BE ACTIVE
Climbing is awesome. You know that.
It challenges us personally, builds mind and body fitness, and brings us into a community. These are among the reasons we climb.
With the growing popularity of climbing, addressing access and conservation is critical to preserve this activity for ourselves and the next generation. At KinetiK we are dedicated to supporting these efforts.
We all appreciate our wild outdoor climbing spaces, they are here to share. Working to reduce our impacts is the only way to preserve them into the future. When you go climbing, make sure you’re aware of the local ethics and issues. Follow closures, stay on the trail, pick up your trash, and be respectful to all other users of these places. If we can all do that, our grandkids will be able to experience the awesomeness of climbing just like we have.
Education
As you spread the stoke and good vibes of climbing, be an “upstander” not a bystander. That means realizing how you can help guide ethical and positive actions through our community. Learn local ethics, and foremost lead by example. New climbers look to you as a mentor, and you have the opportunity to teach them crag ethics, safety techniques, and community support. This way everyone gets to enjoy the benefits of climbing in a safe space..
Cooperation
As we collectively face the challenges of today, it’s more important than ever to build bridges between communities and climbers. That means working to mitigate our impacts and educate new climbers. But more than that, it also means being a positive force when interacting with each other and the general public. Climbers don’t exist in a vacuum, we practice our art in places that are often shared with many other user groups. Acting as respectful participants in the greater community is the future we need.
Protecting America's Climbing
In the US there is no greater advocate of our outdoor climbing areas than Access Fund. For over 20 years, their efforts have saved many areas from being closed to climbing. They work with land managers, and even provide loans to local groups to purchase crags. They actively maintain areas through trail projects, supporting local groups, and educating climbers about ethics and low impact practices. That’s why we donate to Access Fund every year. We encourage you to become a member, donate, and volunteer to help preserve climbing access.
Stay Connected to your Roots
Where you came from matters – the people, places and communities. For us at KinetiK, Southern Illinois was our birthplace. It was where we created our first crashpads and where we fell in love with climbing. So we stay committed to those roots. The Illinois Climbing Association has long been the backbone for maintaining and expanding climbing access to these areas. They have worked to purchase land, lead re-bolting projects, and drive crag cleanup efforts. Climbing at the Holy Boulders, and now House Boulders, is possible because of ICA efforts and that is why we donate to their fundraisers. We encourage you to support them whether you are a local or aspire to visit someday.
Keeping It Local
Love where you live, and give back to local areas. The Colorado Front Range is that place for KinetiK. There is a lifetime of climbing with easy access, and that drives tons of climber traffic from locals and visitors alike. So we support the Boulder Climbing Community. They work across the region to build trails, replace anchors, manage human waste and more. Join a BCC trailday, it will give you an appreciation for the incredibly hard work that goes into those trails we all take for granted. Grab one of their free poop bags (and use it). Please become a member, donate, and support BCC or your local organization.
