Thank you everyone for an amazing festival!!
We hope y’all had as much fun as we did and we hope to see you next year!!!
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Arkansas Climbers Festival!
The goal of this event is to bring together our community to learn new skills in many different areas of Rock Climbing! We will be bringing in experts in their fields to provide high quality training.
The General Admission ticket will include camping and climbing passes to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, dinner Saturday night, and access to all workshops. Special clinics will need to be purchased as an add-on.
Clinics will be broken into morning and afternoon sessions. Space is limited to first come first serve.
Workshops are open to all, and are designed to be informative and fun! These will be shorter, giving those who want to climb during the day the ability to do so as well as take a short class and have fun.
We hope that you leave the weekend with new skills and new friends!
*** PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT ***
NEW THIS YEAR! We’re selling a limited edition festival t-shirt for $20.00.
Add it during checkout for General Admission ticket.
******* Please register only 1 person at a time. ******
Arkansas Climbers Festival General Admission includes access to all workshops, camping, climbing, and Saturday night dinner.
NOTE: Additional purchase is necessary for clinic registrations.
NEW THIS YEAR! Add a limited edition festival t-shirt for $20.00
(Online T-Shirt Sales have ended, there will be a limited quantity onsite for purchase)
Workshops are included in the General Admission Ticket price, adding this product just reserves your spot so that we know how many are attending.
Note: Participation in clinics is not valid unless purchased with General Admission. Please be sure to purchase General Admission, too. Thank you!
Note: Participation in clinics is not valid unless purchased with General Admission. Please be sure to purchase General Admission, too. Thank you!
Note: Participation in clinics is not valid unless purchased with General Admission. Please be sure to purchase General Admission, too. Thank you!
2024 Festival Schedule
Friday, March 29, 2024
2:00 PM Vendor Set-Up
3:00 PM Festival Check-In Starts
5:00 PM The Future of Climbing (ASCL) Sharon Bennett
6:00 PM What is the ARCC - Dave Thompson
7:00 PM Arkansas Trivia Night
(Hosted by Boulders & Brews)
8:30 PM Happy Hour
(Sponsored by Natural State Beverage Company)
Saturday, March 30, 2024
7:00 AM Festival Check-In Starts
7:00 AM Coffee with the Board
(Sponsored by Joseph Walker - RE/MAX Unlimited)
9:00 AM Leave Vendor Village for Clinics
Saturday Morning Clinics
(9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
**Clinics are an additional fee on top of General Admission. Please be sure to register as spots are first come first serve.
Rappelling
Host: Scott Devlin
Meet: Vendor Village - Ozark Outdoor Supply booth
Learn the proper way to Rappel safely in many different environments.
Wilderness First Aid
Host: Dave Thompson
Meet: Vendor Village - Natural State Beverage booth
It’s so important to learn how to take care of yourself and your partner while in the backcountry. Learn creative ways to safely treat minor injuries and get an injured climber to safety. David has over 10 years experience as an EMT and a climber, combining both experiences into a unique class.
Warriors Way - Falling Clinic
Host: Jon Richard - Vertical Voyages
Meet: Vendor Village - IV Nutrition booth
This training addresses falling directly to help improve commitment. Students will do progressive falling practice, followed by movement, breathing, resting, and body/mind awareness exercises. Finally, students apply everything to a goal route. Students leave understanding how to take appropriate risks and how to commit to those risks.
Multi Pitch
Host: Jeremy Collins
Meet: Vendor Village - Lacaida booth
This class is for those who want to learn how to multi pitch climb. Jeremy has years of experience pacing gear and is excited to share his knowledge.
Sport Climbing 101
Host: Andrew LaCure
Meet: Vendor Village - Beta Mugs booth
If you are just getting started in the sport of climbing, this class is for you! Learn all the basics of starting on lead.
Bouldering 101
Host: Jason Groves - Ozark Climbing Gym
Meet: Vendor Village - American Alpine Club booth
Want to boulder outdoors but don't know where to start? This workshop covers the basics from the very beginning: from learning how to carry multiple pads and creating safer landings to some tips and tricks to help find and send your first outdoor problems! We'll start at the Pavilion and head to the world famous Idaho Boulders as a group to do some real learning on the rock.
Intro to Trad Climbing
Host: Carol Fittell
Meet: Vendor Village - Climbing Jeopardy booth
Curious about trad climbing and want to know more? Get hands on with a variety of traditional, clean climbing gear (cams, nuts, and more!). We’ll discuss the physics of good gear placements and practice placing and evaluating gear on the ground under the watchful eye of an Apprentice Rock Guide.
