Petzl Roc Trip Joins Forces with RRGCC to Preserve Climbing Access

Petzl America, a leading manufacturer of quality climbing gear, today announced that their annual Roc Trip will join forces with Rocktoberfest, an annual fundraising event held by the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition to preserve climbing access in Eastern Kentucky. This year, Petzl Roc Trip will present Rocktoberfest, to be held October 12th – 14th, 2007, drawing an international crowd of climbers gathering for a weekend of clinics, competitions, and celebration, while raising awareness and funds for the RRGCC. By combining the two events, Petzl hopes to help increase Rocktoberfest’s stature, attendance, and fundraising power in 2007 and for years to come.

“Twenty-five percent of the climbing in the Red is on land that the RRGCC is working hard to protect,” said John Evans, Marketing Director for Petzl America. “Bringing Petzl Roc Trip to Rocktoberfest is a perfect way to support the RRGCC and help keep this land from being industrialized by big-oil.”

The Red River Gorge Climber’s Coalition is a unified group of climbers advocating responsible climbing and preserving access to climbing in the Gorge and surrounding areas. Each year, the RRGCC pays an annual mortgage payment totaling nearly $29,000 for ownership of the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve, a 750-acre plot of undeveloped land purchased by

the RRGCC for preservation and climbing access purposes in 2004. Due to the RRGCC’s efforts and funding, the Pendergrass-Murray Preserve is currently being responsibly and sustainably developed for hiking, mountain biking, and many forms of human-powered recreation. Without funding for the annual mortgage payments due through year 2013, the Preserve faces potential acquisition by interested oil developers. The Pendergrass-Murray Preserve is just one of the RRGCC’s conservation and access projects.

“Petzl is thinking of every way possible to help us pay off the mortgage and protect The Pendergrass Murray Preserve,” said Morgain Sprague, Board Member and Fundraising Coordinator for the RRGCC. “Beyond that, the Preserve and the Red River Gorge are both located in Lee County, one of the most impoverished counties in the US, and climbing is an important source of commerce and revenue. To have Petzl Roc Trip coming here, drawing an international crowd and showcasing our crags to the global climbing community is really exciting, both in raising awareness for the Preserve and in raising awareness for the Red as a world-class climbing destination”.

Petzl Roc Trip, now in its sixth year, has proven successful in bringing the international climbing community together in celebration of the sport, from New York’s Shawangunks and British Columbia’s Squamish to Kalymnos, Greece, and Millau in the south of France. Open to climbers of all ability levels, the upcoming 2007 Petzl Roc Trip / Rocktoberfest features an action-packed line-up, including:


• clinics for all levels with climbing’s elite, including Sonnie Trotter, and AMGA professionals
• opening ceremony and climber’s roast hosted by climber/funnyman Timmy O’Neill
• unveiling of Sender Films’ latest release, “King Lines”, presented by filmmaker Peter Mortimer
• flash rally comp featuring athletes at the top of the sport
• first ascent bounty placed on two long standing climbing projects yet to be climbed
• Saturday night party serving a diverse palette of musical tastes, with DJ Lafouche and a live local bluegrass band,
• American and European athletes competing and providing clinics, including, Chris Sharma, Dave Graham, Emily Harrington, Lisa Rands, Joe Kinder, Chris Lindner, Danny Andrada, Steve McClure, Tony Lamiche, Said Belhaj, and many others
• An overall goal of raising $10,000 – $15,000 for the Red River Gorge Climber’s Coalition, a healthy increase over previous years

“Petzl’s interest in bringing Roc Trip and some of the sport’s best athletes to our corner of the world for regional benefit is truly an example of this industry as a community,” said Bentley Brackett, Director of Corporate Fundraising for the RRGCC. “Petzl is setting the stage for an unprecedented Rocktoberfest, and we’ll be welcoming the rest of the climbing and outdoor community to join us in what is sure to be a great time for a great cause”.

About the RRGCC
The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition Incorporated (RRGCC) is a group of rock climbers who have come together to protect, promote and ensure responsible climbing at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. The RRGCC is committed to preserving and appreciating the natural environment in which we practice our sport, as well as education, support, and dedicated efforts with one another, non-climbers, and land managers alike. For more information about the RRGCC, visit www.rrgcc.org.


About Petzl
Petzl America is the U.S. division of Petzl, headquartered in France. For over 50 years, Petzl has been developing innovative tools and techniques used by those entering the vertical world. Today, the Petzl brand is closely associated with adventure, exploration, rescue, and many notable exploits in the worlds of rock climbing and alpinism. Petzl climbing hardware and headlamps can be found in outdoor specialty shops and premium sporting goods retailers around the world. For more information, log on to www.petzl.com.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
Eric Wynn, Petzl America
801/926-1500
ewynn@petzl.com
OR
Morgain Sprague, RRGCC
859/229-8635
morgain.sprague@ky.gov