November 11, 2019  |   

The 24th staging of the FOJT Climb Smart Festival in Joshua Tree was a great gathering of climbers, outdoor enthusiasts and those who love and work to protect our unique treasure of the high desert (Joshua Tree National Park). Over 300 climbers came to sharpen their skills, build out their network and give back to the Park they love… they also got a bunch of swag, and contributed to support FOJT, JOSAR, the H.A.R.P. bolt replacement project, Joshua Tree Climber Stewards, Climbers’ Coffee and all the rest of the programs and initiatives that the climbing community rallies around. The Vendor Village featured 22 sponsoring outdoor brands like Black Diamond and Sterling Rope, climbing gyms like Sender One, as well as regional representatives from the Town of Yucca Valley, Visit 29 Palms, and several from the native tribes (Cahuilla, Serrano, Chemehuevi and Mojave cultural groups) who call Joshua Tree home.  

One participant of CS19 says, ‘… I liked all the attendees, staff, volunteers, guides – everyone! – was amazingly helpful, friendly, and overall wanted to be there and made it a great experience. The clinics were all excellent and the evening events were fun.’ (from the post-event survey) 

Some of the new partnerships forged at this year’s event were:

  • Leave No Trace Hot Spot trainings for guides and outfitters who bring people into the Park and environs
  • Adaptive Climbing Clinics, taught by experienced adaptive athletes and coaches, shows that climbing has uniquely powerful opportunities for people of all abilities 
  • The Tribes Forum, an invitational meeting of climbing community leaders and tribal representatives from several of the 15 tribal units who have ancestral roots in the lands now known as Joshua Tree National Park (these cultural groups historically are from the Chemehuevi, Cahuilla, Serrano and Mojave indigenous cultural groups). 

FOJT and Climb Smart 2019 truly showed the unique nature of our active outdoor community; bringing advocates together with climbers of varying experience to steward and support our public lands and help those we entrust to manage them effectively. 

Mark your calendars for next year (October 16-18, 2020), share up your pictures (#climbsmart2019 and @joshuatreefriends ) and we do hope to see you recreating (responsibly) in the Park very soon! 

BOD FOJT