Kissfist Climbing Fest
Climbing Fest
Kissfist
$50 GENERAL ADMISSION
$75-135 SATURDAY CLIMBING CLINICS
CLIMBING CLINICS INCLUDE A GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET TO KISSFIST
Intro- Advanced
Staunton State Park, Colorado
Saturday, May 31, 2025: ASL Climbing Clinics & Evening Cookout/Party
Sunday, June 1, 2025: Morning Community Climbing
Smile Mountain Guides and the CO ASL Climbing Group are partnering to host Kissfist, an outdoor climbing event that centers and celebrates the Deaf climbing experience! Saturday is the main event, starting with more yoga. Then, there are ASL clinics or personal climbing with friends, followed by an event cookout, raffle, and party!
Sunday morning is a community climbing event open to everyone. The main focus is on climbing and community.
There are two ways to enjoy Saturday climbing at Kissfist:
With a General Admission Ticket, you explore the crags of Staunton State Park on your own! Find friends, belays, and connections!
OR, to expand your knowledge, join a climbing clinic taught in ASL! Smile Mountain Guides will provide gear support at these clinics.
Afterward, all festival goers will join in the evening of community gathering with food, drinks, games, and a raffle!
If you need special accommodations to attend this event, please reach out to meg@smilemountainguides.com
GENERAL ADMISSION
Join us for an unforgettable climbing festival with the CO ASL community & Smile Mountain Guides!
The General Admission Ticket includes access to the 2-day event, evening cookout, raffle, and games, but does not include access to Kissfist Climbing Clinics.
We encourage you to enjoy Staunton State Park's many beautiful crags on your schedule! You and your climbing partners get to decide which crags, routes, and trails you want to explore. This option does not include participation in any of the clinics, guided instruction, or a belayer. Please bring your climbing equipment. We will connect you with other general admission participants to coordinate climbing plans.
After you've spent the day sending, we welcome you to join a community gathering at the Marmot Amphitheater. There, we will celebrate with complimentary food, drinks, and games. You may even win big at the raffle! Prizes have been donated by Mountain Equipment, Bent Gate Mountaineering, and Neptune Mountaineering.
Kiss Fist
Climbing Fest
in Colorado
Kiss Fist Climbing Fest is supported by
Saturday Morning yoga - $10
Start the day off right as you connect mind and body in nature with a yoga practice taught in ASL. Instructor Elizabeth Long specializes in teaching yin-style yoga, where postures and breath work combine to energize! Class will start at 7:45 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes early!
Instructor: Elizabeth Long
*Please bring your own equipment (mat, blanket, props, etc.)
Please reach out if you need financial accommodations to join.
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Smile Mountain Guides and CO ASL Climbing group are partnering to host an outdoor climbing event. This event is unique in the way it centers & celebrates the Deaf climbing experience!
Participants can explore the crags of Staunton State Park on their own or join a clinic taught in ASL! Clinic participants will be able to use gear provided by Smile Mountain Guides. Afterward, we invite you to join a community gathering with food, drink, games, and a raffle!
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SATURDAY:
Morning Yoga taught by Elizabeth Long
7:45 am - 8:45 am
Kissfist Clinics, held at various crags in Staunton State Park
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Social Fest, a night with food, drinks, and a raffle!
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
SUNDAY:
Morning Community Climbing
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Kissfist Climbing Clinics
INTRO TO OUTDOOR CLIMBING - $75
This clinic is designed for climbers who are interested in top roping outdoors! Our guides will set up the ropes, get you equipped with the appropriate gear, and offer some instruction. Grow your confidence, try something new and have FUN!
Skills you will learn: tying the figure 8, belaying, lowering. Once you’re comfortable with the systems, our team will provide movement exercises and set up climbs that will help develop your skills.
This clinic is great for all ability levels and equipment is provided.
FALLING AND CATCHING CLINIC -$135
This clinic is designed to build confidence in yourself, and trust in your belayer. We will learn techniques to work through fear on the wall and practice taking lead falls in a controlled environment. Feedback will be personalized on how to provide a soft catch, when to spot your climber, and how to best evaluate the risk of falling. Get ready to let go!
*Climbers should have experience lead climbing outdoors.
CRAGGING IN ASL CLINIC -$135
This clinic is a truly unique and fun way to merge your passion for sign language and rock climbing! Our instructors work with students teaching ASL communication fundamentals, Deaf culture, and climbing/outdoor specific vocabulary. We’ve specifically designed this clinic for climbers interested in building ASL communication skills in a climbing environment.
We will start with lessons to build on (or review) climbing ASL terms. Then dive into more experience with good communication strategies while out on the rocks. A special challenge for the day - voices off - to enjoy using these communication skills while climbing!
*Climbers should be comfortable tying in and belaying toprope.
ADVANCED MOVEMENT CLINIC - $135
Climbing outside can feel very different from the gym. Grades don’t feel the same, the holds aren’t obviously defined, and reading the route can be more difficult. In the Advanced Movement Clinic we will set up routes that help you build better movement patterns and learn to identify what you need while assessing a route. We will have climbs graded 5.11-5.12 set up for you to top rope. CHALLENGE YOURSELF & TRY HARD! We recommend this clinic for any climber who likes to climb 5.10 in the gym or 5.9 outside.
Your instructor, Aaron Potts, is passionate about the foundations of good movement techniques and applying them as you push your limits. He has been climbing for 15+ years and has experienced the need to improve physical and mental ability to pursue big objectives!
*Climbers should be comfortable tying in and belaying on toprope.
FAQ’s
Kissfist Climbing Fest
The answers to our most commonly asked questions about the Kissfist Climbing Fest.
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General Admission - includes entrance to the event and the party to follow the day of climbing! Food, drinks, fun! The proceeds from general admission contribute to the cost of organizing the event and enable the CO ASL climbing community to host future events.
Climbing Clinic- Clinic registration includes your general admission ticket for access to the event, party, and a clinic taught in ASL by Smile Mountain Guides!
If you’re registered for a clinic, the instructor will contact you to let you know where/when to meet and what gear to bring. Clinics will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Clinics:
Gear will be provided for all Kissfist clinics, and you are encouraged to bring your climbing gear (harness, helmet, shoes, belay device) to your clinics.
General Admission:
Gear is not provided for general admission guests.
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Kissfist clinics have a maximum 5:1 ratio and all clinics except Cragging in ASL, have a max group size of 5.
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If you need special accommodations to attend this event, please reach out to meg@smilemountainguides.com
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Please click here to review our domestic cancellation policy.