News

Local climber seeks to elevate Latinx/Women climbers in new film project

Hey have you heard?  A member of our very own climbing community here in Southwestern PA, Elisa Varlotta, is raising funds to make a film about the women’s climbing community in Colombia!  The goal of this project is to give attention to underrepresented groups while also connecting communities from around the world.  She and the team are presenting “Guerreras” (Women Warriors), a film in the works that will share the untold story of the female Read more…

By admin, ago

Crag Stewardship Opportunities: 11/13 & 11/19

    Nov. 13 – Trail stewardship at Schenley Park 12PM – 3PM Help us finish the installation of stone steps on the steep section of trail leading to the Schenley Pillar. If we have enough volunteers, we may also be able to further stabilize other sections of trail. This good work started in September when SWPACC teamed up with Access Fund’s Conservation Team. Stick around for some climbing afterwards! Be sure to wear old clothes, Read more…

By admin, ago

Call for Volunteers! Access Fund Conservation Team coming to Pittsburgh 9/8-11

Call for Volunteers! Access Fund’s Conservation Team is coming to Pittsburgh next week! Join in for multiple days of community, stewardship and climbing. Come lend a hand on Friday or Saturday for trail improvements and general crag cleanup in and around the Pittsburgh area. We need the help! Bring your gear for climbing afterwards, if you’d like! Thanks to Access Fund, ASCEND, Public Lands, and 3ROC for your support of SWPACC and help in making these Read more…

By admin, ago

LOCUS GROVE & THE NARROWS

First, some context: If you’ve never heard of them, these two areas are in Cumberland Maryland, about a 2-hour drive from SWPA. Locust Grove is home to multiple 100′ walls (predominantly slab) and over 60 high quality routes half of which are trad and half of which are well protected sport routes. A couple of the easy and moderate trad routes there are very well protected and make for some of the best first leads Read more…

By admin, ago

3 Rivers Outdoor Company selects SWPACC as Impact Partner

We are thrilled to be 3 Rivers Outdoor Co‘s Community Impact Partner for the second half of 2022! This is a great opportunity for SWPACC to raise some much needed funding and better connect with our community members. We were grateful to join members of the climbing community, along with 3ROC and Old Thunder Brewing for a kick-off on July 17 at the shop in Regent Square. Thank you to all who stopped by to Read more…

By admin, ago

State Game Lands Update

This is a recording of the update from Ginette Walker Vinski (SWPACC Vice President), Joel Brady (SWPACC President), and Caleb Hills (Access + Stewardship Co-Chair) on May 4, 2022. We were joined by general members of the climbing community, as well as representatives across the state from other LCOs (Southcentral Pennsylvania Climbers – SCPC, Eastern PA Alliance of Climbers – EPAC) and Access Fund. Summary: SWPACC is in the information gathering stage to determine what Read more…

By community, ago

IMPORTANT: PA Game Commission announces closure of State Game Lands 51 and 138 to climbing

On April 5, 2022, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced the closure to all rock climbing activities on State Game Lands 51 and 138 in Fayette County. The official statement indicates the reason for the closure is habitat preservation of “several rare, threatened or endangered plant and wildlife species.” Last week, upon notification of the impending announcement, the Southwestern PA Climbers Coalition (SWPACC), together with other PA Local Climbing Organizations and Access Fund, submitted a letter Read more…

By admin, ago

Community Committee Meeting: Thursday, 2/24 6-7pm

The next community committee meeting will be open to the general public; please feel free to drop in and invite some friends! Meeting link: meet.jit.si/swpacc-community-committee At this meeting, we will identify tasks to put into our 6-12 month plan, along with a preliminary budget to submit to the board for approval. We welcome any input from the community to raise ideas and contributions to this plan; if you cannot attend this meeting, please contact us Read more…

By community, ago

Used Gear Drive

Climbing, like many outdoor sports, has a high cost of entry: the gear. It ain’t cheap. To boulder in the gym, in addition to a membership (>$60/month), one needs to purchase a chalk bag (cheap) as well as climbing shoes regularly (often >$100 a few times a year!). If you’re roping up you’ll tack on a harness ($50-$150), and a belay device ($100 for a GRIGRI, the most common assisted braking belay device in use). Read more…

By community, ago