Sustainable climbing and environmentally friendly general approach example to mountains

Project Status: 2011-2014

The Mountain Wilderness non-profit organisation aims to preserve the last untouched wilderness areas of the Alps and other mountain regions of the world, and support and promote a respectful and sustainable mountain sport culture.

The idea behind the keepwild! Climbs project is to promote no-trace climbing on the way to the crags, while climbing and on the way back home while taking into account environmental, socio-economic and ethical considerations.

Traditional or adventure climbing is an alternative to climbing on fully equipped routes (also called plaisir” climbing) which has grown in popularity in the past 20 years.

One project goal is to promote a safe way of climbing without bolts, with the use of mobile protection gear. But keepwild! climbs is more: it is an approach to make climbing more sustainable in general. keepwild! climbs promotes the use of public transport, a balance between plaisir and adventure climbing routes, a respectful tourism in the regions where climbing takes place (bringing value-added to regions by consuming responsibly and locally), a far-sighted dealing with existing and new routes, and last but not least self-responsible and ecologically sensitive behaviour while climbing.

RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE LIMITED RESOURCE OF BOLT-FREE CLIMBABLE ROCK AND DISCOVER A NEW WAY OF CLIMBING

Since 2011,www.keepwild.ch has provided necessary information about gear, suitable routes, nature, ethical backgrounds of clean climbing and training courses. Moreover, several adventure climbing guidebooks (“keepwild! climbs best of” and Jura keepwild! climbs) which inform about sustainable climbing tourism destinations and encourage the use of local tourist infrastructure have been published and are promoted on the website. As part of the project, several meetings and courses about traditional climbing are organised each year.

Today, especially in Switzerland, it is rare to find high quality yet unbolted rock which offers the opportunity for self-responsible, clean climbing. This is due to the lack of knowledge concerning the use of mobile protection gear and the reputation of adventure climbing as a highly dangerous activity.

The keepwild! climbs project shows people and especially young climbers a safe but totally different way of climbing, a way that requires a more comprehensive approach (finding out where the best route leads, how it can be secured, how much time is needed, etc.). It provides an alternative to easily accessible climbs.

SUSTAINABLE FOR DESTINATION AREAS AND BENEFICIARY TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Areas having traditional climbing places can develop a reputation as clean climbing hot spots, which lay the foundation for a sustainable tourist income and an increased added value. Moreover, established sport climbing destinations can improve their existing offers by leaving walls unbolted for clean climbers.

The project is in collaboration with topo.verlag, a small Swiss publishing house run by the mountain guide Daniel Silbernagel, sold in local shops and mountain schools offer a discount on clean climbing courses.

CONTACT

UIAA Administrator
info@mountainwilderness.ch
keepwild.ch