ABOUT THE RED RIVER GORGE FIXED GEAR INITIATIVE

The Red River Gorge is a world-class sport climbing destination, drawing climbers from around the globe. Over the past two decades, development in the Gorge has grown at an exponential pace, with well over 3,000 established routes and counting. This growth has been driven largely by volunteers who have dedicated their time, energy, and personal resources to creating safe and inspiring climbing experiences.

However, much of this development was completed using zinc-plated hardware, which is not designed to withstand the Gorge’s humid climate and soft, mineral-rich Corbin sandstone. As a result, many fixed anchors are now corroding, aging out, and in need of replacement. With the sheer volume of routes and a relatively small pool of individuals doing the work, keeping pace with re-bolting, maintenance, and responsible new development remains an ongoing challenge.

The Red River Gorge Fixed Gear Initiative (RRG FGI) exists to meet that challenge head-on. Our mission is to provide high-quality, corrosion-resistant hardware and support for both replacement and new route development, ensuring the long-term safety and sustainability of climbing in the Gorge.

In the past year, that mission became even more critical. Through the acquisition of a new climbing property, the amount of accessible climbing land in the Red has effectively doubled, opening the door to hundreds of future routes and decades of opportunity for the climbing community. With this exciting growth comes increased responsibility: more anchors to install, more routes to maintain, and a greater need to do things right from the start.

This Valentine’s Day, we’re asking you to show some love to the Red.

100% of your donation goes directly toward fixed gear—including stainless steel bolts, chains, and anchors—used to replace aging hardware and responsibly equip new routes on existing and newly acquired properties.

Your support helps protect climbers, preserve access, and ensure that the Red River Gorge remains a world-class destination for generations to come.