About

TAWKROC (the Association of West Kootenay Rock Climbers) is a non-profit registered society with a mandate to encourage and promote the stewardship and preservation of public access for rock climbing sites in the West Kootenay Region of British Columbia.

Mission Statement
To encourage and promote the preservation of public access for rock climbing sites in the West Kootenay Region of British Columbia and to ensure their maintenance and improvement by means of environmentally sustainable methods.

Purposes

1. To hold title/ownership of property for the purpose of preserving rock climbing and other recreational values.

2. To engage with local and provincial government in the creation of a park at Kinnaird Bluffs and Waterline.

3. To develop a Best Practices Guide for Kinnaird Bluffs and Waterline with other stakeholders in order to:

• Maintain the unique environmental qualities of the property within its urban setting while fostering good relationships with the surrounding residential neighbors.
• Encourage positive outdoor ethics for the area by crafting accessible standards for sustainable, ecologically-sensitive, multi-sport usage.
• Celebrate the historical significance of the area, which has been used by rock climbers, hikers and outdoor lovers for the past 65 years.

4. To encourage and promote stewardship of new and existing cliff and mountain areas in the West Kootenay Region, including trail and route maintenance.

5. To encourage and promote ecologically sustainable recreation in the West Kootenay Region (including, but not limited to, hiking and rock climbing) and to foster an appreciation for the unique cliffside and mountain areas among families and youth.

TAWKROC is a chapter of CASBC (the Climbers Access Society of BC) which facilitates access, conserves and maintains the cliffs and mountains of British Columbia.

To see all of TAWKROC’s bylaws, please download the PDF: TAWKROC Bylaws

TAWKROC Board of Directors

Yann Troutet, President
A relative newcomer to the Kootenays, Yann started scrubbing on arrival. Being sensitive to the importance of the local climbing culture, he soon got involved with TAWKROC. Building on past experiences authoring guidebooks and advocating for nature conservation, Yann firmly believes in climbing as a force for greener citizenship. By day, he teaches GIS at Selkirk College. Climbing-wise, Yann’s favorite thing is to benefit the local community by breaking new ground and pushing the grades, primarily on the lower end of the scale.

Ian McDonald, Board Member
Ian has been a passionate climber for almost 20 years. His love for the sport has taken him around the world, but the West Kootenay climbing and community keep him coming home. A British Columbia local, he’s lived in Nelson for 12 years.

Lukas Fodor, Board Member

Lukas lives in Nelson. He’s developed a number of climbing routes around the West Kootenays including the High Country Bluff.

Daniel Raber, Secretary

Dan lives in Castlegar. He enjoys rock climbing and route development.