Bouldering: the quest for creation.  The deep quench of undiscovered terrain, be it a singular line or a playground of boulders.  Not for fifteen minutes of fame, but for one moment of inexplicable, private contentment.  The mountains, deserts, and rock inspire us, and in their midst we push ourselves to perform at our highest level.  Yet equally, the enormity of nature diminishes our significance in the earth's affairs.  The BoulderProject, brainchild of the Access Fund, recognizes and respects this tension.

Bouldering is more than spending a day at the crag; it is a way of living, thinking, making choices, and connecting with others.  However, it is also exploding in popularity.  With usage increasing rapidly out at the blocks, so are the impacts.  It’s up to us to be educated and spread the knowledge so that we can all continue to enjoy sweet outdoor sessions.  The BoulderProject is about spreading the good word, conserving nature’s beauty, and working with land managers along the way. Through the BoulderProject, we can all ensure the preservation of climbing access well beyond the completion of our own personal boulder project.

The whole deal is to develop a culture of ownership; if the local posse can work together with the land managers, the climbing industry, and the Access Fund to achieve a common goal, then we’re all super stoked!  This is, in essence, what a grassroots network is all about . . . together, all the roots connect to make a super powerful whole for the collective good of all!

For example, what if you had just found a cluster of amazing boulders out in the forest?  How would you go about climbing there?  Questions you might need to answer are: Is the land private or public?  If the lands were public who would you speak to about access?  How do you start the conversation if the land is private?  What’s the local ethic?  What about building trails for access?  The BoulderProject can help you through a process just like this as well as methods for tapping into, educating, and motivating your local climbing network – it’s easy; go to their website or call them directly and they’ll point you in the right direction and help you along the way.

Metolius has been committed to the Access Fund since its inception – we’ve also been actively fighting for the right to climb on our public lands right here in Central Oregon.  We know how painful it is to lose access to a beloved climbing area after 8 years of battling. Don’t let it happen in your area!  Nobody is going to do it for us – it’s up to us and our crews.  Every single one of us can make a difference, from picking up a piece of trash, to brushing the tick marks off the latest test piece, to organizing a posse and securing access to an entire climbing area! 

As an example of how the industry can give back to the climbing community, Metolius will donate 100% of the profits of all Brush Kit sales to the Boulder Project!

5 ways to GIVE RESPECT to your favorite bouldering areas:

Join the Access Fund – use your power!

Think Globally, Connect Locally

Pad lightly! Avoid the “ghetto effect”

Brush regularly (lessens visual impacts and helps you send better too!)

Stay on existing trails. Walking to the crag is not the place to travel our own path - save that for sending.

  For information, call 888-8member or go to www.boulderproject.org

Bouldering Brush Kit

A good brush is like a good soup, it’s all in the ingredients.  We use industrial-strength handles and bristles in our brushes, and our top-quality nylon bristle fibers are firmly anchored in stainless steel and will take tons of abuse without ripping out.  For hard-to-reach holds, screw on an extension handle (steal one off of your broom or mop) and use the Big Bowl Brush.  For general-purpose scrubbing, use the Medium Hold Scrubba, and for tiny edges and pockets, go for the tried and true M-16 Bouldering Brush. 

Brushing the holds is key to optimizing your performance on the blocks by removing excess finger oils and unwanted chalk build-up.  It is also important to remove excess chalk to lessen the visual impact of a hearty session and to leave the holds clean and grippy for the next climber ambling down the trail.

M-16 Brush