The Kansas City Climbing Club was originally founded and ran by local climbers, Bob Allison and friends, the winter of 1983-84. Historically the club has convened monthly at different locations (gyms, crags, gear shops) around the city to climb, meet, socialize, teach, learn, share, explore, and otherwise spend time together as outdoor enthusiasts of the vertical world.
While rock climbing is the main focus of the Kansas City Climbing Community, the KCCC also engages in route development, trail building, and the clean up of local crags. Events often raise funds for climbing oriented groups such as the American Alpine Club, Paradox Sports, Arkansas Climbing Coalition, and the Access Fund. Soon we'll provide our first scholarship for local, young, competitive climbers.
Some meetings are more casual than others and include a wide array of activities. Watching climbing movies at a local gym, presenting a slideshow of a recent trip or pertinent topic, and technical rock climbing clinics for beginners and seasoned climbers alike take front stage during meetings.
In the spring and in the fall the club hosts an outdoor climbing trip. Camping and climbing together in the great outdoors is the best way to celebrate the camaraderie of the KCCC. Saturday night dinner is provided by the club and grilled up by a volunteer. While most trips are near home at the "local" crags of Arkansas, the club has also ranged as far and wide as Lumpy Ridge, CO (2008), the Wind River Range, WY (1990's), and even as distant as Mount Elbrus, an 18,000 ft peak in Russia.
Currently, the KCCC collects dues, providing "benefits" to card-carrying members of the community. Membership costs $20 a year with all proceeds going back into the community predominantly in the form of bolts and miscellaneous event expenses. Membership includes discounts at local gear shops and climbing gyms, and pays for the club trip dinners. For more information on the bells and whistles, head over to the Membership page.
