Field Journal

The North Face have announced the 2018 global brand program, ‘Walls Are Meant for Climbing,’ that asks people to rethink the way we look at walls. Since 1966, The North Face has seen walls as places where people in the climbing community come together to test themselves, build trust, and strengthen bonds. The program aims to counter the divisions we’re witnessing globally by inviting people to find trust in community.

The North Face has spent over 50 years searching for walls to climb because they offer both challenge and opportunity. Building on the success of the last year, they are again partnering with dozens of climbing gyms and facilities worldwide to celebrate their Global Climbing Day on August 18th, 2018 and offering climbing opportunities in cities in the United States, China, Europe, Canada and Mexico, whilst raising funds for the Khumbu Climbing Centre.

In Europe, climbing gyms in Paris, Lyon, Manchester, London, Stockholm, Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Rome, Milan and Bolzano, are offering free climbing. Last year, more than 20,000 people worldwide participated in Global Climbing Day, and this year the project hopes to get 100,000 people climbing and thus creating a reminder of the type of community we all want to live, work and play in – one that is inclusive, inspiring and unifying.

The North Face has a long history of supporting the climbing community through sponsorship of athletes including Alex Honnold, Tamara Lunger, James Pearson and Ashima Shiraishi, and through the support of non-profit organizations like USA Climbing, The Trust for Public Land, the Access Fund and the American Alpine Club, all of which focus on access, conservation and education.