Boulder Harder
Host: Daniel Carnahan - Little Rock Climbing Center
Meet: Vendor Village - ASCL booth
Hit a plateau? Don’t know what to do next in your training plan? Get some guidance on how to get stronger and reach that next level. Learning how to get into the right mindset for that project.
Single Pitch Rescue
Host: Randy Judycki - Austin Ascents
Meet: Vendor Village - AR Ozarks Waterkeepers booth
Prerequisites: This class is designed for climbers who have been climbing for at least 6 months and can comfortably lead 5.8 outdoors.
During this clinic you will learn how to ascend a rope to help an injured climbing or a climber who is unable to be lowered to the ground. Also, we will learn how to takeover a belay.
Campfire Dutch Ovens
Host: Chase and Judith Webb
Meet: Vendor Village - Sara Smith booth
The Dutch Oven is a magical kitchen camping tool that can serve up delicious meals and feasts. Learn tips and tricks on how to use your dutch oven to cook up amazing food!
Gym to Crag
Host: Sam Warren
Meet: Vendor Village - AR Rock Climbing Guides booth
Climbing outside for your first time can be intimidating; however, with this class learn the basics and know-how on transitioning from the gym to the outdoors that will be less scary and super fun!
Movement in Climbing
Host: Elisha Gallegos
Meet: Vendor Village - Juniper booth
The technique of movement on the wall is just as important as having strength. Learn to use your body and flexibility to get through different sequences
Saturday Morning Workshops
(1-hour sessions, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Workshops are included in General Admission. No additional registration is needed to attend.
Techniques and Terminology
9:00 AM
Host: Jerry Barnett - Vertical Horizons Climbing Gym
Meet: Presentation Field
Learn about various climbing techniques and other terminology in different disciplines.
Little Ones at the Crag
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hosts: Ty and Krista Cloud
Meet: Presentation Field
Just because you have kids doesn’t mean climbing is over! Enjoy the morning with other family climbing while learning tips and trick from experienced climbers and parents to make the most of your day the crag with your family!
How to Pick and Tick a Project
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Host: Uli Garcia - Climb Bentonville
Meet: Presentation Field
As climbers, we all want to succeed in our goals. Many times that can come down to sending a specific climb or grade. There are so many routes out there, how do we know which ones to pick? Here we’ll talk about things like: finding lines that are inspiring yet within our reach, playing to our strengths but also staying well rounded, when it’s okay to spray and when it’s not, and how to have fun when you aren’t sending.
Lunchtime
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Used Gear Sale!
Meet: ARCC booth
Stop by the ARCC tent during lunch to check out a free, used gear sale.
Got too much gear already? We encourage you to bring it to the festival, drop off your donations at the ARCC tent, and we’ll find it a new home. Not sure if you can donate? Bring it by and we can check in person.
We will not accept:
- Safety related soft goods (ropes, cordilette, harnesses, dogbones, slings, etc.)
- Safety related hard goods (helmets, carabiners, trad protection, etc)
We will accept:
- Soft goods not related to safety (climbing shoes, approach shoes, kid’s shoes/apparel, backpacks, apparel, rope tarps, etc. )
- Electronics (headlamps, etc.)
- Hard goods not related to safety (stick clips, etc.)
- Other items (camp chairs, guidebooks, etc)
Saturday Afternoon Clinics
(1:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
**Clinics are an additional fee on top of General Admission. Please be sure to register as spots are first come first serve.
Warriors Way - Falling Clinic
Host: Jon Richard - Vertical Voyages
Meet: Vendor Village - IV Nutrition booth
This training addresses falling directly to help improve commitment. Students will do progressive falling practice, followed by movement, breathing, resting, and body/mind awareness exercises. Finally, students apply everything to a goal route. Students leave understanding how to take appropriate risks and how to commit to those risks.
Intro to Trad Falls and Catches (Intermediate)
Host: Carol Fittell
Meet: Vendor Village - Climbing Jeopardy booth
Learn to TRUST your gear! I'll explain the nuances of trad lead falls compared to sport. Then we'll take turns falling (and catching falls) on gear... with a top rope backup.
Helping climbers learn to confidently trust their skills on the rock.
Trad Climbing
Host: Jeremy Collins
Meet: Vendor Village - Lacaida booth
Learning tips and tricks and other techniques for trad climbing.
