13th Annual Climbing Festival
13th ANNUAL SLCA CLIMBING FESTIVAL
Festival recap
Climb. Connect. Compete. Protect. Party for a Cause.
On Saturday, August 22, more than 200 climbers, vendors, partners, and supporters gathered at Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge in Alta for the 13th Annual SLCA Climbing Festival — our biggest, most ambitious, and most community‑driven festival yet. From breakfast and mobility in the morning to high‑alpine clinics, to the first‑ever Cecret Challenge, the day showcased exactly what makes the Wasatch climbing community so strong: shared stoke, shared responsibility, and shared love for the places we climb.
A Full Day in the Mountains
Morning Movement & Community Warm‑Up
The festival kicked off with breakfast by Climbers for Christ, fresh coffee from Alpha Coffee, and a bustling gear demo village featuring Petzl, La Sportiva, Tenaya, and more. A guided Converge Physical Therapy group session got bodies moving and ready for a full day of activity.
Clinics & Stewardship in the High Alpine
By mid‑morning, climbers headed into the mountains for clinics led by Utah Mountain Adventures, Wasatch Mountain Guides, Red River Adventures, Inspired Summit Adventures, and Snowbird Mountain Guides. Participants learned new skills, refined technique, and connected with expert instructors — all while exploring the stunning terrain above Alta.
Meanwhile, stewardship teams worked across the canyon, reinforcing SLCA’s commitment to caring for the places we recreate.
The First‑Ever Cecret Challenge: Bag Your Bolts
At 10:30 AM, the inaugural Cecret Challenge began — a high‑energy, all‑day scavenger hunt that sent participants hiking, running, biking, and climbing across Alta in search of 100 hidden golden SLCAs.
The challenge brought out every type of climber: competitive athletes, families, casual hikers, and folks who simply wanted to explore the canyon in a new way. The creativity, strategy, and sheer determination on display made this new festival tradition an instant hit.
At 6:00 PM, awards were handed out to the top bolt‑finders, with prize packs valued at $500–$650 from Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Snowpine Lodge, and Converge Physical Therapy. The winner found 14 bolts!
Evening Celebration & Keynote: Inside the Rescue
As the sun dipped behind the peaks, the festival shifted into celebration mode. The vendor village came alive with lawn games, dinner, drinks, and plenty of Wasatch‑style camaraderie.
At 7:00 PM, the lodge filled for the keynote presentation, Inside the Rescue: Stories from the Wasatch — a powerful multimedia program featuring:
Michael Finger, Salt Lake County Search & Rescue
Katey Blumenthal, DPT, University of Utah Climber’s Clinic
Toya Eastman, USA Para Climbing & SLCA Board Chair
Garrett Day & Elise Timothy Day, climbing accident survivors
Through firsthand stories, images, and reflections, speakers offered a rare look into major Wasatch climbing incidents, the realities of rescue operations, and the long road of recovery. The keynote was emotional, grounding, and deeply resonant — a reminder of why stewardship, preparedness, and community support matter.
The night closed with a film showing, silent auction pickups, and one last round of mingling before the lodge doors closed at 10 PM.
Thank You, Wasatch Climbers
This year’s festival wasn’t just an event — it was a full‑day celebration of community, stewardship, and the joy of moving through the mountains together. With 200 people showing up ready to learn, explore, compete, and connect, the impact was felt across Alta and beyond.
We can’t wait to see you next year for the 14th Annual Climbing Festival. Until then, keep climbing, keep caring, and keep showing up for the Wasatch.
Climb. Connect. COMPETE. Protect.
PARTY FOR A CAUSE
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge – 10160 E Hwy 210, Alta, UT 84092
explore albion basin and beyond all day, Chill Into the Evening
Demos. Clinics. Competition. Mobility. Stoke. Stories & high alpine vibes.
2026 Clinics were provided by
Introducing the Cecret Challenge: Bag your Bolts
For the first time ever, test your Little Cottonwood knowledge and bring home some big winnings.
A mountain scavenger hunt that will get you moving and exploring. Golden bolts retired by the SLCA Anchor Maintenance Crew will be hidden throughout Albion Basin and surrounding Alta terrain. On festival morning, every ticket holder gets an email with exclusive clues leading to these bolts — find one, find many, and boost your chances to win.
You’ll check in at Goldminer’s Daughter, then you have 10:30 AM–4:30 PM to hike, scramble, or climb your way across the basin and bag as many bolts as you can. The top three finishers score premium gear packs from SLCA sponsors like Black Diamond, Tenaya, Gear Room, and more.
No special skills required — just curiosity, legs, and a festival ticket. It’s part treasure hunt, part alpine adventure, and fully one‑of‑a‑kind.
What to expect on Saturday, August 22, 2026
9:00 AM - Breakfast by Climbers for Christ, coffee by Alpha Coffee.
Don’t miss the gear demos - Demos include Harnesses & Helmets from petzl, & climbing shoes from la sportiva & Tenaya.
9:30-10:30 AM - Mobility & warm-up session
Join SLCA's proud sponsor converge physical therapy for your climbing specific warm-up & mobility. You will learn functional & equipment-free warm-up essentials for your gym or crag days to stay injury-free & continue climbing without limits. A small discussion on how to fuel for a crag day will also be shared from our Registered Dietician.
10:30 AM - Clinic’s head into the mountains & the first ever Cecret Challenge starts
Clinics by our local guide outfitter companies including: Utah Mountain Adventures, Wasatch Mountain Guides, Red River Adventures, Inspired Summit Adventures, Snowbird Mountain Guides, and Converge Physical Therapy
5:00 PM -PARTY IN THE MOUNTAINS
Cecret Challenge cut off
vendor village & Lawn games
dinner, & drinks available for purchase
6:00 PM - Cecret Challenge awards
7:00-8:00 PM - Keynote Presentation - Inside the Rescue: Stories from the Wasatch
Inside the Rescue will take you behind the scenes of major Wasatch climbing rescues, sharing powerful images and firsthand stories from rescuers, survivors, clinicians, and caregivers while highlighting the community that surrounds every accident—before, during, and long after. This keynote explores how rescue operations unfold, how decisions ripple through partners and loved ones, and how recovery becomes a marathon carried by compassion, resilience, and support systems that help climbers return to the places they love. It’s a human‑centered conversation about risk, partnership, and the truth that you’re never the only one on the wall.
Speakers include Michael Finger (Salt Lake County Search & Rescue), Katey Blumenthal, DPT (University of Utah Climber’s Clinic), Toya Eastman (USA Para Climbing), and climbing accident survivors Garrett Day and Elise Timothy Day.
8:30 PM - Film showing
Fixed Points originally was a Camp 4 Collective intern project. I was given the opportunity to follow alongside the SLCA anchor maintenance crew, filming their work and putting together an authentic way to tell a story about the work they do. Fixed Points is a 12.5 minute short film that provides a glimpse into some of the social and moral challenges the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance faces when rebolting routes. Most of us are aware of the incredible amounts of physical labor that goes into the rebolting process, however what does the other side look like? Fixed Points touches on the complexities of working with first ascensionists, navigating the climbing community, and emphasizes the importance of safe bolts.
One of the goals of the film was to show a different side of the climbing community, the challenges within, and to hear it all right from the anchor technicians themselves. - Director: Dante Kroner
9:00 PM - Silent auction winners grab your gear.
mingle & enjoy lcc
10:00 PM - EVENT Ends - sorry you can’t stay here
🔥 Your Impact
Proceeds directly fund:
Fixed anchor maintenance
Climbing access trail improvements
Advocacy to keep climbing areas open in the Wasatch
