https://safeclimbing.org/asca-home daily 1.0 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1637354073292-6B8LBYHVR5Y2OZXVZHFK/asca+bolting.jpg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/f2d523f7-7bf0-47e9-8691-99ffe909a897/WY_Lander_FossilHill_BrittanyGoris_AncientOrange13c+%282%29.jpg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1634834418519-O25SH9F58S8WQURQ32FF/Screenshot+%28197%29.png ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1611027855944-MMP3GWT12QRSTUZ89S4H/20200204_150524%2B%25281%2529.jpg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/f9cfa644-e697-450c-8cc9-31ae91c2c459/311335959_5546144932095834_8127066474130487896_n.jpg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/e76fa4b8-ce40-4be8-b85b-359e164a3143/IMG_3852.jpg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/0f6ca215-66d0-49ec-a1ab-9b052a59328c/New+ASCA+Bolt.jpeg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1618253337507-J38J8RPBS05V5F0BHKI5/JT%2Bold%2Bbolt.jpg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/945439b2-9c80-4102-947f-c785d5b343cd/WY_Lander_Baldwin_2025Rebolting-6.jpg ASCA Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1617203963458-CHMDETK6OV2PXLE2KM9H/PANO_20161105_114259+%281%29.jpg ASCA Home - Why support the ASCA? For decades, ASCA supplied hardware has replaced aging, unsafe bolts and anchors across the country—protecting climbers from preventable accidents while preserving the character of existing routes. Most of this work is done by dedicated volunteers, but it relies on funding from the climbing community to happen. If you’ve ever clipped a solid bolt or lowered off trustworthy anchors and felt grateful, you’ve benefited from our mission. Supporting the ASCA with a tax-deductible donation is a direct way to give back to the routes and communities that make climbing possible. https://safeclimbing.org/about daily 0.75 2025-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1607651315383-WL64FQECEQHJ3KE0619A/Drop%2BIn%2BMank https://safeclimbing.org/our-team daily 0.75 2024-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1607653875539-3EW2B8JU0YC9WYRTJT6U/Greg+Profile Our Team - Greg Barnes - Executive director Greg’s been climbing since 1994, and replacing bolts since 1998. He’s run the ASCA since 2000, and has personally replaced 2000+ bolts, mostly by hand drilling! He’s personally replaced bolts on some of the most classic routes in the U.S., including The Nose, Epinephrine, Levitation 29, Astroman, and many others. He’s negotiated with land managers and secured the first bolt replacement permits in Joshua Tree, Red Rocks, and other areas. In 2016 the Access Fund awarded him the Menocal Lifetime Achievement Award for his "singular focus on fixed anchor education and replacement”. He has handled all the day-to-day activities of the ASCA almost single-handedly for many years, shipping hundreds of pounds of hardware a month to local climbing groups and bolt replacement volunteers nationwide! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1611713541549-DVRVNP4R1P8G4TS4LK62/Chris+bio.png Our Team - Chris Mcnamara - Founder Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1611712986021-QJKHLPHHMH1M5S6ALL0V/Nate+Profile.jpg Our Team - Nate Liles - development director Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1611713364978-376URXLGKN529FQI3OI4/Michal+Profile.jpg Our Team - Michal Matyjasik - Outreach Coordinator Michal Matyjasik is the Outreach Coordinator for the ASCA. He completed his Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder and now lives in Boise, Idaho. When he isn't researching the biochemical basis for the origin of life, Michal can be found climbing, updating route hardware, or making music. When he moved to Boulder in 2014, Michal began to climb obsessively, including many big wall free ascents in the mountain west. He hasn't slowed down since, and likes to spend his free time giving back to the climbing community by educating climbers about rebolting and aging hardware, installing lower-offs, and replacing unsafe bolts. You are likely to see him at a crag near you with a bag of Climb Tech hooks and a wrench. https://safeclimbing.org/lower-off-initiative daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1608519465033-0TACFZM9Z1R7BMGPE0UO/20200204_150524.jpg Lower Off initiative - THE GOAL OF THE ASCA LOWER-OFF INITIATIVE IS TO EQUIP POPULAR CRAGGING ANCHORS WITH DURABLE LOWER-OFF HARDWARE. THESE INCLUDE SINGLE PITCH ROUTES AND COMMONLY CRAGGED FIRST PITCHES OF MULTIPITCH ROUTES. ANY ANCHOR THAT IS FREQUENTLY LOWERED FROM IS A CANDIDATE FOR LOWER-OFFS. So far, we have provided more than 28,000 lower-offs for routes in the USA and Mexico. Our top choices for lower-offs are the Anchor Hook for single pitches, and steel carabiners for pitches with extensions. These lower-offs are easily maintained or replaced when worn out through a quicklink attachment. Scroll down to learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/9ff1b36b-9f28-4a09-8878-601c3289b786/steps-2.jpg Lower Off initiative - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://safeclimbing.org/new-anchor-guidelines daily 0.75 2025-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1608521286704-56IBYDR9ZKYC0CIUNJOF/MikeBolting2.jpg New Anchor Guidelines - ASCA New Anchor Guidelines These are the ASCA universal guidelines both for new route anchors and for replacement anchors. General guidelines and precautions: Use only 304 stainless steel or higher corrosion resistance alloy stainless in all new or replacement bolts and hangers. Titanium glue in bolts are required in marine environments. Plated steel has been found to corrode even in the driest desert environments, especially in limestone. Plated steel Rawl/Powers 5-piece bolts can be very difficult to remove when corroded. When possible, use ½” stainless steel Powers 5-piece expansion bolts or glue-ins. ⅜” stainless steel Powers 5-piece expansion bolts are the standard for backcountry, hand-drilled anchor replacement. DO NOT apply silicone caulk, putty, or adhesive to mechanical bolts or hangers. This makes anchor replacement and maintenance more difficult, and can actually trap moisture in the bolt hole. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1608522197367-QYEI3P6NN3E3VU3YY8S0/Sportanchor.jpg New Anchor Guidelines - Single pitch lower-off anchors: Are equipped with durable steel lower-off hardware and are positioned in a location that is: In solid rock attached to the main rock face Easy to clip from a good climbing stance, even for shorter climbers Minimizing rope rub/drag and damage to the rock on soft rock Anchor bolts are spaced apart at least twice the length of the bolt and can be horizontally or vertically offset. Horizontally staggered anchor bolts need to be extended with chain for the lower-offs to come to a single point when weighted. Vertically offset bolts can either meet at a single point or can primarily load the top anchor bolt with the bottom bolt as a backup (French style anchor). Why is it important for lower-offs to load at a single point? When the two lower-off points are horizontally separated, rope twisting will occur. The further the horizontal distance, the more the rope will twist. Rope twisting can be severe and sometimes irreversible, leading to safety issues including ropes not pulling from a rappel, difficulty belaying, and interference with belay device function. The best way to untwist a rope is to pull the rope repeatedly through a free-hanging, single point. Horizontally separated anchor bolts with no extension will also loosen bolts and hangers with repeated loading and unloading. Typically, the left bolt will loosen as the hanger is rotated counterclockwise. Multi-pitch rappel anchors: Are equipped with rappel hardware such as rap rings or thick chain. Quicklink-attached wear components are preferred in high traffic areas to facilitate replacing rappel hardware. Are positioned in a location: In solid rock attached to the main rock face Easy to clip from a good climbing stance, even for shorter climbers Minimizing rope rub/drag and damage to the rock on soft rock Easy to pull and clear of obstacles that can catch a rope Follow the same guidelines as single-pitch anchors other than lower-offs. https://safeclimbing.org/bolt-removal-and-replacement-techniques daily 0.75 2024-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1615823788903-IJGOMWRN187EKZIACXK1/20201010_WY_WildIris_CowboyPoetry_12b_LeilaHallenbeck.jpg Bolt Removal and Replacement Techniques - bolt removal and replacement techniques There are many different types of bolts in use at our climbing areas. On this page we will describe extraction and replacement methods for bolts that are commonly found while rebolting. In general, bolts should be replaced by reusing & expanding the original hole. There are some exceptions to this: when the old placement is in rock that is poor quality, removal of the old bolt is impossible, or severely overhanging terrain creates safety and efficiency challenges. Anchor replacement ethics can be complicated: holds can break, bolts may have been added since the first ascent, rockfall damage can occur, etc. Before beginning work the local climbing community and first ascentionist (if available) should agree on the work being done, and if the original hole can’t be reused, the bolt should be moved a minimum distance that is appropriate for the situation. The ASCA does not provide hardware to add additional bolts to climbs. https://safeclimbing.org/compression-bolt-removal daily 0.75 2022-04-08 https://safeclimbing.org/wedge-bolt-removal daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://safeclimbing.org/adhesive-anchors daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://safeclimbing.org/sleeve-bolt-removal daily 0.75 2021-06-18 https://safeclimbing.org/chopping-and-patching daily 0.75 2021-03-25 https://safeclimbing.org/mechanical-anchors daily 0.75 2025-05-02 https://safeclimbing.org/star-dryvin-bolt-removal daily 0.75 2021-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/c634e329-6862-419c-9ca3-c5ed9f594ff8/P1060411.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/dcccc50e-b6b6-43c6-bb82-31c885bcb2fb/P1060413.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/8639a044-563f-41aa-9232-cddc8ca40b4b/P1060414.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/3a2d2347-1cb5-4c5d-a1e5-0007d2d5ab6e/P1060415.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/c61f5a29-9373-428b-944c-aae1f09ecee1/P1060416.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/031e928b-1e7b-4cb1-b1ff-b8a42afbe7c2/P1060417.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/56f2ee2d-30e2-4e55-9a27-4ef0c8f04387/P1060418.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/9700c6a9-dd95-49ef-87b0-f98212e10fe7/P1060419+%281%29.JPG Star Dryvin Bolt Removal https://safeclimbing.org/report-unsafe-hardware daily 0.75 2022-11-22 https://safeclimbing.org/city-of-rocks-bolt-replacement daily 0.75 2023-11-14 https://safeclimbing.org/best-practices-for-personal-safety-and-ppe daily 0.75 2022-10-12 https://safeclimbing.org/best-practices-for-rebolters daily 0.75 2022-10-12 https://safeclimbing.org/best-practices-for-hardware-and-placement daily 0.75 2022-10-12 https://safeclimbing.org/build-a-bolt-extraction-tool daily 0.75 2025-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/34017a2f-f74c-4102-b91d-854e98c5186f/doodad.jpg https://safeclimbing.org/donate daily 0.75 2026-01-02 https://safeclimbing.org/climb-outside daily 0.75 2026-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f99bffc84a3cc1e0a3f70f0/1634677561523-6W2NY1GJFUKNGXI8F0J4/Worn+Draco.jpg