The 2022 Smith Rock Craggin' Classic—New Venue, Same 3-Day Climbers' Fun

The 2022 Smith Rock Craggin' Classic—New Venue, Same 3-Day Climbers’ Fun

October 1, 2022

Vendor Village at the American Alpine Club 2022 Smith Rock Craggin’ Classic

You may have wondered what the large gathering is by the park’s overflow lot. The American Alpine Club’s Annual Smith Rock Craggin’ Classic moved down the street for its annual 3-day climbing festival the weekend of September 30- October 2.

With a full line-up of clinics taught by professional climbers and local guides from Chockstone Climbing Guides on Friday and Saturday, the weekend started with presentations at the Vendor Village last night by Five Ten/Adidas athlete Molly Mitchell and author Jeff Smoot on his latest book, “All and Nothing, Inside Free Soloing.”

And those dying to hear all about the climbing history at Smith Rock from the guy who had just a bit to do with it, joined our own Alan Watts on his Smith Climbing History Walking Tour early this morning.

Contestant finishes up his speed rope tie hosted by Edelrid at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic

Adaptive climbers get clinic instruction. Image courtesy of the AAC Smith Rock Craggin’ Classic

Strength testing at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic

Hanging time contestants get ready at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic

Next Gen Climber at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic

Mike Volk of Smith Rock TV sets up to film Jeff Smoot's presentation

Presenters Molly Mitchell of Five Ten/Adidas and author Jeff Smoot prep their presentations and share some pre-show conversation

Milo tells his mom Andi a joke at their Rhino Skin Solutions booth at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic

Mollie Mitchell of Five Ten/Adidas presents “Playing With Fear” at the Smith Rock Craggin' Classic

Redpoint Climbers Supply started the morning Saturday with Simple Sunrise Yoga. followed by breakfast and coffee to fuel up for a day of clinics in the park.

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Saturday night at the Craggin’ Classic always features thoughtful screenings, often world premieres. Here are trailers from this year’s:

In 1965, legendary climbers TM Herbert and Yvon Chouinard climbed the Muir Wall on El Capitan while facing a brutal storm and not having a chance for a rescue. Fifty-five years later TM Herbert suffers from Alzheimer's disease and struggles to remember his iconic climb. TM's son, Tom Herbert, decides to attempt breaking the Muir Wall speed record to honor his father's legacy. Here is the trailer for one of the feature films of Saturday evening.

Rising out of the arid Mexican Desert lies a 900 ft ships prow of elegant limestone sporting a 9-pitch 5.13 established in the 90s by Jeff Jackson. A cutting-edge big wall free climb at the time, this route shut down hard men for years. Shrouded in mysticism, the bolts rusted and the holds collected dust until a couple young gals from Canada decided to give it a try. The World Premiere of El Gavilan is tonight at the Smith Rock Craggin’ Classic.

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While the Craggin’ Classic might seem like all fun and games, the American Alpine Club (AAC) is all about advocacy and stewardship as well, with the “Hill to Crag” advocacy event where they bring law makers to the crag, to show them why climbers love climbing and to help educate them on advocacy priorities for climbers. Sunday brings climbers to give back to Smith Rock State Park, knocking out noxious weeds that crowd out native plants and also significantly contribute to fire loads.

Lastly, the AAC cares about its climbing community with its Climbing Grief Fund. Resilience is the ability to face adversity with flexibility and grace. Hosted by a mental health professional with the AAC’s Climbing Grief Fund, plus offering a workshop that offers concepts and language regarding resilience and grief and its connection to climbing and the natural world. For more about the AAC, click here, or on their logo to see how they serve climbers all over the country.