International mountaineering legend Ian Welsted to speak at Kootenay Rock Climbing Festival

The Kootenay Rock Climbing Festival will be held on Sunday, September 20th, 2-9pm, in Robson, B.C.

Ian Welsted, international mountaineering legend and winner of the coveted P'iot D'or Award, will be speaking at the Kootenay Rock Climbing Festival in Robson, B.C. — Photo courtesy www.tawkroc.com

The Kootenay Rock Climbing Festival is pleased to announce Canadian mountaineering legend Ian Welsted will be guest speaking at the event being held Sunday, September 20th in Robson, BC. Welsted, who now resides in Golden, has innumerable alpine and rock climbing ascents to his credit around the world including the first ascent of K6 West in Pakistan for which he won the coveted P’iot D’or award.

Organized by TAWKROC (the Association of West Kootenay Rock Climbers), the Kootenay Climbing Festival is now entering its fourth year and will be held 2-9pm by the natural rock climbing wall behind the Lions Head Pub. During the day there will be:

• a zipline for the kids
• slackline
• door prize draw
• top-ropes on the 11 rock climbing routes located on the natural rock wall
• silent auction
• and the always popular Tower of Power competition, which sees competitors try to stack the most number of milk crates while standing on them!

The Lion’s Head has a family dining license which means kids can come and go from the restaurant anytime before 7:00pm. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.) Everyone young and old are welcome at the festival and there is no coverage charge although, as this is a fundraiser to help new outdoor route development, donations are greatly appreciated.

TAWKROC was established in 2009 to help promote outdoor rock climbing in the Kootenay region by organizing work parties to improve rock climbing areas, both for locals and tourists, and by offering a bolt fund for climbing developers. Every year the organization reimburses climbers who spend time and money putting up new rock climbs in the area. In 2012, TAWKROC became a chapter of the Climbing Access Society of British Columbia and its directors are now committed to ensuring various climbing areas in the Kootenays remain accessible for all.

For more information about TAWKROC or the Kootenay Climbing Festival, please contact director Vince Hempsall at [email protected] or call 250-354-7535.