CS21 t-shirt design FAQ’S ON CLIMB SMART 2022 – This is a living document and will be updated frequently leading up to Climb Smart December 2-4, 2022 in Joshua Tree National Park. This FAQ is for registrants, volunteers, guides and organizers of the event. If you’d like to see if there are spaces remaining to register, click here. HOW WILL FOJT MANAGE A SAFE CLIMB SMART GATHERING IN THE PARK? Friends Of Joshua Tree is primarily concerned with the safety of our community and participants of any event we produce. For 26 years, Climb Smart has been focused on facilitating safety while climbing, as well as stewarding the Park and respecting the local community and the uniquely beautiful natural landscape that is Joshua Tree. This year is no different, but adds another important safety layer to the planning and execution of the event; managing during the Coronavirus Pandemic. FOJT will follow CDC-recommendations for outdoor events, as well as hygiene protocols throughout the different venues and sub-events of Climb Smart that will need to be adhered to by all in attendance. This year’s event will take place in one primary venue, inclusive of campsites, vendor village, central amphitheater and clinic sites. Once your vehicle is parked, you will not need it until it’s time to go home. Transportation requirements minimized (no carpooling or waiting for park entrance lines; walking to all clinic sites and the amphitheater!) IF I CANCEL, CAN I GET A REFUND? FOJT is a small non-profit 501 c(3) organization, founded in 1991 to serve the climbing community. We do appreciate every dollar of your support. We do not offer refunds on our events as a standing policy. IS THERE CELL SERVICE IN THE NEW VENUE? Yes and in most areas we’ll be having small groups gather (clinic sites, campgrounds, food service areas, vendor village, central amphitheater). WHAT IF I COME IN REALLY LATE ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY EVENING? We will provide instructions for rolling into camp late; it’ll involve texting and temperature checks, so keep your phone charged. WILL THE EVENT BE ANY FUN? It’s climbing, y’all! Safety checks are just part of the fun, right? Take a look at our Climb Smart Galleries on the site and you’ll get the picture. IS THERE WATER IN THE PARK WHERE WE’LL BE? There is NO potable WATER anywhere to be found inside the National Park. Bring all you will need, plus 50% more. Minimum intake is 3 quarts per day per person, FYI. We will have our FOJT water buffalo on site for refills. WHAT ARE THE BATHROOMS LIKE? Bathrooms throughout the Park are simple vault toilets. No flush, and no water. Bring plenty of your own soap, and Water. Also, hand sanitizer and a bucket if you have. Disinfectant wipes can be handy too. PROPER INSTRUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRAD CLIMBING IN JOSHUA TREE When contemplating climbing in Joshua Tree, it’s important to understand how the routes got there, and what kind of climbing and protection exists in order to have a safe adventure in the Park. TradItional (‘Trad’) routes and Sport climbs are very different in how they are put up, and how safe they are to climb. Trad routes, or routes put up by first ascentionists from the ground up, often require intricate gear placements and sizeable runout sections between protection. Sport climbs are bolted from the top down and protection pre-placed much closer together to minimize fall distance. Trad climbing is mostly what exists in Joshua Tree. Even ‘sport climbs’ in Joshua Tree are hardly similar to routes in climbing gyms or equipped sport climbing areas. Outdoor or Adventure climbing with a club or meetup group is for proper training and practice with qualified instructors. At Climb Smart this is a recurring theme for a reason; your life, and your climbing partners’, very much depends on it. There is nothing wrong with social groups and they can be very rewarding and informative… FOJT is certainly one of these groups and we appreciate you being part of it! Membership/Participation should not be mistaken for quality and thorough instruction. Qualified climbing instructors will be certified by the AMGA or PCGI and have state-of-the-art techniques and tools for imparting and coaching skills crucial to learning and constantly assessing safety en route and at the crag. Climb Smart is our annual event built around education, stewardship, and community. Climbing is a discipline that, if practiced with modern safety protocols and techniques, can deliver a lifetime of adventure and rewarding experiences. Climbing is an activity that does not have room for learning by making mistakes and learning from them and re-engaging. Mistakes can easily become fatal even just a few feet off the ground. FOJT and Climb Smart promote the responsible recreation creedo, and injuries, rescues and fatalities are bad for access and, when avoidable, can be irresponsible. These are some of the key elements we promote at Climb Smart, and year around. social meetup groups are NOT qualified instructional organizations Field coursework is critical to learning and practicing safe climbing techniques Moving from one discipline in climbing to another is where risk increases (i.e.- toproping to leading, single-pitch to multi-pitch, front country to backcountry, etc…) AMGA, PCGI are important endorsements for field coursework objective hazards of Joshua Tree specifically are important to know (Local Knowledge) in addition to safe climbing techniques Climb Smart clinics are designed around the safety needs of Joshua Tree climbing CLINIC DESCRIPTIONS FOR CLIMB SMART We differentiate between Clinics (or mini-clinics) and Courses. Courses are taught in formal settings by qualified instructors in the field, and are often full day or multi-day commitments. These are the topics/titles of the mini-clinics Knots and Ropework introduction/refresher clinic (as compared to full course instruction) – practical work on tying popular knots used by climbers, rope handling tips and coiling techniques, and general safety protocols for gear management. Anchor Building introduction/refresher clinic – (as compared to full course instruction) – ground school; basic tenets of anchor building like SERENE and techniques for equalization and other elements of natural and artificial anchor management for standard climbing topropes and rappels. Multi-Pitch techniques introduction/refresher clinic -(as compared to full course instruction)- ground school with simulated vertical techniques – rope management, gear and lead swapping, routefinding and planning are all part of a well managed day at the crag. Multi-Pitch and Rappelling refresher clinic (as compared to full course instruction) – teaches rope and gear management on long climbs, as well as transition to rappeling techniques to minimize risk and allow safe retreat. Self-Rescue intro and refresher clinic (as compared to full course instruction)- covers hands-free techniques and escaping a belay, proper anchor setups to allow for such, and introduction to lowering and raising an incapacitated climbing partner. Lead Climbing intro and refresher clinic (as compared to full course instruction) – taking the Sharp End means managing the safety of the entire team as well keeping a cool head. Spacing gear, decision-making en route, seeing placements and rests ahead of time, managing rope, and techniques for minimizing risks for the second while leading will be touched on. Big Wall Techniques intro and refresher clinic (as compared to full course instruction)- Aid climbing is gear intensive, and requires a different skillset than climbing rock with sticky rubber and strong fingers. Learn about ascending/hauling, aid ratings, using etriers and ascenders and how to tell if a piton placement is good. Adaptive Climbing – learn about techniques that allow people of all abilities to practice climbing and gain the skills and experience of a lifetime. Whether hearing impairment or paraplegia, anyone can learn to climb. Especially good for those who want to (or already do) teach climbing to others. Bouldering Tour – Joshua Tree has some famous bouldering tours that you can come back to again and again. Learn a few of the many circuits! Managed Toprope – At Climb Smart, THIS is where you really get to just climb- anchors and rope management handled by experienced and qualified working guides (AMGA and PCGI), simply tie-in to a JTree classic and have a go on the amazing Quartz Monzonite that makes this a world-class climbing destination. Open Climbing – same as Managed Toprope Rattlesnake Canyon Adventure – For the more adventurous climber looking to get deeper, take this full day adventure into a well-known but uncrowded climbing area of the Park. The approach is a few miles, and involves some class 2-3 scrambling, so have good approach shoes and be ready for some fun high above the campgrounds. Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterest