Climbers Descend on Lander, WY
The 17th annual International Climbers Festival brought hundreds of rock-crushing climbers to Lander, Wyoming, where they attended slideshows, climbing clinics, movie showings, and competitions. Check out some videos and photos from this year’s festivities.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
The opening party drew in hundreds of local and visiting climbers to listen to live music and sip micro-brews from Lander’s own Cowfish Bar and Grill. Popular climbing movies were projected onto an outside wall while male and female climbers competed in a pull-up contest. Participants ranged in age from eight to mid-forties, the winner did 39 pull-ups.
With a full-priced ticket, participants in the festival were able to attend presentations by professional climbers, like out-of-this-world high-ball boulderer Jason Kehl, and sign up for tons of climbing clinics designed for all ages and skill levels.
The crate stacking competition is always a festival favorite. Check out this cool video made by climber Brian Fabel about what it takes to rope up and give it a go. Participants stacked milk crates on top of each other to see how high they could go. The higher they got, the more the tower swayed.
Saturday of the festival was full of tons of activities and events. The day started off with 5K, 10K, and 21K races at Wild Iris, followed by yoga and breakfast. Folks then split off into small groups for a day of climbing clinics. Clinics were open to anyone with a ticket and ranged from a run down of beginning climbing techniques to how to send 5.12’s.
Climbing companies from around the country descended on Lander City Park to show off their new gear for the coming season and spread the climbing buzz. Festival-goers could try on brand spanking’ new climbing shoes, listen to live music, and participate in tons of climbing competitions like a bat hang and rope toss.
Saturday culminated with a street party sponsored by New Belgium beer and Bomber Holds. Everyone gathered in the park to watch ballsy climbers take on the dyno competition. A dyno is where a climber must jump, removing all contact points to the wall, in order to reach the next hold above them. The climbing demonstrations by all the dyno competition participants were amazing. Professional climber Jason Kehl was called upon to set more dyno problems because the competitors burned through all of them one by one. The dyno-ing, combined with great beer and quality bluegrass music made the night a huge success.
Check out a video of the whole event made by NOLS’ (a title sponsor) videographer, Kyle Duba.