Photos by Spencer Josif. Contrary to popular belief, it DOES rain in California. But once the weather has passed, the question remains: how soon can you get back on your project? Although the conversation around climbing after a rain is nuanced, the basic issue is that some of the most popular climbing areas around […]
We don’t need to extol the many, many virtues of climbing around Bishop, CA here—this desert mecca of gorgeous granite and volcanic rock has been attracting climbers from all over the world for decades. But with great climbing comes great responsibility, and our favorite areas are getting loved to death. That’s why we’re excited to […]
You’ve heard it before: our outdoor spaces are getting loved to death. From erosion and social trails to littering and illegal fires, it’s a simple fact that the more people visit a place, the higher impact our presence will be. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Bishop, the small Eastern Sierra town with world-class […]
Photos by Paulina Dao. Our favorite climbing places in the world are getting loved to death, and we have to be their active stewards if we want to continue climbing in them. Touchstone is passionate about outdoor access and stewardship, which is why we regularly host Gym to Crag events to talk about best practices […]
We are well past the holiday hangovers and into our #NewYearNewYou resolutions, but we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible things that happened in the Touchstone community in 2017. We use the word “community” a lot because it fully encompasses the things we care about most—the people and places that are […]
We’ve always loved Matt Ulery, from when he worked front desk at Berkeley Ironworks to his current position as part of the Touchstone retail staff. Matt has done so much for the climbing community by founding the Bay Area Climbers Coalition, and we are so proud to see him recognized in Climbing Magazine‘s “The Givers” […]
Every climber should know, love, and support the Access Fund. As a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to environmental stewardship and access to our favorite outdoor places, they provide a crucial service to both climbers and the land. This year their work has been especially critical with initiatives like Climb the Hill, in which they and […]
Want to get on real rock next weekend but can’t shake the competition climbing bug? Good news: You CAN have it all! Former Bay Area residents and Touchstone employees Jen and Chris Bloch are heading up this year’s Tahoe Bouldering Competition on Saturday! The comp formerly known as The Meyers Climbing Festival is now bigger […]
Ty Tyler. Now there’s a name. Technically, it’s a nickname, but whatever you want to call him, Ty is the National Stewardship Director for the Access Fund. It’s his job to ensure long-term sustainability and stewardship of our climbing areas throughout the US. He travels more than we do. Ty worked a trip to La […]
Each year the Access Fund recognizes individuals, organizations, and businesses that go above and beyond to volunteer their time and efforts to protecting America’s climbing. These recipients stand out in their commitment to the American climbing community. We’re honored that one of our own made the list! Matt Ulery who works behind the desk at Berkeley Ironworks […]