Women in Climbing
Host: Katie Jo Meyers
Meet: Vendor Village - Sara Smith booth
Climb with a group of women and learn a few tips and tricks to better your technique.
Anchor Cleaning
Host: Sam Warren - Arkansas Rock Climbing Guides
Meet: Vendor Village - AR Rock Climbing Guides booth
Cleaning anchors is a very important skill in climbing! Practice makes perfect, so spend some time learning new ways to clean anchors and stay safe!
Bouldering 101
Host: Jason Groves - Ozark Climbing Gym
Meet: Vendor Village - American Alpine Club booth
Want to boulder outdoors but don't know where to start? This workshop covers the basics from the very beginning: from learning how to carry multiple pads and creating safer landings to some tips and tricks to help find and send your first outdoor problems! We'll start at the Pavilion and head to the world famous Idaho Boulders as a group to do some real learning on the rock.
Climbing is for Everybody
Host: Drew Hulsey
Meet: Vendor Village - ASCL booth
Anyone and everyone can climb! Indoors, outdoors, everywhere. Hang out with amazing people and find out that there are no limits.
Intro to Lead Climbing
Host: Elisha Gallegos
Meet: Vendor Village - Juniper booth
If you are just getting started in the sport of climbing, this class is for you! Learn all the basics of starting on lead.
Gear Anchors
Host: Randy Judycki - Austin Ascents
Meet: Vendor Village - Ozark Outdoor Supply booth
We will begin with a discussion of gear, its construction and best placement. Then we will move onto placing gear to insure everyone understands gear placements, options and removal. From here we move onto constructing anchors and rappelling off your own anchor.
Belay Techniques
Host: Andrew LaCure
Meet: Vendor Village - Beta Mugs booth
Learn various techniques in belaying for different climbing disciplines.
Saturday Afternoon Workshops
(1- Hour sessions, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
Workshops are included in General Admission. No additional registration is needed to attend.
Training for Climbing
1:00 PM
Host: JD Borgeson
Meet: Presentation Field
Knowing how to train for climbing is crucial to avoiding injuries and getting the maximum benefit from your session.
Mussy Hooks & Sport Anchor Knowledge
2:00 PM
Host: Jason Roy - Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Meet: Presentation Field
How to properly use Mussy Hooks and other various anchors that you might encounter at the top of a climb.
Learning to Bolt: Assess and Remove Old Bolts / How to Place New
3:00 PM
Host: Chase Webb & Judith Brown
Meet: Presentation Field
What does a bad bolt look like? How can you tell when hardware needs to be replaced. Learn some telltale signs to keep a lookout and keep bad bolts off the wall.
Saturday Night
5:00 PM Dinner - HCR Lodge
6:30 PM Raffle (purchase tickets at check-in station)
7:00 PM The Art of Adventure Presentation - Jeremy Collins
8:00 PM Music and Social Hour - DJ Sh33p in the Pavillion
11:00 PM Quiet Hours Begin
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Sunday Clinics
(9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
**Clinics are an additional fee on top of General Admission. Please be sure to register as spots are first come first serve.
Gear Anchors
Host: Randy Judycki - Austin Ascents
Meet: Vendor Village - ASCL booth
We will begin with a discussion of gear, its construction and best placement. Then we will move onto placing gear to insure everyone understands gear placements, options and removal. From here we move onto constructing anchors and rappelling off your own anchor.
Intro to Trad Climbing
Host: Carol Fittell
Meet: Vendor Village - Climbing Jeopardy booth
Curious about trad climbing and want to know more? Get hands on with a variety of traditional, clean climbing gear (cams, nuts, and more!). We’ll discuss the physics of good gear placements and practice placing and evaluating gear on the ground under the watchful eye of an Apprentice Rock Guide.
Guided Climbing (10:00 AM-2:00 PM)
Host: Olivia Vitaterna
Meet: Vendor Village - ARCC booth
Have questions on best practices? Need practice with skills you just got at the festival? Just want local beta and a trustworthy belayer? Get some dedicated instruction with Olivia.
Social Meet-Ups
10:00 AM BIPOC Climbers Meetup
Hosted by Pedro Somarriba - Lacaida Ropes
Meet: Vendor Village - Lacaida booth
10:00 AM LGBTQ+ Climbers Meetup
Hosted by Mer & Carlyn Wilder - NWA Queer Climbers
Meet: Vendor Village - American Alpine Club booth
ALL DAY - Shoe Demo
Climbing shoes of all sizes are available to rent from the Trading Co.
Event Sponsors
Event Hosts
