Our Climbing Heritage & Social Initiatives
Climbing is about more than just the summit. We are building a culture that respects the rock, the local landscape, and the communities who call it home.
The saffron flag of Basava flying proudly atop the Gaali Kallu spire. We were honored to help the local villagers, who see the spire as a holy place, fulfill this wish. It was a beautiful intersection of our climbing culture and their deep rooted faith.
An aerial view of two climbers on the Gaali Kallu spire. This route, established by climbers in their 60s, is a testament to the timeless nature of adventure.
The Gaali Kallu spire with its new flag, set against the backdrop of the Ramanagara hills. This project was a meaningful collaboration with the local community.
A top down drone shot of climbers relaxing on the summit of Gaali Kallu. The sense of community and shared experience is what makes these climbs special.
A lone climber on the vast face of Gaali Kallu. This image captures the scale and solitude that can be found on these big rock formations.
A traditional honey harvester climbing a tree in Sathyamangalam. Our 'Climbing Cultures' project aims to learn from and share safety knowledge with these indigenous communities who have their own rich history of climbing.
A majestic tree in the Sathyamangalam forest, a workplace for the local honey harvesters. This project has been a journey of understanding different climbing skills and their importance to livelihoods.
A member of the Soliga community demonstrates his incredible tree climbing skills. For these indigenous communities, honey harvesting is a seasonal livelihood deeply connected to the forest.
The landscape of Sathyamangalam, where our 'Climbing Cultures' project takes place. We are exploring how to blend modern safety techniques with traditional climbing practices.
Our team sits down with members of the honey harvesting community in Sathyamangalam. This project is a two way learning experience, built on conversation and mutual respect.
About Our Climbing Heritage & Social Initiatives
Our work with the honey harvesters in Sathyamangalam goes beyond just sharing climbing gear. It is a mutual exchange where we introduce modern, UIAA-certified safety equipment to support these traditional climbers, while learning from their deep knowledge of the local forest, vine-based rigging, and eco-conscious harvesting methods.
For us, the crag is a classroom and a community hub. We believe that climbing heritage isn't just about the routes we establish, but the connections we build with the land and the people surrounding it.
When we climbed the Gaali Kallu spire, we found that our definition of the rock differed from the local villagers, who revered it as a site of the bull-god Basava. Rather than forcing our view, we collaborated with them to honor their faith, including hoisting a ceremonial flag. It was a reminder that climbing can exist alongside local traditions, not in isolation.
Our initiatives take us to remote regions like the Nilgiri Biosphere, where indigenous honey harvesters have been free-climbing trees for generations. These harvesters possess incredible, innate skills, but face significant risks. We don't go there to teach them how to climb, but to share equipment and safety knowledge that can make their essential, seasonal work safer. This ethos extends to everything we do—whether it's developing new routes at Gethnaa or hosting our annual Ramanagara Romp. We are here to listen, learn, and grow as a community.
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