New Route Development Fund

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This region has everything from short single pitch climbs to tall multi-pitch walls; easy 5.5 joy rides to hard 5.14 projects; slabby walls, vertical walls, overhanging roofs, you name it! We’ve already got hundreds of sport climbs, hundreds of trad climbs, hundreds of mixed climbs…and simply an unlimited potential for more.

Your contributions will be used to help develop the climbing scene in Northwest Ontario!

All donations are used to help purchase equipment for new route/crag development, and is made available to highly experienced and qualified route developers in the region.

With all the unlimited opportunity for high quality new lines, it’s mind-boggling that there’s so few people seeking out new route development in the region. Understandably most climbers just want to get out and climb fun established lines on those precious days off instead of seeking out/cleaning/establishing/climbing untouched routes. That along with the amount of time, hard work, experience, dedication, risks, hazards, costs and logistics involved, it makes total sense why majority of climbers don’t think about developing new climbs!

Every so often I get asked by other climbers “So how much does it actually cost to develop a new route? Financially, here’s a bit of insight of some of the costs involved:

-To equip a sport climb with modern bolts, hangers and a rappel anchor, every pitch on average will cost between $120 – $250 depending on the number of bolts and type of rappel anchor.

-To equip a trad climb with modern rappel anchors, every pitch on average will cost between $40 – $55

-The SDS drill bit gets dull and needs replacing often, which costs around $20 each

-Crowbars, brushes, hammers, trail maintenance equip, static ropes, aid climbing gear, and much more also comes into the mix.

Not only is it very costly, but the entire process of new route development is also extremely time consuming.

Click here to watch this ‘behind the scenes’ video about climbing development.

Your contribution will really help to:

-Purchase bolts & hangers for sport/mixed climbs

-Purchase rappel anchors for sport and trad climbs

-Get fresh drill bits when needed

-Get some more specialized gear for the tasks at hand

-Purchase specialized trail maintenance tools and materials

-Get some better rock cleaning equipment

-Continue building up the psych and climbing scene in Northwestern Ontario with epic new routes and crags!

All donations are used to help purchase equipment for new route/crag development in Northwest Ontario and is made available to highly experienced and qualified route developers in the region.

“I try to put a lot of effort and passion into developing the climbing scene in the region by doing things like helping maintain/create trails, replacing old anchors, organizing community events, teaching safe modern climbing standards & instilling a sense of environmental stewardship. I also absolutely love spending the time developing high quality new routes of all grades for everyone to enjoy, and am proud to have over 200 F.A/F.F.A’s (first ascent/first free ascent) under my belt.” – Aric Fishman

Bouldering V0 – V7

Sport & Trad [single & multi-pitch] 5.5 – 5.13a

Ice/Mixed WI2-WI4+, M5-M8.

New Route Development Fund