How many vertical feet can you climb in a day? That’s the challenge that Elevated Mountain Guides (EMG) is posing to the participants at its first Climbathon at Momentum Indoor Climbing Gym in Millcreek, Utah.
The Climbathon – the first in Utah State and the first 24-hour climbathon in history – invites both climbing newbies and rock veterans to see how many vertical feet they can ascend in a 24 hour time period, beginning Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. and ending Saturday, July 20 at 6 p.m. Participants will test their skill and endurance against Momentum’s walls which range in height from 15 to 55 feet.
“We are thrilled to be hosting EMG’s first ever 24-hour climbathon fundraiser,” says Momentum Millcreek General Manager Curran Lemp. “Part of Momentum’s mission has always been to bring unique climbing challenges to our communities, and being able to do so while raising money for such a positive organization is an honor.”
Similar to a walkathon, a climbathon raises money by having its participants find sponsors to pledge donations either in bulk or for every hundred feet they climb. Climbers can participate on their own or in teams to divide up the distance.
The Climbathon will raise money for Elevated Mountain Guides (EMG), a Salt Lake City based nonprofit that helps underserved communities get into the outdoors. EMG provides two crucial local programs — Project Climb and Embark — to youth and female refugees who lack the financial, social or logistical means to get outdoors.
Project Climb, EMG’s flagship program, helps provide rock climbing opportunities to underserved youth in Salt Lake and Summit counties. Their second program, Embark provides outdoor skills and education opportunities to young refugee women.
“EMG’s programs provide a crucial link for our community,” says EMG co-founder Erkki Becker. “Inclusivity is at the heart of this fundraiser. We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to access our abundant local, outdoor-oriented, recreational activities that lie at our doorstep here in Utah—and by extension quality of life and therapeutic benefits those activities provide.”
Elevated Mountain Guides hopes to raise $50,000 from the climbathon, which will fund equipment, outdoor programs, operational costs and a mobile climbing wall to bring to its targeted demographics. They hope to register at least 200 participants who are encouraged—but not required—to collect at least $50 in pledges.
Participants are welcome to climb as many, or as few hours as they wish. Current sponsors include Momentum Indoor Climbing, Solitude Mountain Resort and local retailer International Mountain Equipment.
In addition to climbing, the climbathon will feature a number of different activities and amenities, including refreshments and food every six hours, raffles every two hours, scavenger hunts and climbing classes. The event will conclude with an after-party at a to be determined location.
EMG encourages anyone interested in climbing to register, from company teams to individuals and groups of friends. Registration is $20 for adults, $10 for children. More information can be found at https://www.elevatedmountainguides.org/climbathon2019. Proceeds from all registration fees and pledges go towards our local programs: Project Climb and Embark Outdoors.
