Our Mission

Friends of Joshua Tree is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical tradition of climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. Friends of Joshua Tree advocates, communicates, and encourages ethical and environmentally sound climbing practices. We work to educate park management and visitors on climbing and climbing-related issues. 

Our Goals

Friends of Joshua Tree (F0JT) works to keep the rock in Joshua Tree National Park open to climbers.

We recognize this depends on the cooperation of rock climbers and land managers. Our goals are to educate all Josh climbers to recognize and limit the impacts of their climbing practices on the environment, and to partner with the park service to create a climbing management plan that best represents climbers’ interests.

Leadership Team

History of FoJT

It was in 1991, under the leadership of Cindie Bransford, along with Bob Gaines, Mark Bowling, and Randy Vogel that Friends of Joshua Tree was organized as likely the first local climber’s advocacy group in the country.

Their mission was as it is today, Friends of Joshua Tree is dedicated to preserving the historical tradition of climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. Friends of Joshua Tree advocates, communicates, and encourages ethical and environmentally sound climbing practices, and works to shape park policy on climbing and climbing-related issues. Toward that end, Friends of Joshua Tree acts as the liaison between the climbing community and the National Park service.

Although there had been a loose group of climbers who had been working with Joshua Tree National Park (Park) on climbing related issues, the impetus for this move to establish a formal advocacy group was a new proposed Park project that would make Park Blvd. (Route 12) through the Park a one way road.

During this period, climbers made up what was arguably one of the largest single user groups, so it’s understandable that the local community was concerned enough to organize as a group and begin talks with the Park. After all, a one-way road meant that local residents, climbers, and even visitors, would be looking at more than a 70-mile round trip from Joshua Tree, even if they just wanted to come as far as Intersection Rock, have lunch, and go back home. Subsequent talks with the Park were successful and the project was scraped.

In 1997 we held our first “Climbers Gathering” which we called “Rock In”. Over the following years, that two-day gathering morphed into a yearly three-day event that we now call Climb Smart. Climb Smart is our way of educating the climbing community to safe and environmentally sound climbing practices with climbing clinics, lectures, and guest speakers.

FoJT also coordinate two days of projects with the Park that have included trash pickups, watering projects for new transplants, trail restoration projects, social trail re-vegetation projects, caulk clean up to mention just a few.

JOSAR – We became an official partner with the Park when we signed our first MOU in 2008, and a renewed MOA in 2016. Because of our Partnership with the Park and our 501(c)(3) status, we have become the official fundraising organization for Joshua Tree Search and Rescue – JOSAR, and Climb Smart became our main fundraising event and a major source of support for JOSAR.

We’ve worked with five Superintendents in our short history, and today we and the climbing community have a very special and positive relationship with the Park, and we’re working to continue that great relationship.

History of Climbing

The sport of climbing and bouldering are examples of changing visitor use at Joshua Tree N.P.  Nationally & internationally known for technical rock climbing the park has started experiencing the pressure of the sports rising popularity. Such as the increases in the number of visitors camping and hiking, the number of people coming to climb has also increased.

With more visitors use comes more impacts to the natural & cultural resources such as an expansion of the number of social trails, destruction of vegetation and disturbing archeological sites. The park is challenged with managing social trails, vegetation trampling and protecting culturally sensitive sites and climber safety. 

Joshua Tree was known as a place to climb by a small  group of pioneer climbers and local search and rescue teams in the 50’s & 60’s. Th e area was virtually unknown as a climbing destination until the first climbers’ guide was published in 1970. It sold out immediately. A 1976 guide book listed 300 routes. The few climbers utilizing the park at the time came mostly during cold weather when other destinations were unclimbable like Yosemite N.P.

The Oral History Of Rock Climbing

As published by Joshua Tree National Park, an oral history of rock climbing project was conducted. Researchers spoke with Joshua Tree Climbers who provided a picture of the park’s rock climbing from the mid-1900s into present day. Topic included free soloing, bolting, and the development of traditional ethics in the park. Overall, the. interviews highlight the historical and cultural significance of recreational rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. To read about the project and the interviews visit www.nps.gov/jotr

Climbing History Project

1% For The Planet Approved

Companies from Patagonia to Cotopaxi to Klean Kanteen and 5000+ others pledge 1% of their topline revenues to give back to worthy organizations who move the needle on sustainable wild lands and waters. FOJT is recognized particularly for:

• Facilitating Nature Access
• For Protecting Terrestrial Ecosystems
• For Facilitating Participatory Management

Learn more about how your company can become a 1% For The Planet member and support FOJT even further at www.onepercentfortheplanet.org.

A note from 1%FTP President Kate Williams:

“Our environmental partners make our mission possible. The incredible dedication, passion and highly impactful work done by our partners each day makes it simple for businesses to support causes that matter. We’re so grateful to have you in the network, and are excited to welcome you into our global community.

Partnerships between businesses and environmental partners create bold and lasting change around the globe. More partners in our network means more chances for connection between value-aligned organizations—and more dollars being driven to projects protecting people and the planet.

1% for the Planet Environmental Partners are highly regarded stewards of land, conservation, education, community and so much more. We created this toolkit to help you take full advantage of your status as an environmental partner and understand the ins and outs of the 1% for the Planet model. Our team is always available to support you, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We can accomplish more together than we can alone.”

FoJT Statement on Sexual Harassment and Assault in Climbing

Friends of Joshua Tree unequivocally stands against sexual harassment of all kinds and works to promote personal safety as well as equity and inclusivity in the climbing community. Our work is ongoing in promoting access to climbing for people from every corner of society, including working to remove barriers of any kind from our events, programs and community. 

We uphold a zero tolerance policy, and do not accept sexual harassment of any kind at our events, online, or among our board and staff. We work to confront harassment as early as possible and encourage others to do the same. 

Safety is a fundamental tenet of climbing around the world. As with climbing safety, it is all of our responsibility to create and maintain a safe environment in our community, at gyms and crags, in parks and wherever we go. 

The following is a list of resources for individuals and organizations to aid in better understanding of how to identify and shut down Sexual Harassment and Assault: 

• Access Fund 
• Respect Outside 
• American Alpine Club 
• #safeoutside in the social stream 

If you have a friend or are yourself a survivor of sexual assault or harassment, these resources may be helpful:

• https://helpingsurvivors.org/sexual-assault/how-to-report
• https://www.rainn.org/ThatsHarassment