***BEGIN UPDATE***

Pittsburgh’s 2014 screening and event was hosted by ASCEND Pittsburgh and co-sponsored by the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and the CMU Explorers Club, allowing free admission to the community. Total attendance was roughly 300 excited climbers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The free screening in Pittsburgh featured a raffle to help raise money and awareness for the Access Fund and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Climbers Coalition (SWPACC), two very important climbing organizations. The Access Fund is a national non-profit dedicated to the conservation of climbing areas and preservation of climber access, while the SWPACC is a newly formed LCO (local climbing organization) with the following mission: to promote the responsible development of climbing and bouldering in southwestern Pennsylvania, to disseminate information about development and conservation of the resource, and to gain and preserve access. To stay up to date on the progress of the SWPACC please check HERE.

Prizes for the fundraising raffle were generously donated by local sponsors like The Climbing Wall, Climb North, RESL Science, ASCEND Pittsburgh, Venture Outdoors, The Gendarme (Seneca Rocks, WV), and Waterstone Outdooors (Fayetteville, WV), as well as national retailers and climbing organizations Mountain Gear, Mountain Khakis, Access Fund, and the American Alpine Club.

The event netted $1,105 in donations, of which $830 went to the Access Fund and $275 to the SWPACC. Thanks to all our dedicated attendees, sponsors and volunteers for making the event possible.

Prior to showing the film, the audience heard from a few sponsor organization representatives. The following organizations and people play integral roles in the local climbing community.

Ginette Vinski - Explorers Club of Pittsburgh, Gabe Vegh-Gaynor - CMU Explorers Club, Alex Bernstein - ASCEND Pittsburgh, Jim Kunz - American Alpine Club, Bob Value - Access Fund, Joel Brady & Tim Anderson - Southwestern Pennsylvania Climbers Coalition

Awesome event assistants that must be recognized:

Michael Schmitt, Kevin Chartier, Judith Scanlon, Dr. Bob & Friend, Greg Zamule, Joey-Linn Ulrich, Krystal Clark, and last but not least, Felix Duvallet!

Sorry if I forgot anyone!

***END UPDATE***

Reel Rock 9 is here and ASCEND is pleased to be able to host this year's showing in the Burgh! The event is sponsored by the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and the CMU Explorers Club, and thanks to their generosity, the event is FREE for all attendees. So tell your friends, bring your families, and enjoy the show!

There will also be a raffle with lots of awesome prizes from sweet vendors. The drawing will take place at the end of the film (for those keeping tabs on us, there's no intermission this year). The raffle's proceeds will be donated to the Access Fund and the Southwestern PA Clminers Coalition. More information on the SWPACC to be announced at the event!

Here's a quick blurb about this year's film:

In its ninth year, the REEL ROCK Film Tour will be featuring a special presentation of the feature-length film “Valley Uprising.” The greatest untold story of American counterculture is that of the Yosemite Valley rock climbers. For the past fifty years, Yosemite’s massive cliffs have drawn explorers and madmen to leave materialism behind and venture onto the high, lonesome granite. The larger-than-life characters of Yosemite carved out an “extreme bohemian” lifestyle in the Valley, living on red wine and boiled potatoes, clashing with National Park authorities, and pioneering the boldest climbs on Earth.  Valley Uprising is the riveting, unforgettable tale of this bold tradition: half a century of struggle against the laws of gravity — and the laws of the land.

Check out the trailer at http://reelrocktour.com/

-AND-

Learn more about the event HERE.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!