Last week, Sasha DiGiulian was one of 60 climbers who gathered in Washington, D.C., to appeal to lawmakers on several issues that representatives of the growing sport care about most.
The annual Climb the Hill event brings together some of climbing’s top voices through the sport’s advocacy organizations, the American Alpine Club and Access Fund.
This year, climbing advocates used the three-day event to speak one-on-one with lawmakers. They covered the importance of public lands to the climbing community, the Antiquities Act and Bears Ears National Monument, and why a strong recreation economy matters in America.
There are more than 6.7 million climbers in the U.S. An estimated 60 percent of climbing takes place on rock in an outdoor environment.
Over the course of three days, Climb the Hill participants worked in teams to communicate with 60 congressional offices. Thirty meetings included members of Congress. They also met with senior staff from the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.
A standing-room-only reception concluded the rally with ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich and climbers Tommy Caldwell, Alex Honnold, Sasha DiGiulian, and Majka Burhardt sharing their personal and professional connections to public land.
‘Climb The Hill’ Messages to the Everyday Climber
Climbers Advocate for Public Land Access
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