicer space out in Mazama. Sorry you won't be able to make it next weekend. $20 bucks for 3 nights of camping and a couple of great meals is still a pretty good deal, especially since we're raising money for the Vantage toilet

Just released Meeting about the temporary climbing closure of Deception Crag Wall set for June 12 OLYMPIA – May 31, 2012 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U.S. Forest Service invite the public to a meeting about the recent temporary climbing closure of Deception Crag Wall in North Bend. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 12, at the U.S. Forest Service in North Bend, 902 S.E. North Bend Way. State Parks, WDFW and Forest Service staff will be on hand to provide information about specific areas affected by the closure and the process that led to the decision to close climbing activities at Deception Crag Wall. For more information about the meeting, contact the Forest Service at (425) 888-8775. The popular rock wall on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains was closed in April to climbing activities after the discovery of a peregrine falcon nest. According to Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest wildlife biologist, Sonny Paz, the wall is expected to reopen at the end of June when the nestlings fledge or leave the nest. State Parks and the Forest Service are working closely with WDFW to protect the falcon’s nest through breeding season. Peregrine falcons are designated as a sensitive species, which requires the Forest Service to monitor the bird and protect its breeding habitat. The birds may be seen flying around the nest at nearby Olallie State Park. Deception Crag Wall is a U.S. Forest Service property accessed through Iron Horse Trail State Park and near Olallie State Park. The area is co-managed by State Parks and the Forest Service. For more information about the U.S. Forest Service, visit www.fs.usda.gov.

Hey All - I just posted some pics of some of the work completed thus far at Vantage. This joint project with the WCC, AAC and the Mountaineers is underway (thanks in large part to the Frenchman Coulee Climbers Coalition for providing some seed money). We've had a few successful events already at the Mountaineers, Feathered Friends and Edgeworks, and we'd love to keep the momentum up! http://chapters.americanalpineclub.org/cascade/2012/05/30/building-a-toilet-at-vantage/ (soil assessment for potential septic field)

[font:Arial Black]Just Announced: Joining us this year is Jason Kruk![/font] http://blog.jasonkruk.net/

Night after tomorrow! I just previewed the cut for the film they featured at the 5Point Film Festival and it is outstanding! Hang out with Steve Swenson and MC Fitz Cahall at 6pm before the showing, then join for a Q&A after the movie. We're raising funds for the WCC and the Vantage Toilet - we've gone farther than any effort thus far. We'll have a short presentation Thursday night as well outlining the project.

Rockfest 2012 is here! June 23rd – 24th Mazama, WA A fundraiser for the Washington Climbers Coalition Rockfest Tickets BUY TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE We’re back in Mazama for this unique climbing event in the Pacific Northwest and we’re happy to celebrate the opening of the climbing season in Washington. All the funds raised by this event will be for the Washington Climbers Coalition Vantage toilet project. Event registration includes three nights of camping (Fri-Sun night) at Goat Wall View, breakfast Sunday morning and the climber’s BBQ and slideshow on Saturday night. Rooms in the main house are available at the site for an additional charge, please inquire. There will be two clinic sessions on Saturday; bring your own gear. Clinics are an additional $15 / person - sign up by contacting North Cascades Mountain Guides . Saturday, June 23rd Morning Session (8-12 pm) Beginning Gear Anchors Multi-Pitch Gear Anchors: Belay Transitions Self – Rescue Beginning Climbing Afternoon Sessions (12:15 – 4:15 pm) Beginning Gear Anchors Multi-Pitch Gear Anchors: Belay Transitions Self – Rescue Intro to Leading Sunday, June 24th Join us for a service project in the morning to help maintain the local climbing area, then go use your newly learned skills climbing in the afternoon.

REI Pinnacle or the Tooth? Depends... This is the first year of this particular grant and the idea is driven by the AAC's mission to get back to serving the local climber. Each region around the country has their own grant money to award folks who demonstrate vision and a compelling enough story to receive awards from $300 to $500 in order to make it happen.

Always wanted to explore a new crag or check off something from your bucket list, but just couldn't find a way to get the scratch together? We know many times getting a trip funded is the hardest part. For the climbers who aren't independently wealthy or sponsored...this grant is for you. Anyone can apply; you don't have to be an AAC member to submit one. Deadline is May 1st - get your applications in now! http://www.americanalpineclub.org/news/northwest-live-your-dream-grants-deadline-may-1/

Tickets now available online. Get yours before they sell out! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/245482

(trailer) Saser Kangri II stood as the second highest unclimbed peak in the world until August of 2011 when Steve Swenson, Mark Richey and Freddie Wilkinson completed the first ascent. This Piolet D’or Award winning climb is the subject of the film (shown for the first time at the AAC’s Annual Dinner in Boston) and is now premiering on the west coast. Join Steve Swenson before and after the film for questions and socializing at the Mountaineers Program Center. This event is a fundraiser for the Vantage permanent toilet project. As the climbing area has gotten more and more popular the impacts on the land are readily apparent. The WCC has been funding temporary toilets for the last few season, but this is just a stop-gap for a real solution. The American Alpine Club, The Mountaineers and the WCC are joining forces on this very important project and we hope you will support us.

This is tonight! See ya'll there.

We're expecting over 100 folks at the dinner Thursday night, and we have over $1500 dollars in donated items to bid on in our silent auction (thanks sponsors!). We're trying to get an accurate headcount, and it's not too late to buy tickets at Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/220696 See you there!

Huxley College of the Environment, Bellingham Friday, February 17 3PM Dr. All, will be speaking and showing slides about his experiences in the mountains of the world and his current projects in Peru. He has been working for several years to develop environmental science expeditions to indicator mountain ranges such as the Everest region and the tropical Andes in Peru. He is working with the American Alpine Club’s Climber Science Program to build field techniques, a knowledge base, and education tools needed for long-term scientific work in the world’s mountains. He will be talking about his ongoing project in the Cordillera Blanca. This range is a magnet for American climbers with over 33 peaks higher than 6000 meters and hundreds of 5000+ meter peaks. His team has already conducted a successful expedition in 2011 that gathered extensive useful data at high elevations. They took samples for key environmental indicators including CO2 concentrations, black carbon, and heavy metal deposition on the glaciers. At lower elevations, CSP-Peru team members are investigating water quality as well as vegetation and biodiversity conditions for future ecological and remote sensing studies by gathering ‘ground truth’ data to compare to satellite images. Dr. All is recruiting possible team members with scientific interest and mountaineering experience. Dr. All has 24 peer-reviewed publications and he worked with the UN for 6 years as a Program Officer for the Climate Change and Human Health Initiative. He is a scientist, a climber, and a lawyer who studies how climate change and resource management interact to impact the biosphere - primarily in mountainous regions. He recently spent a year in Nepal teaching and doing research while walking over 750 miles and climbing over 50 vertical miles in elevation, usually with Nepali students in tow. He has climbed Mt. Everest (via the North Col/Northeast Ridge), as well as Denali, Artesonraju, El Capitan, and many other mountains around the world. Currently he is the Chair of the American Alpine Club’s Climber Science Program and the Expedition Director for AAC trips to Peru in 2012 and 2013. [