Mission & Vision
Climb the Gap is a collective of climbers based in the land of the Tongva people, now known as Los Angeles, that aims to support current and future climbers of color. Our mission is to cultivate a more diverse and equitable climbing community.
We envision a world where people in climbing and nature are reflective of the communities we come from.
COVID-19 Update
Due to COVID-19, all official in-person Climb the Gap activities are postponed indefinitely. We will continue meeting monthly, virtually. Join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram for updates!
You can still support our work by contributing to our Gear Library or List of Offensive Route Names!
Why “Climb the Gap”?
First and foremost, we love the outdoors and we love climbing! We appreciate this community and all that the sport has taught us.
However, we cannot ignore the facts. Reports show that:
82% of climbers are White versus 6% Asian or Pacific Islander, 3% Latinx, 4% Other, 1% Black or African American, and 1% Native American (American Alpine Club)
20% of National Park visitors are non-white (National Park Service)
74% of outdoor-activity participants are White versus 10% Latinx, 9% Black, 6% Asian, and 1% Other (Outdoor Recreation Foundation).
Many of us weren’t introduced to climbing, or the outdoors, until much later in life. For some, the hobby was too expensive. For others, we felt intimidated because the community didn’t look like us, there were minimal opportunities to foster this interest, or our friends and family didn’t share the same passion.
We want to ensure that the next generation of climbers, across all backgrounds, are given ample access to outdoor opportunities, while learning the importance of respect for nature - so that future generations may enjoy this sport for years to come.
Our Values
Community
We are a welcoming community, and we encourage all involved to share their experiences. Members are encouraged to define their own role within the climbing community. Whether you’ve climbed for years, just started climbing, or are afraid of heights, we have a seat for you at the table. By supporting each other, we strive to foster a nurturing environment that promotes growth and resilience.
Stewardship
Climb the Gap is uniquely situated amongst the mountains, the ocean, deserts, and urban areas. As stewards of these spaces, we follow the Leave No Trace Principles. We also aim to improve all spaces through short-term and long-term efforts – such as trash pick-up and trail restoration – with conservation partners.
Empowerment
As in climbing, there is no one “correct” way to solve a problem - We have much to learn from one another, and it is through sharing, resourcing, and teaching that our community grows. We strive to help participants discover the benefits of climbing by facilitating access to gear and climbing opportunities, providing education on climbing techniques and etiquette, and providing a welcoming and supportive community for new and experienced climbers.
Diversity
We celebrate our uniqueness, and recognize that we come from different backgrounds. What unites us is our intense passion for climbing and the outdoors. We can better acknowledge and learn from the differences among us through intersectionality.
Ready to get involved?
