Russians organise youth rock climbing festival

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Russian mountaineers are inviting climbers aged 18-25 years old to a week-long festival of rock climbing, peak ascents and swimming in the  Black Sea. 

The  International Youth Rock Climbing and Mountaineering festival “Europe – Asia 2009” will take place in the area surrounding Guamka and Mount Fisht  in Western Caucasus, Russia from July 20 to August 3.

The event is part of the UIAA Global Youth Summit (GYS). You can find more summer treks, climbing camps and ascents for people between 18-30 on the GYS Calendar.

On the festival programme is “School for beginner rock climbers”, rock climbing, an environmental project, sessions on climbing safety, peak ascents and a trek to the Black Sea. There is also time for a festival party and lots of socialising with new climbing friends.

Guamka was the scene of a Russian climbing festival in 2008 and has about 50 interesting climbing routes of varying levels of difficulty up to UIAA grade IX ( French 7c+). Fisht (2,947 m) has several peak routes with different grades.

The cost is €250 plus travel expenses to Krasnodar airport or railway station. 

Those who would like to take part should complete and send in the registration form before June 20. The maximum number of foreign participants is 20, so please apply early to ensure a place.  More information can be found in the invitation.

The festival is co-organised by the Climbing Federation of Russia (CFR), the Children’s Olympic Reserve School of  Mountaineering Sports of Yekaterinburg and the Youth Mountain Club “Voskhozhdenie”.

A day after the youth event ends, the International Rock Climbing Festival begins (August 4-9). 50-60 new routes will be ready by the beginning of the festival, says the CFR. Competitions of veterans, children, sportsmen and amateurs in difficult climbing, pair-linked climbing and speed climbing will be included in the festival's competition programme.

For hotel requests, transfers, the invitation and other information please contact climblife@yandex.ru.